Released on bail, British journalist accused of contempt of court
July 21st, 2010 | 
Author: Reporters without Borders, 20 July 2010
Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the contempt of court charges that have been brought against British freelance journalist Alan Shadrake in connection with his new book, “Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock.” Freed on bail last night, Shadrake is due to appear before the Singapore high court on 30 July.
The press freedom organisation has seen a copy of the complaint brought against Shadrake by the attorney-general’s office. It consists of just a series of biased and malicious allegations that show that the case is an abuse of judicial authority.
The complaint says that parts of the book, which is about Singapore’s use of the death penalty, “contains imputations against the independence and integrity of the Singapore judiciary.” In evidence, it quotes around 20 passages which for the most part contain widely-known facts about Singapore’s justice system.
Read rest of article here.
Posted in Snippets
23 Responses to “Released on bail, British journalist accused of contempt of court”
Loading ...
Alex Tan Allan Ooi AWARE Chee Soon Juan Chiam See Tong Claire Lee David Widjaja DBS Dr Allan Ooi Dr Silviu Ionescu Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Foyce Le Xuan highnote5 Hong Lim Park Jack Lin Xinli Jack Neo Jack Neo affair Jack Neo scandal Josie Lau Josie Lau Meng Lee Lee Kuan Yew Lehman brothers Lighthouse Evangelism MAS minibonds Miss Singapore World NTU stabbing PAP Pastor Rony Tan Ris Low Romanian diplomat in hit-and-run Rony Tan S-League silviu ionescu Singapore Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Tan Kin Lian Thio Su Mien Tiger Woods affair Tong Kok Wai Top 8 Vivian Balakrishnan Wendy Chong Y O G Youth Olympic Games
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
Run Alan. Run!
I think the RSF should rally behind Shadrake.
They should lobby the European countries to boycott the YOG if Shadrake is not release unconditionally before 1 Aug.
Haha, maybe TR can rally the Asian countries to boycott the YOG!
i dun see why a foreigner should tell us wat to do….
go back to your stupid country and clear your backyard first before coming here to be a busybody!
While I salute Mr. Shadrake for having the courage to do the hard work and writing the book and exposing the truth, I think it is unwise for him to visit Singapore.
It will only lead to bad things for him, with the old man and his little boy in power and all.
Run, Shadrake, Run!
Run Shadrake.Michael Vana,Mas Selamat & Silviu Ionescu did that before.
Too late for Alan Shadrake to run, the police has confiscated his passport.
Once again the British trying to be funny with Singapore, what are they thinking about that Singapore are part of their Great Britian?
Singapore Govt. should remind British people to stop showing off their Arrogant Evil Empire attitude, we are our own Master
Your Great Britian days has expire long time ago…
Singapore Govt. should tear down the statue of Sir Stamford Raffless and replace it immediately with Lee Kuan Yew statue, we are no longer a colony of the Britian it is an insult to Singapore to worship an Ang Mo Gao, Singapore was founded by a Malay Sultan
Singapore must stamp our authority, show the British who is the BOSS in Singapore. Our Conservative Judge as before should continued our tradition of having discretion “to write new laws” for heavily punishment to Alan Shadrake. Don’t interfere into our domestic politics, Singaporean is not the slave of Britian, Singapore Govt. is no pushover, we will not Kowtow to the previous Colonical Master be it Dutch, French, Spainish, Japanese, British, Italian and your Imperalist USA…back off
Not too sure if we should all jump onto this bandwagon to rally behind Shadrake before having a better handle on the rationale behind the charges, or in fact, without even a glimpse into the content of Shadrake’s book. Much as I have some issues with the Govt’s handling of certain matters, I actually don’t think they are so clueless as to bring charges against a foreign national without substantive evidence to back themselves up, in view of the domestic and international backlash that would invariably generate.
ah beng:
July 22, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Singaporean is not the slave of Britian, Singapore Govt. is no pushover, we will not Kowtow to the previous Colonical Master be it Dutch, French, Spainish, Japanese, British, Italian and your Imperalist USA…back off.
————————————————————
Singapore Govt is no pushover…
hey,ah beng,really?
kowtow to british still better than kowtow to romanians,agree?
now,they even kowtow to bengalis,making citizens unhappy.
so,why say this singapore govt is no pushover?
the are not only pushovers,they are left-overs waiting to be discarded.
