She was reportedly charged for theft of diapers and milk powder which was for her 15 month old baby.
Thankfully, we have a judge who tempers justice with compassion and mercy. And common sense. Why punish the mother - which will result in punishing an innocent infant? Magistrate M Saravanan - i hope you will learn from the example of the High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan. At the very least, impose a fine on her - and many people including myself will queue up to pay for her.
As i thought about this, i wondered where this phrase 'temper justice with mercy' originated from. I thought it could be from the Bible but there is no such phrase. But having said that, the entire message of the Bible is about how a holy God tempers his justice with mercy.
Closer to earth, Shakespeare was the one who came close to penning down those words - in the classic speech of Portia in the Merchant of Venice:-
The quality of mercy is not strained;*Her song which was nominated for a Grammy in 2009.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
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