Switzerland okay with Swiss vandal's punishment in Singapore, but caning is "not the Swiss way..."

Switzerland's president did not plead for leniency for a Swiss train vandal during a visit to Singapore, and said there was no "big debate" over the issue, reports said Saturday.

Oliver Fricker, a 32-year-old Swiss national, was sentenced to five months' jail and three strokes of the cane in June after pleading guilty to breaking into a metro depot and spray-painting a train.

In a meeting with Singapore President S.R. Nathan, Switzerland's Doris Leuthard said that punishing Fricker was "correct" but added that caning was not the Swiss way. More...

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