Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by Atobe @ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:56:39 +0800

Atobe — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:56:39 +0800

LKY had initially tied Singapore's Legal System to the British Legal System with the intention of maintaining a semblance of high judicial standards, and with the House of Lords forming the Privy Council to oversee such standards in the Singapore Legal System.

LKY had even challenged J.B. Jeyaratnam that if J.B.J was successful in winning his appeal in the Privy Council, LKY will see that he get a J.B.J's get a similar clearance from the President of Singapore.

Sadly, after the Privy Council ruled in J.B.J's favor - absolving him of any wrong doings, and even chastised the errorneous judgment made against him, LKY renegaded on his word - and moved the Singapore Parliament to sever the Privy Council as the final avenue of appeal in the Singapore Legal System.

LKY gave the reason that as an independent and sovereign country, the Privy Council in UK do not share the same values as that practised in Singapore.

With a single sweeping act, LKY had forgotten his stated intention of maintaining high judicial standards through an umbilical cord link with the Privy Council.

The following are reference sites concerning the slow degradation and abuse of the legal system by the Political Elite in Singapore.

J.B.Jeyaratnam's Trials and Tribulations : http://www.singapore-window.org/jeyapage.htm

Lawyers' Rights Watch Report on Rule of Law in Singapore : http://pseudonymity.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/lawyers-rights-watch-report-on-rule-of-law-in-singapore/

The Politics of Judicial Institution in Singapore : http://www.singapore-window.org/1028judi.htm

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by fishbuff @ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:48:39 +0800

fishbuff — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:48:39 +0800

not just the lawyers are abandoning their practices in SG, but other professions as well; IT, finance, banking etc..

alot of local singaporeans find it tough to compete against the influx of FTs especially in IT field.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by qlqq9 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:23:51 +0800

qlqq9 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:23:51 +0800

Originally posted by t_a_s:

Last time the highest court is privy council in England, gahmen scare they will lose any court case, so they abolished it

The lee devil evil will do anything even to cause harm to protect his own interest.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by t_a_s @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:44:43 +0800

t_a_s — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:44:43 +0800

Last time the highest court is privy council in England, gahmen scare they will lose any court case, so they abolished it

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by t_a_s @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:43:25 +0800

t_a_s — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:43:25 +0800

He appointed judges, do you think the judge will sentence against him if there is a case, the judge will be sacked. No wonder james gomez scare to sue him

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by qlqq9 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:14:56 +0800

qlqq9 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:14:56 +0800

Originally posted by maurizio13:

Rumour has it, he is undergoes blood transfusion to sustain his vitality.

He's like an immortal vampire now.

Most likely he will outlive us.

It is possible that he goes for that. A doctor did mention this is possible but is cruel. To a dictator who is selfish, self serving tyrant cruelty is not in his dictionary.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by Poh Ah Pak @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:07:50 +0800

Poh Ah Pak — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:07:50 +0800

Most likely he will outlive us.

I have faith in Lee Kuan Yew.

I know he won't disappoint me.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by maurizio13 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:58:37 +0800

maurizio13 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:58:37 +0800

Rumour has it, he is undergoes blood transfusion to sustain his vitality.

He's like an immortal vampire now.

Most likely he will outlive us.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by Poh Ah Pak @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:53:40 +0800

Poh Ah Pak — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:53:40 +0800

I wonder when Lee Kuan Yew will die.

Before next elections is the best for me.

I hope Lee Kuan Yew doesn't disappoint me.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by qlqq9 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:50:55 +0800

qlqq9 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:50:55 +0800

Originally posted by maurizio13:

They do give a damn about him, last I heard when he was about to receive his honorary conferred degree from an Australian University.

All the Australia students came out to greet him.

Oh ya, I missed that. What the aust uni know of is not the bad side of him, I suppose. I have received too much negative feedback about him from people from the west. they think he is the dynasty, as long as he is alive there is no way out for singaporeans.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by maurizio13 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:48:03 +0800

maurizio13 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:48:03 +0800

Originally posted by eagle:

Maybe the Uni asked them to?

I am sure they went on their own accord, they were protesting against him.

Former prime minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew is expected to be confronted by students and academics staging a formal protest at the Australian National

University when he arrives today to receive an honorary degree.

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/anu-protesters-to-corner-lee/569981.html

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by eagle @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:46:41 +0800

eagle — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:46:41 +0800

Originally posted by maurizio13:

They do give a damn about him, last I heard when he was about to receive his honorary conferred degree from an Australian University.

All the Australia students came out to greet him.

Maybe the Uni asked them to?

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by maurizio13 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:45:30 +0800

maurizio13 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:45:30 +0800

Originally posted by qlqq9:

He may be someone in singapore but he is nothing in the world, in other countries. Nobody gives a damn about him.

They do give a damn about him, last I heard when he was about to receive his honorary conferred degree from an Australian University.

All the Australia students came out to greet him.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by Poh Ah Pak @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:44:34 +0800

Poh Ah Pak — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:44:34 +0800

He can only act cocky to Singaporeans.

He is a nothing to foreigners.

