Two Singaporean men hurt in a booze-fuelled brawl say they were offered $20,000 to help cover their medical costs by a Kiwi involved - but didn't accept it because they thought he would use that to get off charges.
Stockbroker Robert Dahlberg, a member of a prominent Nelson family and a well-regarded basketballer, left Singapore a year ago on a short business trip and did not return - thus forfeiting a $23,000 bond. But he went back 10 days ago saying he wanted to deal with the charge of causing grievous bodily harm.
His father, Bill, said his son had acted honourably from the start, including offering to pay expenses for the victims.
But Paul Liew, who suffered a broken nose in the 2010 incident and now has a permanent scar across his forehead, said he was offended by the $20,000 offer.
"It undermines the whole process if he thinks he can pay me off," Liew told the Herald on Sunday. Liew said he was concerned police would drop the case if he accepted payment from Dahlberg. Full story
