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SINGAPORE: Chee Siok Chin, the sister of Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) secretary-general, Chee Soon Juan, has been held in contempt of court, while the case against Mr Chee has been adjourned to Monday.
Justice Belinda Ang had asked the Chees to explain on Friday why they should not be found in contempt of court for their behaviour during a three-day hearing at the High Court.
The hearing was to determine the defamation damages to be awarded to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew by the SDP and the Chees.
Justice Ang cited 15 incidences which she said had scandalised the court and impugned its dignity and authority.
In response, Mr Chee asked for his hearing to be adjourned because his newly appointed lawyer, opposition politician JB Jeyeratnam, was still in Johor. However, Ms Chee's case was heard in court on Friday.
Her lawyer, M. Ravi, argued that the court had the power to warn parties during proceedings if they were in contempt, and that a cooling-off period could also have been given.
He said that nothing was done till the end of the hearing, likening it to a "football referee issuing a player with a red card after the game has ended".
"It is like playing a football match when the red card is given after the game is over. It does not have the effect – that was the parallel I was trying to draw to the court.
"Therefore, the court ought to have considered that very carefully and ought to give a reasonable judgement in order to go to the next step of sentencing," Mr Ravi said.
Ms Chee will be sentenced in court on Monday, before her brother's hearing.
- CNA/so
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