By Zul Othman | Posted: 17
August 2010 1502 hrs 
SINGAPORE: British writer Alan Shadrake, who is facing
contempt of court charges over his book, Once a Jolly Hangman:
Singapore Justice in the Dock, has denied any intention to
scandalise the Singapore judiciary.
In his affidavit, the 75-year-old said the purpose of writing his
book was to highlight the arbitrary manner in which prosecutors
sought the death penalty.
Mr Shadrake also said he wrote the book to show how the law passed
by Parliament was unjust.
Last month, Mr Shadrake was arrested after the Attorney-General's
Chambers (AGC) accused him of committing criminal defamation as his
book allegedly contained allegations and insinuations that the
Singapore Judiciary bowed to political and economic pressures when
meting out the death sentence.
In his affidavit, Mr Shadrake said the comments extracted by the
AGC had to be read in the context of his reasons for writing the
book.
The case will be mentioned again in court on August 30. -
CNA/vm
