Singapore politician gets one-day jail term for contempt

One Singapore's few opposition politicians, Chee Soon Juan (徐順全), was sentenced yesterday to a one-day jail term and fined for contempt of court after questioning the integrity of the judicial system.

It is the first time a court has jailed anyone for "scandalizing the court."

Chee Soon Juan, 43, secretary general of the Singapore Democratic Party, would be given an additional jail term of seven days if he did not pay the fine of S$6,000 (US$3,700) by 5pm, Justice Lai Siu Chiu of the High Court said.

"This is probably one of the worst cases that has come before the court for scandalizing the judiciary," Lai told him.

The contempt application was filed with the High Court after a Feb. 10 hearing at which Chee was declared bankrupt. That declaration followed his failure to pay S$500,000 in damages to former prime ministers Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀) and Goh Chok Tong (吳作棟).

Lee, Goh and other members of the People's Action Party, which has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965, have a history of taking legal action against their political opponents and media critics. They argue they do so to protect their reputations.

Chee's M. Ravi, told reporters outside court that he doubted Chee had the money to pay the contempt fine, meaning he would spend the additional week in jail. Chee was also ordered to pay legal costs.

He has served three previous jail terms for speaking publicly without a permit.