Singapore - Singapore's attorney-general on Tuesday demanded a minimum 12-week jail term for a British author who published a book critical of the city-state's judiciary.
Author Alan Shadrake, 76, offered a qualified apology during his sentencing hearing in High Court but said he will not disavow his book, “Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock”, which triggered Singapore's ire.
High Court Judge Quentin Loh, who had found Shadrake guilty of contempt of court last week, said he will announce the sentence next Tuesday. Under Singaporean law, the crime is punishable by a fine and jail term, but the judge has the discretion to determine the exact penalty.
The attorney-general's office alleges that statements in the book impugn the impartiality, integrity and independence of the judiciary.
The case has once again highlighted complaints by critics who claim Singapore uses criminal defamation laws to silence critics. But the government says any statement that damages the reputations of its leaders will hinder their ability to rule effectively.
Prosecution lawyer Hema Subramaniam said Shadrake had shown “complete lack of good faith in making these allegations against the judiciary”, and asked for 12 weeks in jail.
But defence lawyer M Ravi argued that a censure - given the defendant's age - should be sufficient.
Shadrake will apologise if he has “offended the sensitivities of the judiciary” but he will not “disavow his book”, the lawyer said.
Shadrake, who was arrested on July 18 and freed on bail two days later, was present in court but did not speak. A criminal defamation investigation against him is still pending.
Singapore's leaders have sued journalists and political opponents several times in past years for defamation.
The government says restrictions on speech and assembly are necessary to preserve economic prosperity and racial and religious harmony in this multi-ethnic city-state of 5 million people.
Shadrake, who was born in Essex, England and has four children, said he did not expect to be arrested after hosting a book launch party on July 17 because the Media Development Authority has not banned the sale of the book in Singapore.
The book features an interview with Darshan Singh, who was Singapore's hangman from 1959 to 2006.
Singapore applies capital punishment by hanging for offences such as murder, drug trafficking and unlawful use of a firearm. The island nation at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula is one of the world's richest and has a very low violent crime rate. - Sapa-AP