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Singaporean man faces jail term for criticizing judiciary

A Singapore opposition leader fears he is facing a lengthy jail term after questioning the independence of the country's judiciary.

Chee Soon Juan, one of Singapore's few opposition figures, is to appear in court tomorrow to answer contempt of court allegations.

"I'm looking at jail time, prison time. How long, I don't know ... It's really basically up to the judge," Chee, 43, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party, said in an interview.

Chee said he has served three previous jail terms -- a total of about two months -- for speaking publicly without a permit but he expects a more severe sentence this time.

The attorney-general filed a contempt of court action after a Feb. 10 High Court hearing at which Chee was declared bankrupt. The bankruptcy order followed his failure to pay S$500,000 (US$307,000) in damages to the city's founding father Lee Kuan Yew and another former prime minister, Goh Chok Tong.

During those proceedings, Chee read a three-page statement criticizing the city-state's judiciary.

"Today I have made the decision not to remain silent any more and tell you what you don't want to hear: That the judiciary in Singapore is, sadly, not independent especially when it comes to dealing with opposition politicians," he told the court.

The Law Society of Singapore, in comments reported by the local press, called Chee's allegations deeply detrimental to the rule of law. The Society was responding to Chee's public request for it to get involved in his contempt case.

"The Law Society rejects the allegations that you have made concerning the independence of the judiciary," the Society's president was quoted as saying.

Interviewed at his office atop a row of shops, Chee said that before making the comments he had thought long and hard -- ever since 1993 when he was first sued by a ruling People's Action Party (PAP) member.

"It's taken me all these years to summon up enough courage to, you know, tell the emperor that he has no clothes, and to make the preparations to be able to face the consequences," he said.

A member of the Singapore Democratic Party since 1992, Chee is a neuropsychologist with a doctorate from the University of Georgia in the US. He said his practice lapsed because his political stance made it hard to receive referrals from medical professionals.

Political work now takes up most of his time.

He is the author of four books about politics and another about parenting, and said he earns an income by selling them on the street.

Another Singapore opposition figure, J.B. Jeyaretnam, 80, has also been reduced to hawking his self-penned books after legal battles with the ruling PAP that bankrupted him.

J.B. Jeyaretnam was the first opposition member of parliament to break the PAP's hold on seats, and he continues to speak out.

"I only have admiration for what he's doing," Chee said.

Chee added that he is prepared to leave his three young children in order to make a point.
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