Shaw scion gets 12 weeks’ jail for sex with underage prostitute

TNP PHOTO: Gary Goh

Twenty-four written testimonials and a 90-minute closing statement by his lawyer did not save Howard Shaw Chai Li from a jail sentence.

Shaw's lawyer, Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal, had argued that Shaw had made an“honest and reasonable” mistake in engaging the service of an underage prostitute.

But Senior District Judge See Kee Oon said the fact that Shaw did not ask the girl about her age or make any effort to verify her age, showed it was not an “honest and reasonable mistake”.

Yesterday, the grandson of the founder of cinema giant Shaw Organisation was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail for paid sex with the underage girl in 2010.

Shaw’s lawyer said he will be appealing against the sentence, and Shaw’s police bail of $10,000 was extended to court bail of the same amount.