SINGAPORE : The case of three protesters, who took legal action
against the Home Affairs Minister and the Commissioner of Police,
has been dismissed with costs.
They had wanted a court decision on whether their constitutional
rights had been infringed after police dispersed them, saying they
were causing a 'public nuisance'.
The three - Chee Siok Chin, N. Gogelavany and Yap Keng Ho - had
held a protest outside the CPF building in Robinson Road on August
11.
Clad in white T-shirts, they carried placards which, among other
things, called for more government transparency.
On October 7, the Attorney-General applied to have their suit
dismissed with costs, saying it was 'irregular', 'frivolous' and
'an abuse' of the court process.
In dismissing the case, Justice V.K. Rajah said there was no
legitimate legal grievance against any authority.
He pointed out undermining confidence in public institutions
without any justification could hardly be described as a "peaceful
protest".
He added they could voice criticism if they had a factual or
legitimate basis to do so, but this must be down within the
parameters of the law.
Justice Rajah also found the police did not behave unlawfully or
unreasonably during the incident. - CNA/de