To hannson han: July 22, 2010 at 11:11 am
To clarify the fog further…it is up to the individual to read the book Mr. Sharake wrote to decide whether it is science fiction or fantasy or bullocks…and to finally decide on the basis of the facts and transparent but audited information given in the book to make the decision and his/her position of the book.
By “banning” the book in Singapore…how can one then acertain the written book is standing in concrete or slippery mud. How?
You can’t just based on the hearsay of others and start mindlessly condemming folks. That is most unfair not only to others but also to you. You deserve to either get or secure more factual information then only then your judgement of others is without reproach.
Good day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKn6h2×5IcY
I’m also a bit concerned at the direction all these comments are heading. First of all guys, do we really know what he actually wrote? Does anyone has a copy of the book? What if he really said something false? Worse, wh at if he said something that is clearly out to make Singapore look bad?
And what’s all these angst about the death penalty? It has served us well. I believe that without it, there would be more serious crime in Singapore. And yes, this includes drug use and drug trafficking. I’ve seen what damage drug use cause to addicts and their families. It’s an ugly reality. Those who contribute to such sufferings, even if they’re ‘just’ mules, deserves the most severe sanction.
Shadrake is too clever for his own good. Either that he’s super dumb.
Contrary to his belief, the Singapore garment is not afraid of international repercussion by arresting a British National backed by Amnesty International. In fact, they hate it when the westerners dictate what they should or should not do, as seen by many past instances when they don’t show face to even US when they try to interfere with our decision. You think they would cane Flicker if they so scared?
@ 12831,
It’s not too late Mr.Shadrake.It’s already proven that the notorious Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from Onraet Road ISD Detention Centre and went into hiding in JB without any travel document.
Its never too late for Alan Shadrake, he just needs to step into the
Australian, British, Canadian US embassy.
They will bring him away.
Too bad for the Singapore authorities, he is staying to fight.
HAHAHA
to sturmtruppen:
July 22, 2010 at 4:18 pm
excuse me. did i say he cannot publish his book? did i say the book must be banned?
just because i said ‘foreigners’ and u seem edgy.
i will say it again – he can go back to his own stupid country.
Philip@july22,2010 at 4:34pm, is right and I agree with you.I really concern too.
Alamak,only a book lah,somemore opinion of the writer.Don’t understand why gabramen want to care too much.Like that everything next time also cannot criticise meh?Can only praise PAP meh?
PRC govt always hear complaint from own citizens but seldom care.How to stop citizens grumble sure some happy some complain mah.If PRC govt follow our gabramen so sensitive at everything sure die one,everyday no time to run country but spend time sueing people and put them to jail.
Run away Alan Shadrake. Don’t play a hero facing to the PAPaya gahmen. You already a hero in your own right by writing this book in the first place.
Run, quick. TooK Leng How no passport also can get across. WKS can close 2 eyes to allow you to pass, after all HE is the ALMIGHTY that can create a CONFLUENCE of errors!!! Quick run – you can sniper the PAPaya gahmen another time.
Alan, run and fight at your own turf. not here in sg, there will never be a fair trial. francis seow can tell you that,
PAP is paranoid. If they got balls to come up with atrocities, why not have balls to make a stance without having to resort to force?
To all MIW supporters, how about you being put to jail and the system says that you cannot be represented by a lawyer because your case is referring to a certain law?
How about a mandatory sentence, ie. the penalty is already decided without actually the need for trail to determine the nature and gravity and this mandatory sentence is death for some charges.
How about if you got lots of money and well networked into MIW, your case is different; but if you are ordinary, you will surely hang.
This is what the book was about supported by a series of intensive case research and first hand interviews.
From some of the response from MIW supporters, it seems like tyrant mentality has indeed being ingrained in their heads after years of brainwashing by MIW in school and media.
To the ones who say we have to look at what was written before we judge the government….I ask, does it matter?
It is not about what was written…..It is about having the choice to read something and decide for ourselves whether the content is agreeable or not.
Do we ask the government what clothes to wear? what food to eat? when to go to the toilet?
I am happy I found this weblog, I couldnt discover any info on this topic matter earlier to. I also run a site and if you want to actually serious in just a little bit of guest writing for me if possible really feel free to let me know, i’m always look for people to check out my site. Please stop by and leave a comment sometime!