FORMER Miss Singapore World Ris Low will have to retake her examination for her hospitality diploma at a private educational institution.

She had been found with some notes inside her pencil case during the original examination in August this year, said her lawyer, Mr Sng Kheng Huat.

The incident was brought up yesterday when Miss Low, 19, was in a district court for a regular review of her progress during probation.

She was placed on 24 months' probation in May for credit-card fraud.

Last year, while working as a clinic assistant in two health-care outfits, she had swiped seven credit cards belonging to patients and chalked up nearly $8,000 in expenses.

These were for items such as gold anklets, mobile phones, lingerie and meals in luxury restaurants.

She gave up her title last Wednesday, a week after her conviction made the headlines.

Mr Sng told my paper yesterday that Miss Low had forgotten to remove the notes before entering the examination venue.

She had been diagnosed by a court psychologist to have "memory loss", he added.

No reasons were given by the psychologist for the memory loss, he said.

Earlier, she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder after being put on probation.

Miss Low has been given a warning by her school, the Management Development Institute of Singapore, and has to retake the examination, Mr Sng said.

When contacted, the school declined comment.

When District Judge May Mesenas asked if Miss Low understood the seriousness of that matter and if she would
undertake not to repeat the mistake, Mr Sng assured the court that she did.

He added that she would comply with the additional conditions of her probation order imposed yesterday.

Judge Mesenas instructed Miss Low to adhere to her treatment and counselling for her bipolar disorder.

The judge said: "Whatever he advises you, whatever symptoms you have, you need to tell your doctor. Don't keep it to yourself...so that he can give you the best treatment possible...so that you can get better."

Looking tired and teary-eyed at times, Miss Low spent around five hours waiting in court with her parents yesterday, at times resting her head on her mother's lap. They conversed mainly in Mandarin.

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