Kamari Charlton (right) is about to face his toughest hit ever
If the United States Sentencing Commission adopted the same punishment guidelines as used in Singapore, crime would significantly be reduced in the U.S. The latest American to fall victim overseas to ignorance of the law is former Florida State star Kamari Charlton. The 37 year-old Seminole was arrested after he overstayed his 3 month tourist visa by 169 days. Initially, he claimed he did not leave within the 90-day visa time frame because his wife, who had a six month medical visa, was receiving medical care for complications in her pregnancy. Charlton further stated that he was given bad advice about how the visa process worked from some random individual he met on the streets.
Singapore officials stated that the real reason Charlton was arrested at Changi Airport was officials were acting on an Interpol alert that he was wanted for money laundering and running a phone scam. Regardless of the allegations, it’s clear Charlton majored in football and did not learn that foreigners in any country are subject to the laws of that country.
Now that the arrest was made, Charlton’s charge of failing to leave prior to the expiration of his visa, carries an unusual punishment. Charlton’s offense is punishable by a maximum of 6 months in jail and 3 stroke of the cane. The last American to come face-to-face to a Singapore beat-down was the infamous Michael Fay for his 1994 acts of theft and vandalism.
A separate hearing is forthcoming for the money laundering and phone scam issues.
For inquiring minds, Singapore has a unique way of administering canning. Charlton will be strapped to a wooden frame and lashed across his bare butt with a long rattan stick. Incidentally, Southeast Asian countries boast some of the lowest violent crime rates in the world, but it is also recognized they have some of the most severe punishments.
