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Singapore sentences Brit author
Source: Agencies |
November 17, 2010, Wednesday
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A SINGAPORE court yesterday sentenced a 76-year-old British author to six weeks in jail and a fine of US$15,400 for contempt of court over his book deemed critical of the city-state's judiciary.
Alan Shadrake had offered to apologize for offending the sensitivities of the judiciary, but said he would never apologize for 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 earlier this month, ordered the author to spend six weeks in jail, pay a fine of 20,000 Singapore dollars (US$15,400), and court costs of SG$55,000.
If Shadrake fails to pay the fine, he would be imprisoned for two additional weeks, Loh said.
The prosecution, representing the attorney-general's office, had demanded a sentence of 12 weeks.
"Had Mr Shadrake made amends, I would have dealt with him very differently," Loh said, adding that the writer showed "a reckless disregard for the truth" and "a complete lack of remorse."
Loh allowed Shadrake to remain free until November 24 to give him time to decide about a possible appeal of his sentence.
Shadrake declined to answer most questions from the media after the sentence was announced, saying only that he had expected a jail term.
"If they put me in jail, they put me in jail," Shadrake, who wore a jacket and an open collar shirt, said before entering court.
Under Singaporean law, contempt of court is punishable by a fine and jail term, but the judge has the discretion to determine the exact penalty.
Alan Shadrake had offered to apologize for offending the sensitivities of the judiciary, but said he would never apologize for 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 earlier this month, ordered the author to spend six weeks in jail, pay a fine of 20,000 Singapore dollars (US$15,400), and court costs of SG$55,000.
If Shadrake fails to pay the fine, he would be imprisoned for two additional weeks, Loh said.
The prosecution, representing the attorney-general's office, had demanded a sentence of 12 weeks.
"Had Mr Shadrake made amends, I would have dealt with him very differently," Loh said, adding that the writer showed "a reckless disregard for the truth" and "a complete lack of remorse."
Loh allowed Shadrake to remain free until November 24 to give him time to decide about a possible appeal of his sentence.
Shadrake declined to answer most questions from the media after the sentence was announced, saying only that he had expected a jail term.
"If they put me in jail, they put me in jail," Shadrake, who wore a jacket and an open collar shirt, said before entering court.
Under Singaporean law, contempt of court is punishable by a fine and jail term, but the judge has the discretion to determine the exact penalty.
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