IT IS disturbing that the hunger for success and the desire to be in front of the pack can blind a person to right behaviour.

Chinese hacker Zhao Ke is fortunate that he received only a $15,000 fine. The court was merciful enough not to impose a custodial sentence. I wonder whether the scholar, intelligent as he is, is aware of the implications to his future if he were to serve time in jail. As it turned out, the publicity on his intention to serve time in jail, in lieu of a portion of the fine, brought forward some good Samaritans.

Let this be a lesson learnt. Life is not all about being No. 1.

As to the call by some netizens to revoke his NUS scholarship and the convening of a NUS disciplinary board to look into the case, it would be useful to keep in mind what a judge said recently: 'We don't want a youthful mistake made out of folly to stain a person or forever damage a person's future prospects.'

To err is human, to forgive divine.
Ramona Lai Kuan Yeok (Mdm)

Letter to The Straits Times Forum pages