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Film-maker warned over bus driver videos
Releasing of interviews with duo in bus strike in contempt of court
By Walter Sim, The Straits Times, 15 June 2013, page B5
AN INDEPENDENT film-maker deemed to have committed contempt of court by publishing interviews with two bus drivers accused of instigating last year's strike was yesterday issued with a warning from public prosecutors.
Ms Lee Seng Lynn, better known as Lynn Lee, of Lianain Films released videos of two interviews she had conducted with He Jun Ling, 32, and Liu Xiangying, 33, in a blog post titled I Have Ways To Make You Confess on Jan 28.
This publication was despite criminal proceedings being under way against the duo at the time, which Ms Lee, 40, was "aware of", said the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) yesterday.
The pair were among four Chinese nationals being investigated for their roles in last November's strike - Singapore's first in 26 years - in which 171 drivers went absent without official leave. Both pleaded guilty on Feb 25. He was sentenced to seven weeks' jail and Liu to six weeks' jail. They have since served their time and been deported to China.
In the videos, the pair alleged that they were assaulted by police officers to extract confessions from them. These allegations were eventually found to be baseless by the Home Affairs Ministry in April.
But the videos had nonetheless caused "a real risk of prejudice" to criminal proceedings at the time. The AGC said this was because it meant that parties, such as the trial judge and witnesses, would be "improperly influenced" in making findings or giving evidence on the admissibility of statements made by He and Liu.
"These are matters that should be determined at a trial and not by publications that are made outside the court," said the AGC spokesman.
The AGC said yesterday it had completed a review into Ms Lee's conduct, and found a warning would suffice in her case, rather than initiating committal proceedings. Factors taken into consideration included the nature of the contempt committed, and the resolution of the proceedings when the drivers pleaded guilty.
Ms Lee, who is abroad, told The Straits Times yesterday that she was unable to respond in detail as she "had only just seen the letter", and was about to board a plane.
The AGC further warned the public that contempt of court, if left unchecked, "harms the public interest in the proper administration of justice".
"In appropriate instances, AGC will not hesitate to take firm action... to protect the integrity of the judiciary's role in determining the facts," the spokesman said.
But the AGC emphasised it does not target any legitimate complaints or criticism brought up to the authorities through proper channels. Said the spokesman: "Members of the public are also able to criticise or question the correctness of judicial decisions, after these have been given, so long as they do not make unfounded allegations of bias or partiality."
Releasing of interviews with duo in bus strike in contempt of court
By Walter Sim, The Straits Times, 15 June 2013, page B5
AN INDEPENDENT film-maker deemed to have committed contempt of court by publishing interviews with two bus drivers accused of instigating last year's strike was yesterday issued with a warning from public prosecutors.
Ms Lee Seng Lynn, better known as Lynn Lee, of Lianain Films released videos of two interviews she had conducted with He Jun Ling, 32, and Liu Xiangying, 33, in a blog post titled I Have Ways To Make You Confess on Jan 28.
This publication was despite criminal proceedings being under way against the duo at the time, which Ms Lee, 40, was "aware of", said the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) yesterday.
The pair were among four Chinese nationals being investigated for their roles in last November's strike - Singapore's first in 26 years - in which 171 drivers went absent without official leave. Both pleaded guilty on Feb 25. He was sentenced to seven weeks' jail and Liu to six weeks' jail. They have since served their time and been deported to China.
In the videos, the pair alleged that they were assaulted by police officers to extract confessions from them. These allegations were eventually found to be baseless by the Home Affairs Ministry in April.
But the videos had nonetheless caused "a real risk of prejudice" to criminal proceedings at the time. The AGC said this was because it meant that parties, such as the trial judge and witnesses, would be "improperly influenced" in making findings or giving evidence on the admissibility of statements made by He and Liu.
"These are matters that should be determined at a trial and not by publications that are made outside the court," said the AGC spokesman.
The AGC said yesterday it had completed a review into Ms Lee's conduct, and found a warning would suffice in her case, rather than initiating committal proceedings. Factors taken into consideration included the nature of the contempt committed, and the resolution of the proceedings when the drivers pleaded guilty.
Ms Lee, who is abroad, told The Straits Times yesterday that she was unable to respond in detail as she "had only just seen the letter", and was about to board a plane.
The AGC further warned the public that contempt of court, if left unchecked, "harms the public interest in the proper administration of justice".
"In appropriate instances, AGC will not hesitate to take firm action... to protect the integrity of the judiciary's role in determining the facts," the spokesman said.
But the AGC emphasised it does not target any legitimate complaints or criticism brought up to the authorities through proper channels. Said the spokesman: "Members of the public are also able to criticise or question the correctness of judicial decisions, after these have been given, so long as they do not make unfounded allegations of bias or partiality."
