Shadrake gets 6 weeks jail, fine

Clivebenss SG

BRITISH writer Alan Shadrake, 76, was sentenced to six weeks in jail and fined S$20,000 on Tuesday for contempt of court.

Shadrake was also ordered to pay S$55,000 in costs to the prosecution by High Court Judge Quentin Loh.

The judge dismissed a last-minute apology by Shadrake as 'nothing more than a tactical ploy in court to obtain a reduced sentence', and ruled that the freelance journalist will have to serve two more weeks in prison if he fails to pay the fine.

'A fine should be imposed to prevent Mr Shadrake from profiting from his contempt (of court),' the judge said. The High Court delivered the verdict against Shadrake in connection with his book Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock, which was deemed to have insulted the Singaporean judiciary.

The attorney-general's office, which took Shadrake to court, claims that statements in the book impugn the impartiality, integrity and independence of the judiciary.

The writer accused Singapore's courts of succumbing to political influences and favoring the rich over the poor in his book 'Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore's Justice in the Dock.' The book contained 'half-truths and selective facts; sometimes even outright falsehoods,' Judge Loh said in his Nov 3 verdict.

The prosecution had sought a jail term of at least 12 weeks because of Shadrake's 'continued defiance' and allegations of 'the worst possible kind' against the judiciary. Shadrake had no intention of undermining the city's judiciary and ought to be censured instead of jailed or fined, his lawyer M. Ravi said at a Nov 9 hearing.

-- AFP, AP

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

It would have been better if he didn't apologise...

He had been defiant throughout the ordeal... why apologise at the last moment -___-

If like he said, the judiciary is problematic, would apology even solve anything -___-?

Rock^Star SG

no balls sia.....reminds me of that stupid gopalan farker.

Clivebenss SG

his last minute apology is a grave mistake, no more credibility.

^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~ SG

his last minute apology is a grave mistake, no more credibility.

ya lorx...

He wrote... He shld have stood by it...

Now, watever, how he argue, no more credibility...

MobTwo SG

Cannot criticize singapore government lah, do it sure jia lak jia lak, even if you are right also will be jailed. Singapore is a meritodictatorship societLEE.

Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1) SG

fail..

dechang SG

He should have published his books overseas and stay overseas.

Of course the PAP can still sue him even though he is overseas.

But I think if PAP will to sue him overseas he will be subjected to overseas law and not singapore law so it will be more fair..

Also, some prisons in other countries are like chalets..He will definetly enjoy himself in prison..

Rock^Star SG

I still remembered he showed a V-sign while outside the court. He said he will stand by whatever he has written. And now he apologises.....this is a victory for the PAP.

charlize SG

I think he planned it.

By apologising, he knows it will be featured big in the local papers and thus give him more publicity.

If he was defiant all the way, the local papers would probably dedicate a 50 word article on his case.

As it is, more people are now aware of the book he has written.

charlize SG

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/11/ypap-hearing-only-the-good-stuff/

Clivebenss SG

CONTEMPT OF COURT CASE

A BRITISH author jailed for six weeks after his book on Singapore's death penalty was found to be in contempt of court is filing an appeal to overturn his conviction, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Alan Shadrake, 76, 'wishes to appeal against his conviction and sentence,' a letter sent by his lawyer M. Ravi to the Supreme Court said.

Mr Ravi told AFP by telephone that Shadrake, a freelance writer based in Malaysia and Britain, should not have been convicted for insulting the judiciary in his book Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock.

'Even if he's found guilty, the sentence is excessive,' added Mr Ravi, who declined to state his grounds for challenging the conviction.

Shadrake was handed a six-week jail term on Tuesday and fined S$20,000 after being found guilty of scandalising Singapore's courts.

It was the stiffest sentence ever imposed in Singapore for the offence. The previous longest jail term for contempt of court was 15 days.

Judge Quentin Loh said he imposed a deterrent sentence on Shadrake as the freelance journalist's allegations of 'judicial impropriety' were without precedent.

-- AFP

likeyou SG

He should look at his own country problem first before kpo pple's system.

Serve him right.

onźźa SG

(AFP) – 4 hours ago

SINGAPORE — A minister has said he is "dismayed" by the prison sentence handed to a British author convicted by a Singapore court of insulting the city-state's judiciary.

Foreign office minister Jeremy Browne said in comments posted on the website of the British High Commission in Singapore that author Alan Shadrake's views on the judicial system should be covered by the right to freedom of expression.

The High Court of the island republic on Tuesday imposed a six-week jail term on 76-year-old Shadrake for insulting the judiciary by publishing a book critical of executions there.

The freelance journalist was also fined 20,000 Singapore dollars (15,000 US) following his conviction for contempt of court. He remains free pending an appeal.

"The government attaches importance to freedom of expression around the world," Browne said in remarks seen on the website Friday.

"I am therefore dismayed that Mr Shadrake has been charged, convicted and sentenced to six weeks in jail in Singapore for expressing his personal views on the legal system."

Browne added that the commission "would continue to call on all countries, including Singapore, to recognise the right to freedom of expression as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".

On Thursday, Shadrake said through his lawyer that he was filing an appeal to overturn the conviction, which stemmed from allegations made in his book "Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock".

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a sharp rebuttal to Browne's comments, saying it was "surprised" he had raised the issue and the case had nothing to do with freedom of expression.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is surprised that a British minister has commented on the matter, which is not about freedom of expression or Singapore-UK relations, but about the integrity of Singapore's judicial system," a ministry spokesman said.

"The British government should understand that Singapore has the right to enforce its own laws to protect the reputation of our judiciary and judicial system, as well as other key public institutions."

However, both Browne and the MFA said Shadrake's case was unlikely to affect bilateral ties, with the British minister scheduled to make an introductory visit to Singapore in December.

onźźa SG

He should look at his own country problem first before kpo pple's system.

Serve him right.

He is bold to speak on the judiciary system in kangaroo court. You don't support justice , do you?

You nutcase.

Rock^Star SG

yeh but he lost his balls when the going got tough on him.