I AM writing about the various articles that have been published about Ris Low and how she came to lose her Miss Singapore World crown.

There seems to be some confusion over the question ofhowto treat offenders. Some have argued about the importance of giving them a second chance. That all of us havedone wrongone time or another.

But surely to be given a second chance, a couple of things are first necessary.

1. Repentance

2.Having served the necessary sentence without getting bogged down on whether she has repented, surely the point is that she is STILL serving her probation.

By all means, give her and all offenders a second chance.

But only after they have completed their sentence.

Let us not forget the credit card holders and merchants who suffered substantial losses because of her actions.

We shouldn’t expect ex-offenders to be punished for the same crime after they have served their sentence.

Similarly, we must not send the wrong message by allowing them to get away scot-free.

Surely, “you do the crime, youdo the time” should apply, regardless of looks or language proficiency.

Allan Zheng

This article was first published in The New Paper.