MR FRANCIS SEOW TIANG SIEW (Disqualification as Non-Constituency Member)

Mr Speaker: I wish to inform hon. Members that Mr Francis Seow Tiang Siew who was declared as having been elected as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament on the 16th day of September 1988 has since the 17th day of December 1988 ceased to be such a Member of Parliament.

By letters dated the 19th and 20th December 1988, the Registrar of the Subordinate Courts has informed me of the fact that Mr Francis Seow Tiang Siew was convicted and sentenced by a District Court for a total of five offences under section 96(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act.

For three of the offences for which he was convicted on the 17th December 1988, he was fined $3,000 for each offence and in respect of the two offences for which he was convicted on the 20th December 1988, he was fined $5,000 for each offence. The Attorney-General has advised that, on account of the fines imposed on him by the District Court on the 17th and 20th December 1988, Mr Francis Seow Tiang Siew has been disqualified to be a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament since the 17th day of December 1988, by reason of the provisions of Article 45(1)(e) of the Constitution.

I have to therefore inform hon. Members that Mr Francis Seow Tiang Siew ceased to be a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament with effect from the 17th December 1988.

Sitting of Parliament