Bail for bus drivers as they seek lawyers
Source: Agencies |
December 7, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FOUR Chinese bus drivers charged with instigating an illegal strike in Singapore were granted bail yesterday.
They told the judge at the city-state's Subordinate Court they wanted to instruct lawyers to represent them.
Bail was set at S$10,000 (US$8,197) each for three of them, while He Junling, who faces an additional charge of inciting an illegal strike in an online post, was granted bail at S$20,000.
However, it is not clear if they will be able to raise the money to get out of detention before their case resumes on December 12. A Chinese embassy official who was present at the hearing declined to comment on the case.
A total of 171 Chinese bus drivers took medical leave on November 26 in protest at inequitable pay rises by local public transport operator SMRT, and 88 of them stayed away from work the following day.
Five drivers were arrested and charged, while 29 others had their work permits revoked and were deported to China. The remaining drivers were issued warnings, but allowed to remain and work in Singapore.
A year in prison
On Monday, Bao Fengshan was sentenced to six weeks in jail after admitting his involvement in the strike. He was not represented by a lawyer.
The other four drivers face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to S$2,000 if convicted.
Singapore requires essential service workers to give 14 days' notice of a strike. The last strike in the country was in 1986 by shipyard workers.
Bus company chief Desmond Kuek said the salaries it paid Chinese drivers were fair. He said they were paid less than Malaysians because the company bore their expenses for transport, accommodation and utilities.
Singapore relies on hundreds of thousands of immigrants from countries such as China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Myanmar to work as maids, construction workers, waiters, garbage collectors and at other jobs deemed unappealing to local residents.
But the massive influx of foreigners has created resentment among locals, according to local media reports.
They blame "undisciplined and noisy" foreigners for the overcrowding that has put pressure on infrastructure, and for raising house prices because of greater demand for a limited supply.
They told the judge at the city-state's Subordinate Court they wanted to instruct lawyers to represent them.
Bail was set at S$10,000 (US$8,197) each for three of them, while He Junling, who faces an additional charge of inciting an illegal strike in an online post, was granted bail at S$20,000.
However, it is not clear if they will be able to raise the money to get out of detention before their case resumes on December 12. A Chinese embassy official who was present at the hearing declined to comment on the case.
A total of 171 Chinese bus drivers took medical leave on November 26 in protest at inequitable pay rises by local public transport operator SMRT, and 88 of them stayed away from work the following day.
Five drivers were arrested and charged, while 29 others had their work permits revoked and were deported to China. The remaining drivers were issued warnings, but allowed to remain and work in Singapore.
A year in prison
On Monday, Bao Fengshan was sentenced to six weeks in jail after admitting his involvement in the strike. He was not represented by a lawyer.
The other four drivers face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to S$2,000 if convicted.
Singapore requires essential service workers to give 14 days' notice of a strike. The last strike in the country was in 1986 by shipyard workers.
Bus company chief Desmond Kuek said the salaries it paid Chinese drivers were fair. He said they were paid less than Malaysians because the company bore their expenses for transport, accommodation and utilities.
Singapore relies on hundreds of thousands of immigrants from countries such as China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Myanmar to work as maids, construction workers, waiters, garbage collectors and at other jobs deemed unappealing to local residents.
But the massive influx of foreigners has created resentment among locals, according to local media reports.
They blame "undisciplined and noisy" foreigners for the overcrowding that has put pressure on infrastructure, and for raising house prices because of greater demand for a limited supply.
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