SDP trio jailed one week (in default) for criticizing the PAP without a permit
December 20th, 2009 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
The SDP trio of Dr Chee Soon Juan, Chee Siok Chin and Gandhi Ambalam were found guilty of distributing pamphlets criticising the PAP Government without a permit by district judge Ch’ng Lye Beng who fined them the maximum amount of $1,000 each with one week’s jail in default.
The offence was allegedly committed on 10 September 2006 in which they were stopped by police for distributing flyers at Raffles City Shopping Centre criticizing the high salaries of the PAP ministers.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Anandan Bala took offence with this statement in the flyer:
“Tired of being a voiceless 2nd class citizen in your own country without any rights? Sick of the Mnisters paying themselves millions of dollars while they tell you to keep making sacrifices for Singapore?”
The judge did not give any reason for his verdict.
Ms Chee told him after the sentence was passed that by pronouncing them guilty, he is saying that criticizing one’s government is not a right in Singapore and that Singapore is not a democratic society.
Ironically, the press secretary to the Law Minister Ms Chong Wan Yieng wrote a letter to the Straits Times Forum today correcting “inaccuracies” in a book written by a British writer.
In his book, Mr Kampfner wrote that in the context of Singapore, ‘any politician or journalist who says anything controversial about those in power is open to arrest and the subsequent charge of defamation. If they run out of money, they are declared bankrupt and may be sent to jail’.
Ms Chong denied that criticism is a “crime” in Singapore:
“This is quite inaccurate. Engaging in robust criticism per se is not and has never been a crime or libellous in Singapore……There can be, and there is, vigorous debate on public policies. But if allegations of personal misconduct are made, then those who make such allegations have to prove the truth of their statements.”
Though the SDP trio were charged for distributing flyers “without a permit”, they would probably not be hauled up to courts if the content is not critical of the government.
The above news was obtained from the SDP website as for some inexplicable reasons, the state media did not report on the matter. In fact, there is hardly any news about Dr Chee in the papers nowadays where previously it would have jumped on it with glee to demonize and discredit him.
Posted in Editorial
If handing out flyers is illegal, unless one has a permit, when are the police going to start arresting all those who stand on orchard road and hand out “sales” flyers trying to hawk their products.
Basically every the law minister said is either a lie, or he has not yet informed the judges of this change in the application of the law. If the second is the case, then the judge needs to be fired and new judges who understand that criticism is now ok. If it is the first, then the use of the law in Singapore just not only hit rock bottom, but they just bought a shovel and are beginning to dig.
Mahatma Gandhi.
Darned, so predictable! Sinkapore Judiciary is so predictable and one need not a PhD in Law to ‘guess’ the outcome of ANY POLITICALLY linked case, just no more fun.
Having said that, the tiro should file an appeal and quote the press secretary to the Law Minister Ms Chong Wan Yieng’s latest statement?
Lets put the system to the test and see if they walk their talk? But then the High Court will probably say its about ‘distributing flyers without permit’, nothing to deal with the content in the flyers.
Does one really need a Law Degree in Sinkapore to be a ‘good’ Judge?
If I would like to distribute flyers criticizing the government, and I apply for a permit.. I wonder if it would be approved.
i believe political distribution need permit, even flyer distribution in MRT need permission.
Chee is asking for it so whos to blame.
Janet ar janet, whats the POINT to apply for a permit if it is NEVER going to be granted anyway (admitted in court).
Stupid right?
so you need a permit to criticize the gov. Is there such a form available? I’d like to take a look at it.
The permit is non-existence because no opposition party will ever get the application approved. The only chance that it can get approved is when the PAP applies for it. The only way to change it is to vote PAP out or give them a poor mandate in the next election to wake up the arrogant ruling party !!!!
Not bad more and more people are able to recognise tyranny. Keep up your tyranny and good luck for coming election..
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_468308.html
wow…they can’t even co-ordinate…so the rules apply as and when one feels like it?
TO CRITICISE “The Opposition Parities”!!!
IS THIS “Democracy” of LHL’s “OPEN AND INCLUSIVE CIVIL SOCIETY” he TOLD US and then DID WHAT AFTERWARDS???
Talk about double talk and double standards. This IS IT!!!
STILL WANNA trust them eh???
About time Ho Peng Kee share his wisdom to explain the circumstances for getting a permit to criticise the govt.
Will Dr. Chee get a permit if his criticisms are along the following lines ?
The govt has grossly underpaid it’s ministers and therefore not attracting the best of the best.
The govt is sexist and against promoting women because MPs like Lee Bee Wah, Irene Ng, Josephine, Jessie, etc should have been ministers.
The govt has allowed talk of nepotism to affect their decision to rope in more family members who are actually blessed with talent to serve in the govt.( Ho Ching, Wei ling, Hsien Yang )
The govt is really dumb to appoint a useless bugger like Lim SS to prop up the PM when opposition leaders like myself, Sylvia, KJ should have been roped in and therefore no necessity for the PM to think about “fixing”.
janetnt on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 11:56 am
Criticising the Government not a crime at law?
But then the THOUGHT of criticising the Government is an indicted crime?
Not guilty for the action but guilty for the thought?
Ask very ordinary Singaporeans if the logic and law seem right, if you are ignorant.
classic!!
SDP Trio r FINED. they’ll be jailed if they don’t pay the fine.
should they be in jail, they r there for not paying the fine. one could end up in jail too for not paying the fine for smoking in forbidden area; but is it right to say that gahmen jail people for smoking?
classics!!
if SDP gets their way, n flyer distribution r completely out reach of law.. soon, we’ll be see-ing Gay-Rights activists distributing flyers promoting their cause; or perhaps, a religious activists spreading offensive message about other religions. maybe Robox would distribute flyers, too about how racist S’porean chinese r.
deoxin on Mon, 21st Dec 2009 10:26 am
Your slippery slope argument is false.
Everyday, I got flyers shoved into my face at Orchard Rd. Yet the authorities did not crack down on the businesses and fine/send people to jail for these. Following your (flawed) logic, soon people will start distributing racist and religious flyers everywhere and we will have riots on our streets.
I love Singapore. It is getting more like China everyday.
Mmmm…feels like home here.
See: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/china/news/article.cfm?l_id=28&objectid=10611312&pnum=1
Blogger Huang Qi is jailed too. I think all of you Temasek review writers and commenters criticizing PAP will be jailed soon. Don’t say I did not want u all.
I wonder if 33% of the population can fit into Changi Prison. Hmmm…