News update SDP's Chee, supporter fined
By Khushwant Singh
OPPOSITION leader Chee Soon Juan and a friend was fined $5,000 and $2,000 respectively on Monday for making public speeches without a licence in the lead-up to the 2006 general elections.
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They are appealing and were released on a $5,000 personal bond each.
During the 15-day trial that started in March, Chee, 47, the secretary-general of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Yap Keng Ho, 48, a party supporter, argued that they were not speaking publicly. They said they were merely promoting the sale of party publications on April 15 in 2008 near Bangkit Road in Bukit Panjang. Both had no lawyers.
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District Judge Jill Tan said the prosecution had proved that both men had addressed the public without a licence issued under the Public Entertainment and Meeting Act.
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Asked by the court to explain why he was pressing for a light sentence, Chee said he had nothing to say. Yap instead asked for the maximum $10,000 fine as the businessman 'wanted to demonstrate his resolve against the unreasonable application of the Act'. However, Judge Tan said that the maximum fine was not appropriate in this instance.
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