Singapore Democrats

Home News Singapore Nair to stand trial for Belinda Ang "insult"
Nair to stand trial for Belinda Ang "insult" Print Email
Monday, 08 September 2008
AFP

An American blogger charged with insulting a Singapore judge pleaded innocent in court Monday and vowed to contest the allegation.

Gopalan Nair allegedly accused a judge of "prostituting herself" by being biased in favour of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former premier Lee Kuan Yew, in a defamation case they filed against an opposition politician.


"Not guilty," Nair, who is representing himself, told the Supreme Court when asked to enter a plea after the charge was read out.

The judge, Belinda Ang, had presided over the case against Singapore Democratic Party leader Chee Soon Juan.

Nair, a former Singaporean lawyer who has US citizenship, allegedly wrote on his blog that she was "nothing more than an employee of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his son and carrying out their orders," according to the charge read out in court.

The 10-day hearing was to have begun Monday but was adjourned for two days at Nair's request to allow him more time to prepare his defence and settle personal matters.

Nair also said he needed to arrange for money to be sent from the United States to pay a 3,000 Singapore dollar fine (2,117 US) issued against him in another case.

Nair was found guilty last Friday for abusive behaviour against two police officers and disorderly behaviour.

Under Singapore law, Nair faces a jail term of up to one year and a 5,000 Singapore dollar fine if found guilty of insulting a public servant.

Nair was to have faced a second charge of insulting another judge, but the state prosecutor told the court the charge would be "stood down." A legal expert said this means that charge would be heard separately.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gUM0iu_d4gL9CGZ4p7uZUHlW7eSQ

Share this article:
Facebook Technorati Stumble It! Newsvine Reddit Del.icio.us Digg This!
Comments (25)
  • ah beng - PAP always like that
    Before the final decision of the court is made against Nair, I think I already know the outcome. PAP is so predictable. If Nair wins this case, I will kenna 4D. Don't get me wrong, I really want him to come free....
  • George Bush
    He insulted the PRCs and you want to free him
  • Agnes Chia - To: George Bush
    LKY also insulted the not as highly educated Singaporeans by urging the so called highly educated ones to give birth to more babies and telling the no as educated Singaporeans to stop producing at two? Go and look at the HOPE scheme that the LKY government had implemented and "encouraged" the lower educated parents to stop producing (I am refering to a current scheme). Isn't this insult to the not as highly educated citizens?

    He and his league also insulted me and my many fellow Singaporean friends by trying to lure us with the upgrading carrots. That is why I am seeing many of my neighouring blocks are upgrading now but mine still pending cos I think many from my block opted for the oppostion in GE2006. Haha, what is this to deter us from voting with our conscious? During GE2006, if I remember correctly, one of the PAP ministers, you kow who...said that if Eric Low or Seetoh got elected, they need not be subjected to the party whip. Wow, isn't this also an insult to the other ministers and MPs in the same party?

    LKY and his league are insulting me, thinking that all these are more important than my civil rights, civil liberties, they think those material stuff are more important than my dignity and my soul?

    Actually if we want to list down all the insults LKY and his ruling elites have made, I believe one full page of this website will not be enough for one to write. But I am not so free to spend time listing them down, I need to go and sleep now cos I need to work tomorrow to earn my keep so that I can continue to pay for taxes, ERPs, etc.

    I believe if one really stop himself from being in denial, one would realise and acknowledge that ya, these ruling elites have insulted many Singaporeans big time, many times.

    So what is Nair's so called insult to the PRCs compared to the insults LKY and his team had launched upon many out here and out there? If Nair shouldn't be fred due to the so called insults at the PRCs, then what should be mete out to LKY and his league? We must use the same yard stick to measure and do not impose multi standards of judgement. Cannot one time use a metre rule to measure then another time use a centimetre ruler to measure. This is simple mathematics and arithmetic.
  • Anonymous
    PAPies and lee = SIngapore
    of course they'll win. xD
  • Well Done Mr Nair! - Stand up tall for what you value
    [color=blue][b]Well Done Mr Nair!

