Reporter was handcuffed for his own "personal safety".

This is what I gathered from the Temasek Review which is an amazing online news source.  See http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/07/18/singapore-police-wanbao-photographer-handcuffed-for-his-own-personal-safety/

Here's what it says:

Singapore Police: Wanbao photographer “handcuffed” for his own “personal safety”

July 18th, 2010 | Author: Your Correspondent

According to a press statement from the Singapore police, Lianhe Wanbao reported Mr Wu Qing Shun was handcuffed and detained by the police for his own “personal safety.”
Mr Wu was handcuffed by a police officer when taking photos of flooding at Upper Bukit Timah Road yesterday morning. He was later led to outside a condominium where he was detained for one hour.
The police claimed that Mr Wu was handcuffed as he was posing a “danger” to himself and others. He was released after “assessment” which confirmed that he would not “hinder” the police’s “rescue operations.”
The fracas sparked a massive outcry in cyberspace with many netizens lampooning the Singapore police for gross “misuse” of power. Public confidence in the Singapore Police Force has also sunk to a new low.
Lianhe Wanbao did not buy the police’s explanation as well and reserved its right to pursue further legal action against the Singapore police.
However, the Singapore police is adamant that it did nothing wrong and sent a threatening message that anybody convicted of ”interfering” with the police carrying out its “public duty” will be sentenced to a jail term no less than three years or fined up to $2,500 or both.
The Singapore police is overwhelming powerful in Singapore with no independent bodies such as a commission on police misconduct to check on it.

Is it an offence to take pics of the flood in Singapore?

Just read the link below. Shocking!  If the policeman is not severely punished for his improper and abusive behaviour, it's natural for the public to think that he was merely following orders that came from above and ultimately, a link will be made to the political leaders.  This is highly damaging. The policeman must be severely punished. Or if he was merely following orders, some confession is in order.

http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/07/17/lianhewanbao-photographer-handcuffed-for-taking-pictures-of-flood/

I'll just reproduce the article below. It's taken entirely from the website above:


Mr Wu, a senior photographer with LianHeWanBao who went to the scene of flooding at Upper Bukit Timah Road to take pictures of the flood ended up being handcuffed by a Policeman and detained without reasonable cause for over an hour.

Singapore experienced a heavy downpour early saturday morning which caused flooding in Braddell Road, Changi Road, Joo Chiat, Telok Kurau,  Geylang and Bukit Timah.
According to Mr Wu, he was at Upper Bukit Timah Road around 7am taking pictures of a car that had been swept onto the road kerb. When he wanted to venture further for more pictures of other cars that were stranded in the knee deep water, a Policeman who was seated in a Police Car nearby put on his rain coat and approached him.
The Policeman asked Mr Wu to leave the scene but Mr Wu politely requested that he be allowed to take a few more pictures. Without any warning, the Policeman took out his handcuff and cuffed Mr Wu’s right hand and pulled him to the side of the road by the handcuff. The Policeman also threatened to bring him back to the Police Station.
Mr Wu then asked the Policeman why he is being handcuffed since he is not a criminal nor did he commit any offence but got no response. He subsequently reach for his handphone wanting to record this incident but the Policeman immediately removed his handcuff and led him to a nearby condominium, forbidding him from leaving claiming an Investigating Officer will be attending to him. He was subsequently allowed to leave after an hour without any further action.
Mr Wu claims that the marks left by the handcuff are still visible after 5 hours, a result of the Policeman pulling on the handcuff while forcing him to leave the scene.
A senior photographer with over 30 years of experience, Mr Wu felt insulted, humiliated and is very angry.

Chinese Version Below
为了拍一张照片，《联合晚报》资深摄影主任竟然被当成犯人般铐上手铐！
全岛今天凌晨一场豪雨，导致多个地区淹水。《联合晚报》摄影主任吴庆顺，赶往受影响地方拍摄时，在武吉知马路上段，申诉被警员被铐上手铐，在场扣留了一个小时，不获准离开。
武吉知马路上段今早淹水，有车辆被冲上路堤，吴庆顺早上7时许到场拍下现场情形。他为了取得更好的角度，上前要拍摄其中一辆受困水中的车子时，被一名警员阻拦。
吴庆顺说，警员叫他走开，他礼貌要求再拍一张照片，谁知话刚说完，警员已经将手铐掏出来，将他的右手牢牢铐起，还说要带他到警署。
吴庆顺说：“我又不是犯人，为什么要把我铐起来？”
他说，他拿出手机要拍下这一幕，对方随即将手铐除下，但却把他带到路边的公寓外，不允许他离开。
吴庆顺说：“警员说要我等查案人员过来，结果我在那里等了1个小时，才获准离开。”
右手手铐印记5小时后还未退去，《联合晚报》摄影主任感觉受到侮辱

 By Wu Shao Jun