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(June 2, 2008/ Singapore) Dr.
Chee Soon Juan, chair of CALD and secretary
general of the Singapore Democratic
Party (SDP), and Ms. Chee Siok Chin,
executive committee member of CALD and member of SDP,
were convicted of contempt of court by High Court Judge Belinda
Ang and sentenced to 12 and 10 days imprisonment respectively.
The Judge had said that the two defendants had scandalised the
court and impugned its integrity.
At the beginning of the hearing this morning counsel for Ms.
Chee, Mr. M Ravi, argued that the transcript Judge Ang used for
citing instances of contemptuous conduct came from Merrill Legal
Solutions, a company contracted to record and transcribe
proceedings.
The Lees' lawyers of Drew & Napier had paid for Merrill's
services. A copy of the transcript was then extended to Judge
Ang.
Mr. Ravi pointed out that documents that were relied on by the
court had to be made available to all parties. The defendants
were not provided copies of the full transcript.
When Dr. Chee approached Merrill earlier, he was informed that
because Drew & Napier had applied for the transcription
services, a copy could not be given to him. The defendant was
told he would have to contact the Lees' lawyers.
Judge Ang ordered Mr. Ravi to proceed to make submissions on Ms.
Chee's punishment. When counsel finished, the Judge sentenced
Ms. Chee to ten days imprisonment.
It was then Mr. J B Jeyaretnam's turn to make submissions on Dr.
Chee's behalf. Mr. Jeyaretnam had earlier agreed to act for the
SDP secretary-general.
Mr. Jeyaretnam made two preliminary applications. The first was
to invite Judge Ang to recuse herself from the matter.
"It's a question of whether a judge should act in her own
cause," the veteran opposition politician pointed out. "You have
been so much a party in the proceedings that public perception
of your participation in it is important."
Mr. Jeyaretnam also wanted more time to study the facts of the
case. He had received the Judge's citations only during the
weekend and have not had the time to prepare the case.
The Judge rejected both applications.
Because of the lack of time to properly brief Mr. Jeyaretnam,
Dr. Chee said that it was not fair to expect his lawyer to argue
his case effectively.
"I couldn't leave Singapore because of my bankruptcy and Mr.
Jeyartenam was in Johor Barhru over the weekend," Dr. Chee
cited, adding that this made it difficult to get the transcripts
to his counsel.
Dr. Chee accordingly discharged Mr. Jeyaretnam as counsel and
said that he would not be defending the charges. He would accept
whatever punishment the Judge ordered.
Judge Ang then sentenced him to 12 days imprisonment. She also
directed that if the defendants did not file their Notices of
Appeal by the close of business day on Wednesday, June 4, 2008,
Dr. Chee and Ms. Chee would be jailed starting June 5, 2008.
The defendants have applied for the $10,000 security costs to be
waived in order to appeal Judge Ang's decision. She has reserved
judgment on the amount of damages the defendants have to pay to
the Lees.
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