SINGAPORE: Former Singapore lawyer Gopalan Nair will not be jailed for contempt of court but has been given a telling-off and warning against making attacks against the Singapore Judiciary in future.
In contempt of court proceedings brought against Nair by the Attorney-General on Wednesday, Nair admitted in open court that he had made statements that were punishable as contempt of court.
He then went on to offer an unreserved apology to the court and to District Judge James Leong for offending comments that he had made.
Full report on Channel NewsAsia.
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I believe Gopalan Nair made the statements, but whether the statements were in contempt of court is yet another issue.
Was Gopalan Nair coerced into making the admissions?
I would say that from my limited knowledge, his statements did cross the boundary according to law. As our MM likes to reiterate, things have to be done according to the “rule of law”.
But this in turns begs the question, what is the law is archaic, no longer applicable, or advantages one party over another? If it has been identified as such, or accused of being so, should such a law then still continue to be enforced?
Where exactly is the check of balance in our legal and justice system?
Oops, typo. In second paragraph it should have been “when the law is archaic”
pleads guilty can end the case earlier
CNA: Nair was also ordered to pay legal costs to the Attorney-General.
AG sure knows how to make extra pocket money on the sides in this period of gloom and doom for the rest of Singaporeans.
let us see what his blog will say once he gets out of Singapore.
Amazing, all the effort by our public tax payer to prise an open apology from him.
All the man hours multiplied by the salaries of all parties involved, judge, clerks, lawyers.
And he gets off without a cent. Singapore taxpayers very rich isit?
Can Gopalan Nair use his CPF funds to pay AG Woon? He is no longer a Singaporean citizen, yet the government hasl withheld his CPF funds for years.
GN needs to wait another 2 years before he can apply for CPF fund withdrawal. If he doesn’t pay his fine, his CPF funds could probably be used to offset the payment + interest.
There isn’t any fine, just court fees and proceeding costs. All going into the pockets of WW.
If WW is not paid, he will sue GN for bankruptcy.
Better don’t say too much afterward get TOC into trouble.
Wa… so good to be US citizen, Singapore don’t dare to jail or fine..
Mental note : Must become US citizen
Mental note : Must become US citizen – isa (#11)
I remember reading somewhere that SM Goh’s daughter was working in the USA during the time when PAP started labelling Singaporeans as stayers and quiters, cosmopolitans and heartlanders.
wow, looks like the “o-bama” magic is working already ! so fast ?
That’s the advantage of being American.
Green card draw every year (free). Can try luck.
once u give up spore citizenship, u can take out all your cpf money, no need wait til 55. i m trying to get other country’s citizenship bcos i want to withdraw all my cpf money.
Nair is not a true blue American and that’s why there was not assistance from Schwarzenegger, McCain, Bush or even Obama over his case. Unlike Michael Fay.
I am not sure of that Claire. Most probably State department knows and can be sure that they are watching. They are happy to stir up some soup.
State department is controlled by the President. All activities go back to the President. Especially the President until Jan 20.
Nair has never been a loyal American
I’m not sure I agree with the comments re: Mr. Nair’s favorable treatment due to his status as an American citizen. First, American judges are certainly willing to sanction lawyers and/or put them in jail for provocative comments. Second, the idea that Mr. Nair is not a “real” American citizen is false, especially because he resides in California, which is a very diverse state. The comments re: his American citizenship being less than Mr. Fay’s are inaccurate and would be like me saying that Malays in Singapore have second-class citizenship–both statements are false and inflammatory. In any case, here is an article on the Nair/Singapore case–feel free to post comments directly on my website:
http://willworkforjustice.blogspot.com/2008/12/in-defense-of-singapore.html