http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110121-0000202/SDP-chief,-supporters-appeals-turned-down
SDP chief, supporter's appeals turned down
by Teo Xuanwei
05:55 AM Jan 21, 2011
SINGAPORE - Could Opposition supporter Yap Keng Ho be mounting a bid in the upcoming General Elections (GE)?
Yap, 49, who is often seen at the Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) activities, dropped a hint yesterday when the High Court upheld his conviction and sentence for making public addresses without licences on four occasions in 2006.
He told Justice Steven Chong he intended to appeal to the President to reduce the $2,000 fine imposed on him for each of the four charges to $1,999 so that he would still be eligible to "take part" in the elections.
Anyone fined $2,000 and above in the five years before the polls are held will be disqualified from contesting.
Mr Yap had committed these offences with SDP chief Chee Soon Juan while they were promoting the party newsletter The New Democrat.
Dismissing the pair's appeals yesterday, Justice Chong said their assertion that the authorities had a discriminatory licensing policy aimed at opposition parties was "wholly misconceived".
Dr Chee, 48, and Mr Yap had alleged that the authorities had a "blanket policy" of not granting licences for public activities to opposition parties.
They had also argued that they should not have needed licences because they were only making sales pitches for the newsletter, like hawkers would their wares.
Disagreeing, Justice Chong said they were making addresses similar to political rallies and that they never had the intention to apply for the requisite licences.
He added that they should have applied for licences to substantiate their claims about discriminatory treatment by the authorities.
"Given that there was no application for the licence, there is no decision that the court can review," said Justice Chong.
"Without an application for a licence by the appellants, any alleged discriminatory licensing policy would have no effect on the appellants and would therefore be irrelevant to the appellants' offences."
Dr Chee, who was fined $5,000 for each of the four charges, said he would serve the default 20-week jail sentence.
Mr Yap has served the 30-day default sentence for three of his offences.
He has opted to serve the two-week default jail term for the remaining offence. They will begin their sentences on Feb 10. TEO XUANWEI
SDP chief, supporter's appeals turned down
by Teo Xuanwei
05:55 AM Jan 21, 2011
SINGAPORE - Could Opposition supporter Yap Keng Ho be mounting a bid in the upcoming General Elections (GE)?
Yap, 49, who is often seen at the Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) activities, dropped a hint yesterday when the High Court upheld his conviction and sentence for making public addresses without licences on four occasions in 2006.
He told Justice Steven Chong he intended to appeal to the President to reduce the $2,000 fine imposed on him for each of the four charges to $1,999 so that he would still be eligible to "take part" in the elections.
Anyone fined $2,000 and above in the five years before the polls are held will be disqualified from contesting.
Mr Yap had committed these offences with SDP chief Chee Soon Juan while they were promoting the party newsletter The New Democrat.
Dismissing the pair's appeals yesterday, Justice Chong said their assertion that the authorities had a discriminatory licensing policy aimed at opposition parties was "wholly misconceived".
Dr Chee, 48, and Mr Yap had alleged that the authorities had a "blanket policy" of not granting licences for public activities to opposition parties.
They had also argued that they should not have needed licences because they were only making sales pitches for the newsletter, like hawkers would their wares.
Disagreeing, Justice Chong said they were making addresses similar to political rallies and that they never had the intention to apply for the requisite licences.
He added that they should have applied for licences to substantiate their claims about discriminatory treatment by the authorities.
"Given that there was no application for the licence, there is no decision that the court can review," said Justice Chong.
"Without an application for a licence by the appellants, any alleged discriminatory licensing policy would have no effect on the appellants and would therefore be irrelevant to the appellants' offences."
Dr Chee, who was fined $5,000 for each of the four charges, said he would serve the default 20-week jail sentence.
Mr Yap has served the 30-day default sentence for three of his offences.
He has opted to serve the two-week default jail term for the remaining offence. They will begin their sentences on Feb 10. TEO XUANWEI
