LONDON: Jonathan Wong, the former teaching scholar who was found with child pornography will not be put in jail. Instead, at the York Crown Court in the UK yesterday, the 23-year-old was sentenced to a six-month imprisonment suspended for two years.This means he will not have to serve time behind bars if he does not re-offend within these two years. Wong could have been jailed a maximum of five years, reported the Straits Times.
A few hours after the verdict, the University of York, where he was an undergraduate, said it was expelling him.
In its statement to the press, the University of York said: "It is a matter of great regret that a member of the University has been convicted of these criminal offences. Jonathan Wong has been suspended since his plea of Guilty at his initial appearance before York Magistrates. On the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor, University Council has permanently excluded Jonathan Wong on grounds of gross misconduct."
According to the Straits Times, Wong has to forfeit his computer and sign the sex offenders' register for seven years. This will make him known to British police as a sex offender. Wong will also have to notify police if he changes his name or address, or if he spends more than a week away from home.
However, it is unclear how the arrangements would be affected if Wong leaves Britain as a result of being expelled.
The Ministy of Education (MOE) in Singapore said last month that it would revoke Wong's scholarship, leaving Wong to pay damages according to the terms of the scholarship.
The amount could add up to $175,000, said Wong's lawyer in his mitigation, reported the The New Paper on Tuesday.
He may have escaped jail, but his parents are paying for his sins.
The lawyer added that as Wong's parents do not have the money, they will be selling their home to raise the amount.
It is not known where the Wongs live in Singapore and what type of property they own. Both were not present in the York Crown court yesterday.
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