Prosecution continues to flip-flop over Gopalan Nair’s case

June 16, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Law/Legal System 

16 June 08, Monday

The prosecution has continued to flip-flop over Gopalan Nair’s case. They have again amended one of the charges, this time to one of insulting High Court Judge Belinda Ang through his blog, as opposed to through an email.

Here is the sequence of high-profile flip-flops thus far:

  • 02 June: Gopalan Nair is charged for using insulting words towards High Court judge Belinda Ang in an email that he was alleged to have sent to the judge last week. Nair is also alleged to have copied the same email to many people, including the Attorney-General. Nair was charged under Section 13D (1) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.
  • 05 June: Gopalan Nair is further administered a Section 122(6) caution statement under the Criminal Procedure Code which paves the way for a sedition charge under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act. However the Sedition charge itself is not administered on the day itself.
  • 09 June: Gopalan Nair is further administered two Section 122(6) caution statements under the Criminal Procedure Code for two further charges under Section 228 of the Penal Code relating to sending insulting emails.
  • 12 June: Gopalan Nair faces yet another charge, under Section 228 of the Penal Code, of insulting a public servant sitting in a judicial proceeding. This time, he is alleged to have sent an e-mail to High Court Justice Lai Siu Chiu in 2006 which, among other things, accuses her of being corrupt. At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Nair said he would be claiming trial to all charges tendered when his case is mentioned again on Monday 16 June, and he denied sending any emails to Belinda Ang or the Attorney-General in the most current case.
  • 16 June: Gopalan Nair’s charge for insulting Belinda Ang under Section 13D (1) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act is replaced with a charge under Section 228 of the Penal Code. The amended Penal Code 228 charge now alleges insulting High Court Judge Belinda Ang on his blog rather than through an e-mail. The Sedition charge is never tendered.

Nair was also told by the court on Monday 16 June that he must report daily to the police, as a condition of his bail, until July 14, when a date for his trial will likely be set.

Read more here: Confusion over charges, but harassment of Nair continues

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Comments

7 Comments on Prosecution continues to flip-flop over Gopalan Nair’s case

  1. Kaypo Kid on Tue, 17th Jun 2008 4:20 am

    2. Similar to the Mas Selamat limping escape situation where they flip-flop on the release
    of information to the public. Whenever decision by top millionaire-stars is required the
    process of consultation to and fro creates uncertainty because there are too many “Chiefs”
    but very few “Indians”. The bottom man who is supposed to take action becomes confused
    and acts like a “garbra” spider (heart-attack cannot be ruled out also). So the public gets an
    impression of “garbrakation” going on. This reflects badly on those concerned, especially
    MHA and MOL. Better not talk too much, otherwise somebody gets angry and any how throw
    tantrums, then cham liao.

  2. The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 17 Jun 2008 on Tue, 17th Jun 2008 11:35 am

    3. [...] 4 – Article 14: Gopalan Nair’s original charge has been replaced (according to AFP) – Sgpolitics: Prosecution continues to flip-flop over Gopalan Nair’s case – Diary of A Singaporean Mind: “…..old people have the dignity of [...]

  3. garbagemen on Tue, 17th Jun 2008 4:55 pm

    4. nair denied sending the email. now if that’s true, technically he can’t be nailed unless, they changed the charges to something that he had admittedly committed?

    to a certain extent, the laws are rather elastic i suppose. if nair was quilty, technically speaking, many of us can potentially be charged for criticizing people( if all men are born equal that is) ?

  4. Daniel on Tue, 17th Jun 2008 8:38 pm

    5. This demonstrates the sheer incompetency of the Singapore Police Force – the inability to discern between an email and a blog entry. Interestingly, since the blog is hosted outside of Singapore, they may just have shot themselves in the foot. Apparently the in-house “cyber crimes expert” who got the young bloggers into a lot of bother over racist/sedition/Wifi mooching is somewhat mentally challenged.

  5. The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 25 on Sat, 21st Jun 2008 3:31 pm

    6. [...] 4 – Article 14: Gopalan Nair’s original charge has been replaced (according to AFP) – Sgpolitics: Prosecution continues to flip-flop over Gopalan Nair’s case – Diary of A Singaporean Mind: “…..old people have the dignity of employment….” – Article [...]

  6. watcher on Wed, 25th Jun 2008 3:09 pm

    7. To Daniel>If you were any dumber you would have to be watered. No wonder all the opposition people and angry losers are renowned here for their extreme stupidity and incompetence. A penal code charge is much more serious, thats why now that fat loser is tried in the Supreme Court, when previously he went to the Sub Court for his charges read out to him.

    You can host a blog anywhere and still end up in prison. That’s the beauty of this whole episode that I am enjoying every minute of.

  7. seow nan on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 1:49 pm

    8. this type of evil person gopa should be banned out of Singapore for good.
    shame of him insulting judge, no respect at all.

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