    Stand up tall for what you value and what they stand for!

    Do not let the Ruling Regime dominate and control and destroy your values over monies![/b][/color]
  • We salute to you -SURELY! - stand up against FamiLees!
    [b][quote]Gopalan Nair allegedly accused a judge of "prostituting herself" by being biased in favour of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, former premier Lee Kuan Yew, in a defamation case they filed against an opposition politician.

    "Not guilty," Nair, who is representing himself, told the Supreme Court when asked to enter a plea after the charge was read out.[/quote][/b]

    [color=red][b]That is the way to go!

    At least you came back all the way to show Stinkaporeans that you have the guts to stand up against FamiLees!

    We salute to you -SURELY![/b][/color]
  • Take Care - ALL THE BEST
    [b]I feel you got away "lightly" from the monsters as the case is being "highly watched"!

    Do play smart; get back and keep writing you very very interesting blog ; which we Sinkaporeans learn more about living here itself -ha!ha! what an irony?[/b]
  • Not Easily Fooled - Work Smart with Bunch of Clowns
    [quote]Nair was to have faced a second charge of insulting another judge, but the state prosecutor told the court the charge would be "stood down." [/quote]

    There is more to it - they have to "stood down"as Mr Nair is firm w/his values and no fooling around!

    He is a smart lawyer like Mr Chia-a learned man!

    Well Done! Keep it up!
  • Good Bye - Enough is Enough
    Aiyah pls lah can some kind soul tell Old Papa Lee that we say thank you for all what he as "done" that now he spends his time taking care of his sick and ailing wife!

    God Bless!
  • Well Said Quote - Good to share
    [b][quote]Using legal threats only make people fearful of those threats. Threats silence the people.

    Silence does not mean “people believes that anybody is doing anything that’s not corrupt or improper”.[/quote][/b]
  • Why is it so? - Why is it so?
    Everybody knows only in Singapore's kangaroo courts can the Lees get away with this. The mud will stick no matter what the judgement is.

    Everytime when there is such a court case like this in sinkapore's courts, everybody in the streets know the verdict beforehand. Why is it so?

    Why people in the streets seem to know the monkey family will win?

    [b]The other 66.6% of the voters, - They probably know what is going on, but made a choice to close their eyes, or sell their soul, or just too weak to make a different choice for themselves[/b]
  • Chew - re:
    [quote=George Bush]He insulted the PRCs and you want to free him[/quote]

    And yet you said nothing when Lee Kuan Yew insulted the whole of America by daring to pay his nincompoop ministers more than you, insinuating that you and your country are mediocre.

    And yet you said nothing when Lee Kuan Yew had been insulting democracy since 1955.

    "But we either believe in democracy or we not. If we do, then, we must say categorically, without qualification, that no restraint from the any democratic processes, other than by the ordinary law of the land, should be allowed... If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it unconditionally. If you believe that men should be free, then, they should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free publication. Then, no law should permit those democratic processes to be set at nought, and no excuse, whether of security, should allow a government to be deterred from doing what it knows to be right, and what it must know to be right... " - Lee Kuan Yew, Legislative Assembly Debates, April 27, 1955

    Dear fake George Bush,

    Are you a Gorge bush wannabe, or a Lee Kuan Yew wannabe, or worse, a Belinda Ang wannabe?

    Best regards,
    Chew
  • anon - Please consider
    If they can do this to Nair, imagine what they will do to you if you ever cross their path. And even if you never cross their path, what is to prevent your love ones from such a "mistake". The best way to have a peace of mind is to vote them out of office. If without them, you cannot survive, then ... they must not be very good to you - it is almost like a drug addiction.

    Although, I don't agree and dislike the way LKY gained power, I have to agree that he had done much good in the earlier years. Do have faith that you and your kids can survive without the PAP - after all, didn't they build a reasonably good education system in Singapore?

