SDP's John Tan suspended from work due to pending court case
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 November 2008 2013 hrs

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SINGAPORE: James Cook University Singapore has suspended the services of its contract lecturer John Tan Liang Joo, who is also the assistant secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).

The university's chief executive officer, Dale Anderson, said Mr Tan was not a staff member at the university but was contracted to teach Psychology.

His contract was suspended on October 21 because of a pending court case.

Dr Anderson said the new school term began on October 29 but the court case was due to start on November 4, so a replacement contract lecturer was brought in to minimise disruption to the students.

Mr Tan is one of three men charged with contempt of court by the Attorney General's Chambers.

The other two men being charged are Isrizal Mohamed and Muhammad Shafi'ie Syahmi Sariman.

Their case has since been adjourned to November 24 to allow the three defendants more time to prepare.

They are alleged to have impugned the reputation of the judiciary by appearing outside the Supreme Court building wearing identical white T-shirts bearing a palm-sized picture of a kangaroo dressed in a judge's gown.

The incident happened in May this year during a hearing to assess damages to be awarded to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for defamation by members of the SDP.

- CNA/yt