Activist's constitutional challenge: Meeting adjourned

A closed-door meeting at the Supreme Court on a constitutional challenge mounted by activist Han Hui Hui has been adjourned for three weeks.

The pre-trial conference, held yesterday before Senior Assistant Registrar Wendy Yap, will resume on April 22.

Han's lawyer Violet Netto, who took over the case yesterday, told The Straits Times she needed to submit amended legal documents, which she said she would do before the next conference.

Han was initially represented by lawyer M. Ravi, but he has since been suspended from practice by the Law Society, until further notice, over concerns about his medical condition.

Yesterday, Ms Netto said she is "helping Ravi out until his suspension is lifted".

Han, 23, is arguing against the constitutionality of what she terms a "blanket refusal" to permit her to speak or organise a demonstration at the Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park.

The National Parks Board has said that it will not approve any application to use the Speakers' Corner by any of the persons charged over their roles in a protest on Sept 27 last year.

Han is one of six people who were charged with being a public nuisance at a protest rally that encroached on a nearby charity carnival. The rally was on the Central Provident Fund.

She and blogger Roy Ngerng Yi Ling each face an additional charge of organising a demonstration without approval.

rachelay@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 2, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.