    It is time to vote them out of office.
  • I_want_JUSTICE!!!!!
    Very smart of the establishment! The court dates coinciding with the US election period. US people are more concerned about Obama vs McCain right now. News of Gopalan Nair doesn't get much attention there...what a shame!
  • Ayzkhai SocialistSGP
    This case clearly shows a lack of independent judiciary system in place in Singapore.The Bar council should take a stand against the goverment constant use of 'Rule By Law' principles.
  • ah beng - cannot take criticism
    The problem with the ruling party is that it can't take criticism on a sour note. It wants to hear it formulated with roses, but that is where it ends. As a result, harsh critics arise and this do not go well with PAP. So either way criticism laced with flowers or rotten eggs fall on deaf ears. Not listening will eventually have grave consequences, when it will finally backfires is only a question of time.
  • UN Observer
    SDP website is like a marketplace--all talk and insulting.
  • Anonymous
    PAP is the best.

    Because, what Lee says is law. So fall in line and abide because GE 100% PAP win is going to happen!!!! WoooohooOO!
  • ah beng - re:
    [quote=UN Observer]SDP website is like a marketplace--all talk and insulting.[/quote]PAP website is also full of crap sometimes
  • ah beng - re: U mean, PAP is the pest? Ha?
    [quote=Anonymous]PAP is the best.

    Because, what Lee says is law. So fall in line and abide because GE 100% PAP win is going to happen!!!! WoooohooOO![/quote]Sure sure no problem.
  • Anonymous - Start a Poll Please
    Can the SDP run a poll on something here, I think it is very relevant to GN's case.

    Ask the people of singapore this question..."If judge Ang sided with the Chee's instead of the Lee's would:
    A) Nothing happen to Ang's career, business as usual
    B) Some sort of retaliation against Ang, maybe she loses her post, is asked to step down, or mysteriously takes another position out of the courts.
  • standing up taller each time - tough battle
    [color=red][b]It takes a whole load of courage, patience and strength of character to put up with evil monsters like the Papees/Lee Court of Justice !

    AS far as SDP, Mr Nair and Oppositions in Singapore it is a tough battle!

    But salute to them all- they are standing up taller each time!

    Well Done Frens!![/b][/color]
  • Get Real - Read the truths
    [color=blue][b]The public is engaging in chatter that the Singapore elite does not like-Another classic case of trying to use the courts to silence dissent -Mr Nair's case[/b][/color]

    [quote][b]"The public is engaging in chatter that the Singapore elite does not like. This is no longer the idle chatter of the young and restless. Attempts to manage it are futile. The apparatus of oppression, although hard-headed may prove to be more effective in the short term.

    [color=red]The fear for the Singapore government is that one day that chatter may erupt into a ‘roar'[/color]."

    A blogger stands up to the Singaporean government - Report on The Observers -
    Steven McDermott[/b][/quote]

    http://singaporeindianvoice.blogspot.com/
  • Singapore Pools
    Betting Odds:

    Gopalan Nair fined
    1.00002 to 1

    Gopalan Nair jailed
    1.00001 to 1

    Goplalan Nair jailed and fined
    1.00003 to 1

    Gopalan Nair acquitted
    50,000 to 1

    Gopalan Nair returning to USA before 25th Dec 2008
    80,000 to 1
  • AnnA - Best Of Wishes
    To Mr Gopalan Nair

    Keep your spirit high!

    This is the time to shake all Singaporean awake.

    Don't lose your courage by the Govt.'s lack of logics in their world.

    All the best to you, Sir.
Please login or register to post your comments.
 

Act Now

Support Democracy!
Please Donate
Read:The party that stands up for you
More options to donate
 

SDP Publictaions

Magazine Support SDP , buy our 30th Anniversary Magazine here

minsal
pdf
link

 

Danny the Democracy Bear

Now available online here!

 
Singapore Democrats on Facebook
Banner
Banner

Awesome Words

In a political point of view, nothing can possibly afford greater stability to a popular government than the education of the people.

Samuel Whitebread
Banner

News feeds

Singapore Democrat News
Joomla Templates by JoomlaShack