Singapore locks up U.S. man for possessing porn
 

Singapore locks up U.S. man for possessing porn

Thu Aug 25,11:18 AM ET

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore police handcuffed and locked up a U.S. citizen for bringing 58 pornographic DVDs and video CDs into the wealthy city-state when he moved to Singapore last year, a newspaper reported Thursday.

The Straits Times said Singapore state prosecutors had dropped charges of possessing uncertified and obscene films against Tran Nghia Hong after he presented them with a declaration by his brother, stating that he was missing "certain DVDs."

The films, found by Singapore customs officers in a shipment of his belongings from California, included titles such as "Frivolous Lola," "Copulation Nation" and "Lord of the Strings."

"I was handcuffed and put in a lock-up for four hours after I was charged," the report quoted Tran, 35, as saying.

Tran, a financial controller at U.S. Internet equipment maker Cisco Systems, could have been fined up to S$500 for each disc, up to a maximum of S$20,000, or up to six months in prison, or both.

Despite efforts to loosen some of its social controls, many tough rules remain in Singapore. "Playboy" magazine is banned, while oral sex remains technically illegal under a law that says "whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animals" can be fined and jailed up to 10 years, or even for life.

In recent years, Singapore has partially relaxed its famous ban on chewing gum, allowed some bars to stay open for 24 hours and ended a ban on the popular U.S. sitcom "Sex and the City."

Of all places to get locked up....fuck the only worse place i can think of is Georgia

What's so bad about being locked up in Singapore?

Follow my rule

In any country where you're not sure if drinking the water is a good idea, don't get locked up.

can you even find singapore on a map?

Pr0 good call

Singapore is one of the wealthiest modern countries in the world.

lol ridiculous...

Even MORE ignorance from the trailer dweller.

do you know these people wack you with a fucking cane for punishment?

hundreds of times in some cases

just because you can get a 4-star, nice meal & setup an offshore merchant acct there doesn't mean their not still 3rd world

3rd world?

Have you been to Singapore?

sucks even more to be there in jail then in turkey or something :(

hope he gets out before he is 383883 years old or that he dissapears from the globe uhm celblock :(

they fucking smack people with giant canes

what part of that don't you guys get?

people getting arrested for backdoor babes 9

yea i'd call it 3rd world

Show me an example of someone who was caned "hundreds of times" in Singapore

No. I've been to Singpaore on extended stays, it's not a third world country no matter what you think.

You don't like their punishments so it's third world? Canadians could think Americans are Third World if they think that the Death Pentalty is harsh under that same logic.

Singapore is a beautiful little place, with strict laws. You don't want to get caned? Don't break the fucking law. Simple, Simon.

Your definition of "3rd world" is nothing like the commonly accepted meaning of the term.

hahahaha, In american prisons they smack people with giant black cocks! :1orglaugh
Dude, you're making your self look completely stupid, I would rather be locked up in a Singapore for 5 years than in USA for 1 (something like 75% of all rapes in the USA happen in male populated jails).

Canadians would be right to think America is 3rd world. Atleast turning into it.

The 3 cities sorrounding me almost meet the criteria infact. Militant armed drug runners, prostitutes, organized crime etc. etc.

But based entirely on civil liberties it would seem they are 3rd world. And it doesn't sound like a place i'd like to visit.

Anyone who condones restrictions & punishments for visual depictions or text is a facist.

Funny how of your 3 criterias not 1 of them applies to Singapore :)

A facistic country does not have to be 3rd world....

"But based entirely on civil liberties it would seem they are 3rd world."

This is the reason why you gotta know your local laws ... if you are gonna move to another country, at least respect the laws.

We think it's ridiculus ... but some people comming from other countries keep doing the same old shit (mulisms, black people (violence) etc.) wich aren't accepted in our society ... and we hate that . It's the same for them.

haha, then you know nothing of singapore.

probably one of the most advanced places in the world. you could not only drink the water there, but probably have a 5 course meal on any toilet seat there.

Gotta agree on that ... I'd be scared to shit of going to jail there

Hardly third world. Laws may be old fashioned and in need of change in many cases, but but definately not third world.

:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

I visited Singapore 4 months ago and it was awesome. There is nothing 3rd world about that place.

I think they're pretty strict in that country.

Not a good place for people to puch through their nasty sides.

In recent years, Singapore has partially relaxed its famous ban on chewing gum, allowed some bars to stay open for 24 hours and ended a ban on the popular U.S. sitcom "Sex and the City."

---I thought chewing gum bill is strictly followed on that city-state..
My singaporean friend was once gnuilty of this offense.

and this is shocking cause?

I wonder if Rick is packing his bags as we speak lol

I could not have said it better myself, the place is absolutely gorgeous, kept immaculately clean and I certainly felt safer there than I have felt in other places I've stayed...

If I were to pick a place to live other than where I do, I'd probably move to Singapore

Being locked up there is like getting locked up in Mexico. You may never be seen again.

it's a muslim country, it's illegal. get over it.

hahah that is pretty whack. how can they ban a natural act like oral sex

they locked-up the US dude and they took the porn stuff for their personal satisfaction. wtf!

When did Singapore become a muslim country?

Singapore is a filthy rich island with virtually no crime, no slums, no litter and everyone has a brand new car. Which Singapore are you thinking of?

The place sounds PERFECT !!! Its right beside Thailand as well !! Is Singpore an expensive place to live ? I love the idea of zero crime, I also love the fact that people are properly punished for crimes :thumbsup

If you live in any of the following states, write to your governor and ask him :)

yeah and lets add this... In any country where you're not sure porn is legal, don't get locked up ... :winkwink:

I say let Singapore keep their strict rules. I'm sure that there are many Americans who would be better off living there. Absolutely, if you're somewhere, respect the laws and rules. There are plenty of people there who don't think the way Americans do and are happy with the way that the laws are.

It's not an entire covereage, but if you've been there, the influence is noticable.

So if 18% of a country is muslim, then it's a "muslim country"?

Foreign countries are not the US. Alot of people forget that.

The world would be better if all countries respect basic human rights like free speech.

Just because some people there don't want free speech does not mean that every person there should be deprived of that right.

50 white trash folks thinking singapore is a third world country

hahahahahahaaaa!!!!