Extent of Fay’s Suffering in Flogging Disputed : Singapore: Father says convicted vandal was ‘bloodied.’ Authorities deny ‘wild allegations.’

Controversy flared Saturday over how much American teen-ager Michael Fay suffered during a flogging he received as punishment for vandalism, with the government denying his family’s claims that the youth was “bloodied.”

Fay’s American lawyer, Theodore Simon, asserted after taking part in a conference call with a U.S. consular official who visited the youth in prison Friday that Fay’s “flesh was ripped and broken and that there was horizontal slashing and cutting.” Simon said blood ran down Fay’s legs.

But a statement issued by the Singapore prisons department Saturday rejected what it called “wild allegations and misinformation” by Simon and the youth’s father, George Fay.

The Singapore statement claimed that Fay shook hands with the prison official who flogged him after the punishment was meted out, smiled and walked back to his cell on his own. It quoted Fay as telling U.S. diplomat John Coe that while the caning cut his skin, “there were a few drops of blood.”

Neither Coe nor U.S. diplomats have publicly commented on Fay’s appearance or condition.

George Fay quoted Coe as saying that the teen-ager had “been bloodied” by the four strokes of the rattan cane, which he received as part of his sentence for spray-painting cars. The original sentence of six strokes was reduced by order of Singapore’s Cabinet as a goodwill gesture to President Clinton.

“I could barely listen as he described how he saw one 2-inch-wide slash which looked more severe than the others, where he apparently received more than one hit of the cane,” the elder Fay said.

Fay’s mother, Randy Chan, did not give details of the briefing she received from U.S. officials but added: “I’m extremely disturbed. I’m extremely upset. This was torture.”

Fay is now serving a four-month jail term imposed as part of his sentence. He also paid a $2,230 fine.

The Singapore authorities issued an unusually detailed account of the caning and the subsequent meeting between Fay and the consular official. Requests by Fay’s family to visit him or to send a doctor to treat him have been turned down.

The statement was apparently based on an account of the conversation between Fay and Coe from two prison officers who were within hearing distance. The statement said Fay “was observed to be quite cheerful and in good spirits. He smiled and laughed during the interview. He sat on a chair shortly after the interview started and remained seated throughout the rest of the interview.”

Fay’s father had maintained that his son stood during the entire meeting and walked with difficulty. He said his son was in continuous pain.

The Singapore statement said Fay told Coe that the caning “was not as bad and horrifying as described in the press.”

Fay may be released as early as June 21 with time off for good behavior.