Chee and sister turn up at court to start jail term
Kor Kian Beng
Wed, Jun 04, 2008
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin turned up at the High Court shortly after noon on Wednesday to begin serving their jail terms of 12 days and 10 days respectively for being in contempt of court.
The siblings arrived outside the High Court at 12.03pm, along with Chee Soon Juan's wife and three children. Several party members and supporters were also present. Both then proceeded to a courtroom at around 12.36pm and presented themselves to officials.
The Chees had said in a statement on Tuesday that they would not be appealing the rulings of Justice Belinda Ang against them on Monday for contempt of court.
Chee Soon Juan was sentenced to 12 days in jail by Justice Ang for scandalising the court and challenging its dignity and authority during hearings last week. His sister was jailed for 10 days for disobeying the court and scandalising it - insulting it by suggesting it was biased or incompetent.
Although they had until the end of Wednesday to lodge an appeal, the Chees said in their statement on Tuesday that would not be doing so as they were unable to file Notices of Appeal by the deadline as each of them could not pay the $1,000 court fee that is required when making the application.
Their convictions were the result of their actions in court during a three-day hearing last week to assess damages in a defamation suit brought against them and the SDP by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
