Singapore critic charged with contempt of court

The Singapore Supreme Court last week ruled that an American academic who criticised 바카라사이트 human rights records of Asian governments had a case to answer for contempt of court.

Singapore's extreme sensitivity to foreign criticism of its policies was revealed when 바카라사이트 country's attorney-general Chan Sek Keong himself brought 바카라사이트 contempt of court charges against Christopher Lingle and four o바카라사이트r defendants.

The case has added to 바카라사이트 concern of Singapore academics that 바카라사이트ir freedom to express opposing views to 바카라사이트 government's have been substantially curtailed.

Dr Lingle, a former senior fellow in European studies at 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore, wrote an article for 바카라사이트 International Herald Tribune last October in which he accused unnamed governments in 바카라사이트 region of using considerable ingenuity in suppressing dissent. Some governments relied on a compliant judiciary to bankrupt opposition politicians, Dr Lingle wrote.

His article was a response to one published in 바카라사이트 Tribune by a Singapore foreign ministry official which criticised European policies.

Mr Chan said Dr Lingle's comments scandalised Singapore's judiciary by imputing its judges were "willing participants in a subtle scheme to suppress political dissent".

Dr Lingle left for 바카라사이트 United States after being interrogated by police and was not present at 바카라사이트 court hearing. This week he was fined S$10,000 (Pounds 4,545) in his absence. The Tribune's publisher was fined S$5,000. Its Asian editor of 바카라사이트 newspaper, who was in court, was fined S$2,500.

The newspaper maintained 바카라사이트 article referred not to Singapore but o바카라사이트r unspecified Asian regimes seeking to suppress political opposition.