Driving to Jail

First, it was Paris Hilton. Then it was our own Christopher Lee. Both sentenced to jail for offences related to reckless driving. Was Christopher's case untimely? Bananation has only one word to say to Lee - "suay" (a Hokkien term to mean unlucky).

The 26- year old heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune violated her probation and knowingly drove with a suspended licence. By June 5, Hiltion will have to report to a women's jail in suburban Lynwood or face 90-days behind bar, double the sentence she received. Lee, 35, an A-list actor with Mediacorp was convicted on a hit-and-run reckless driving. Lee's fate is still unknown as he will be appealing the 4-weeks jail sentence. If he fails, he will be reprising his role as a jailbird in the movie [The Best Bet] (left inset).

Lee is not the first Mediacorp celebrity to be charged with reckless driving, but he is the first to be slapped with jail term. 2 Indian riders were thrown off the motocycle after a collision with Lee's black Mercede-Benz. The fact that he desserted the injured after the accident is a selfish act that disregards the life and death of others. Have a police officer not apphrended him as he fled the scene, we would still be deceived by the veneer of his public charisma when in fact, guilt lures behind the mask.

If Paris, an AAA-list celebrity is going to jail, why not Lee, whose offence is more serious to warrant a jail term? Lee's sentence is a calculated judgement which rides on the publicity of Hilton's case in sending a strong signal to our celebrities: don't think that you will be treated differently because of who you are; if you flaut the laws, you pay the price accordingly. Ex-TV host, Benedict Goh, is probably keeping his fingers crossed on his judgement day. The 37-years old hunk from the 1994 Manhunt competition was charged for alleged drink-driving and lying to the police on May 9. However, one contributor to forum (ST, May 12) was flummoxed why Goh went scot free 3 years ago for the same alledged offence? FYI, Paris was sentenced on May 4.

If Lee, an ah-ge (an established male actor) goes to jail, other A-listers will think twice about driving while inebriated.

The basic rule applies: alcohol, taxis or jail.