Nair apologises, warned
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Nov 13, 2008Nair apologises, warnedIn view of his remorse, judge admonished him in open court
By Goh Chin Lian 
Nair also unconditionally withdrew the allegations he made against District Judge James Leong and any statements imputing that the Singapore courts are beholden to the Government. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOWFORMER Singaporean lawyer Gopalan Nair has made an unreserved apology to the court and a district judge for offending statements he made during a recent trial and on his blog.
Nair, now an American citizen, also unconditionally withdrew the allegations he made against District Judge James Leong and any statements imputing that the Singapore courts are beholden to the Government.
The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said in an statement on Thursday that in view of Nair's apology and undertaking not to make such statements in the future and to remove the offending blog posts, the Attorney-General will not be pressing for the 58-year-old to be sent to jail.
The statement was released a day after a hearing in the Subordinate Court on an application by the Attorney-General to start contempt of court proceedings against Nair.
That hearing came two months after Nair began serving a three-month jail term on Sept 20 for insulting a High Court judge.
The latest hearing, on Wednesday, was over comments that Nair made during a trial in the Subordinate Courts presided over by District Judge James Leong. This was for offences under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.
During that trial, held on various dates between July 24 and Sept 5, Nair 'attacked the independence and impartiality of the Singapore Judiciary and District Judge James Leong by stating, inter alia, that the courts were being abused for political ends', the AGC said.
He also 'attacked the independence and impartiality of the Singapore Judiciary and District Judge James Leong in his blog 'Singapore Dissident'.'
Nair's comments were made in two blog postings - on Sept 1 titled 'Another classic case of trying to use the courts to silence dissent'; and on Sept 6 titled 'Convicted'.
The AGC said that at Wednesday's hearing, Nair 'admitted in open court that he had made the utterances and 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 the offending utterances and statements made by him'.
The statement added that Nair 'also proceeded to state, in public and on record, that he unconditionally withdrew the allegations made against District Judge James Leong and any statements imputing that the Singapore courts are beholden to the government'.
Nair 'further undertook in public not to make such statements in future and to remove the offending blog posts as soon as practicable'.
The case was heard in by District Judge Leslie Chew.
The AGC statement said District Judge Chew found that Nair 'had purged his contempt' and in view of his remorse, the judge admonished him in open court.
Nair was also 'warned against launching attacks against the Singapore Judiciary in future', and ordered to pay legal costs to the Attorney-General.
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live to fight another day lah.
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loser meh? i thought that was the smart way. get the case out of the way so he can continue to do what he wants to.
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Don't forget he is a lawyer and lawyers can't even sell their souls to the devil cuz they don't have one>LOL
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did he lose the case?
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Pay cost to AG is as good as fine also.
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...another one bitten by the despots to discourage others from speaking up... curse the despots for persecuting dissidents.
...looks like only Dr Chee Soon Juan can stand up to them withour fear or favour.
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Let's hope that he finds a way to go back to the States and give one back to the damned cursed.
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Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:
Let's hope that he finds a way to go back to the States and give one back to the damned cursed.
Uncle, when are you going to apologise to our Govt? -
more like when are you gonna get charged...
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Originally posted by caleb_chiang:
more like when are you gonna get charged...
no lah, if he apologise, Chief Justice may forgive him. -
Originally posted by angel7030:
no lah, if he apologise, Chief Justice may forgive him.he can plead insanity.
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Originally posted by skythewood:
he can plead insanity.
plead insanity for his apologies??? not sincere lor.Chief Justice might sentence him to 10 strokes
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Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:
...another one bitten by the despots to discourage others from speaking up... curse the despots for persecuting dissidents.
...looks like only Dr Chee Soon Juan can stand up to them withour fear or favour.
bitten.... or no balls.... like you. -
I like to think that the intervention of the US embassy made Nair and the kangaroo court reach a compromise.
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Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:
...another one bitten by the despots to discourage others from speaking up... curse the despots for persecuting dissidents.
...looks like only Dr Chee Soon Juan can stand up to them withour fear or favour.
Oh dunt look down on Nair.
I am sure within 72 hours landing in LA,he would
call for Press Meeting,complaints to Obama etc and write blogs.
He will say,amomg other things,that he was threatened to
apology.If not cooperate.he cant leave SG!!
He will be back!!
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AGC Statement
12 Nov 2008
Contempt of Court Proceedings Against Gopalan Nair
The proceedings against Gopalan Nair for contempt of court were heard on 12 November 2008 before District Judge Leslie Chew in the Subordinate Courts. At the hearing of the matter, Gopalan Nair apologised for the offending statements made by him and undertook not to make similar statements again. Gopalan Nair also undertook to remove the posts from his blog amounting to contempt of court. He was admonished by the court and ordered to pay legal costs.
Please click here for the media background brief.
Please click here to access the AG’s submissions filed with the Court on 7 November 2008.
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AG is too lenient and sent a wrong signal to others.
A minimum one day jail shall be applied.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Another classic case of trying to use the courts to silence dissent
Post deleted
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Oh Shxt!!The posts have been deleted.So fast!!
He said his fine of $3000 on disorderly case is very cheap,
compared with he occuping the court for 16 days.WTF!!
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AG has sent a damn wrong signal.
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Originally posted by reyes:
live to fight another day lah.
Yes man.What nair says is the truth anyway. Apologies are a tactical retreat.
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Send a right signal and get fucked by US? Gopalan Nair is an American citizen.
Many people are surprised that PAP suddenly made a U turn and become so nice to Gopalan Nair.
PAP can only bully Singapore citizens in it's own turf.
Actually both the kangaroo court and Nair did not get what they wanted....hehehehe
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Originally posted by googoomuck:
Send a right signal and get fucked by US? Gopalan Nair is an American citizen.
Many people are surprised that PAP suddenly made a U turn and become so nice to Gopalan Nair.
PAP can only bully Singapore citizens in it's own turf.
Actually both the kangaroo court and Nair did not get what they wanted....hehehehe
LOL.. Ya lor. Poor singaporean. -
Originally posted by lionnoisy:
Oh dunt look down on Nair.
I am sure within 72 hours landing in LA,he would
call for Press Meeting,complaints to Obama etc and write blogs.
He will say,amomg other things,that he was threatened to
apology.If not cooperate.he cant leave SG!!
He will be back!!
@@@@@@@@@@
AGC Statement
12 Nov 2008
Contempt of Court Proceedings Against Gopalan Nair
Please click here for the media background brief.
Please click here to access the AG’s submissions filed with the Court on 7 November 2008.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@
AG is too lenient and sent a wrong signal to others.
A minimum one day jail shall be applied.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Another classic case of trying to use the courts to silence dissent
Post deleted
@@@@@@@@@
Oh Shxt!!The posts have been deleted.So fast!!
He said his fine of $3000 on disorderly case is very cheap,
compared with he occuping the court for 16 days.WTF!!
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
AG has sent a damn wrong signal.
awwww... lionnoisy is upset...
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Originally posted by angel7030:
plead insanity for his apologies??? not sincere lor.Chief Justice might sentence him to 10 strokes
10 Strokes of what?
Cane? Or those that result from tumors?
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Originally posted by Shotgun:
10 Strokes of what?
Cane? Or those that result from tumors?
10 strokes of breast strokes at AG private house swimming pool -
Originally posted by angel7030:
10 strokes of breast strokes at AG private house swimming pool
no 100 situp in Angels pub -
Originally posted by angel7030:
10 strokes of breast strokes at AG private house swimming poolbreast stroke? stroke his breast or he stroke someone else breast?
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Like I said before everytime when @ngel around thread becomes dirty>LOL
