Purty stiff penalty for overstaying your VISA. Or. is it??

American Caned in Singapore: Unable to Leave Due to High Risk Pregnancy
October 24, 2010 10:41 AM EDT



Former Florida State University football star Kamari Charlton, 37, was arrested as he was trying to come home to American, because he overstayed his tourist visa by 169 days. He stated that he was not able to travel home earlier because his wife needed medical care for complications in her pregnancy. She had previously suffered two miscarriages and is now pregnant for the third time; due to her medical history her pregnancy is labeled as high risk. Therefore she was not able to fly home with him before the visa expired.

In Singapore, this offense is punishable with a maximum jail term of six months and at least three strokes of the cane. When a person is caned they are strapped to a wooden frame and lashed across the bare buttocks with a long rattan stick.

According to a UK Daily Newspaper, the U.S. Embassy said it is monitoring the case, “Embassy officials have provided consular assistance to this individual, including five visits by consular officers. We remind U.S. citizens that *foreigners in any country are subject to the laws of that country. We respect Singapore's right to try and sentence individuals within due process of law.”

Wow!! What a novel concept.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978629248

I sure wish we had public caning here, it would save so much money over incarceration,,,,lol

Too many perverts who enjoy a good whoopin' would overtax the system.

good point,,,,

Did you see teh size of that guy??? this will be like Gulliver and the lilliputians I hope they have LOTS of rope there going to need it.

Did you see teh size of that guy??? this will be like Gulliver and the lilliputians I hope they have LOTS of rope there going to need it.

I think it's ridiculous and all efforts should be made to bring him and his wife home asap

He should have informed the proper authorities to get an extension of his Visa, of course. Yes, he made a mistake by not going to the embassy, but that is ridiculous. And, yes Americans are warned about local laws, but Americans also are not citizens there. It's why we have embassies

I agree.
They do have their Law and the Embassy has done all it can lawfully do.

The US is about the only place, on earth, that rewards Illegals to break the Law.

I am curious what type of legal recourse should be taken when people break immigration laws? I hear alot of griping on both sides and I just wonder whether anyone thinks there should be any recourse and how extreme/minimal they think it should be?

personally, I think whatever recourse there is should provide ample DETERRENT. I dont think imposing a fine does this nor do I think just sending people home and leaving them free to return does.

I think permanent or LONG term banning on re entry would be a much more fitting recourse/deterrent.

My ex, twenty years after committing the theft of a TREE(thats right, a tree), was denied permission for a visa to live here. I think penalties should be consistent andif someone stealing a bush has such a long term ban, certainly people who actually break IMMIGRATION laws should have very serious IMMIGRATION repurcussions.

Only three? That's nothing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZnvL0Rbcs0