Only Singaporeans have to put up with his bullshit.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by qlqq9 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:39:02 +0800

qlqq9 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:39:02 +0800

He may be someone in singapore but he is nothing in the world, in other countries. Nobody gives a damn about him.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by maurizio13 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:30:25 +0800

maurizio13 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:30:25 +0800

He tried to enforce his fascist power in Canada, but was rejected by the Canadian Supreme Court.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by qlqq9 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:59:45 +0800

qlqq9 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:59:45 +0800

In Singapore, lky is the judge, the lawyer, the prosecutor, the law.

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by maurizio13 @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:44:26 +0800

maurizio13 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:44:26 +0800

Anyone played happy family before?

Singapore's disgraceful judges. replied by Poh Ah Pak @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:21:23 +0800

Poh Ah Pak — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:21:23 +0800

Singapore's disgraceful judges.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You have read the bad news. The Singapore legal profession is shrinking. Students are not choosing a career in law. And lawyers are leaving the profession.

One major reason for this is the unpleasantness in appearing in Lee's courts.

One cannot help but feel extremely uncomfortable the moment one walks into a Singapore court room. For one, the judge seems so unhappy, so angry or so stern, hard to say which; almost as if he is suffering from a severe bout of indigestion or because someone had just insulted his mother!

No smile on his face at all, does not even look at the lawyer or his client, going about his work with unnecessary solemnity and seriousness. No good mornings, no pleasantries; not even a passing smile. It is as if, the judge was not human at all; like as if he was some God, who finds it demeaning even to look you in the eye!

As if this arrogance due to fear or for whatever reason was not enough; you are required in addition; to further rub salt in your wounds; to address them "Lords" or "Your Honor", in the British courtroom lingo.

Every lawyer knows that these so called judges are not judges in the true sense of the word at all, but merely agents of Lee Kuan Yew, placed there to do his bidding. This makes addressing them with these terms of respect unbearable.

Their job routinely includes tailoring false charges and false judgments and awards to impoverish bankrupt and imprison Lee's political opponents shamelessly; in total disregard for the law which they are sworn to uphold. They do this for money and job security. There is a word for it and it is corruption.

With the Singapore judges and the courts, having lost all credibility and respect; any young man with any prospects in life and looking forward to a respectable career would stay a mile away from the Singapore legal profession. Thus the shrinking Singapore Bar.

For an example of the dirty work these judges routinely do, a good example is a recent case before Judge Belinda Ang. Not too long ago, Lee Kuan Yew, as it is his normal practice of using the law to silence his dissenters; sued Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party with his favorite cause of action, defamation of character; since Chee was beginning to be a threat and had to be silenced. So the order was promptly given out to this woman to punish Chee by finding him guilty and bankrupting him.

She did her dirty work with great efficiency. Without even getting off her chair in chambers and not even permitting Dr. Chee to say a word in his defense, with lightning speed of no more than 30 minutes or so, she not only delivered judgment of one half million dollars against him, but also took the opportunity of calling him names, thinking that this will please her master Lee even more!

I have heard many lawyers tell me during my time in Singapore that they never appear in Lee's courts preferring rather to do commercial paper. At the time, I did not understand why but I do now. They find it distasteful appearing in courts for which they have no respect at all!

Most Singapore judges are young and inexperienced in life, having been specially chosen for their obedience, submission and willingness to act dishonorably; not their independence, wisdom, maturity or experience.

It is quire different in California where I have been practicing for more than 11 years, since leaving Singapore. Here it a joy to practice law.

For one thing, the judges here are judges in the real sense. They are not beholden to anyone but the law. Regardless of who you are, when stepping into any courtroom, you know you have an equal chance as your opponent in the matter. If justice is on your side, you will win. Unlike in Singapore where you win just because your name is Lee Kuan Yew. Here one respects the courts and their judges, unlike in Singapore where there is only derision, ridicule and contempt for the law and its judges, Belinda Ang being a prime example.

With a population of about 27 million, California has more than 200,000 lawyers and law continues to be a very popular career choice among the young, with ever increasing numbers wanting to pass the Bar Exams. In Singapore, with total population of about 4.5 million, it has only 3,400 lawyers, the same number as in 1997, 10 years ago! And what is worse this serious lawyer shortage in Singapore is worsening, with increasing numbers leaving the profession. This inability to attract the young to enter the law comes as no surprise; since the profession and its judges have lost all modicum of respect. It is seen as an instrument of tyranny and oppression; Lee's tool to silence and destroy political dissenters.

The Singapore legal system destroys the spirit of Singaporeans and instead of doing any good, it alienates and intimidates them into submission, instilling hate and defiance into them. Anyone who spends any time in a Singapore courtroom will see what I am talking about. Firstly, the judge treats the accused with total disrespect, not even looking at him, as if he was nothing more than dirt. The police show no respect whatsoever to the accused. If he pleads guilty, he is promptly handcuffed and sent off to prison without a word.

There are no words of advice from the judge. No words of encouragement. No kindness at all. No attempt to treat him as a fellow citizen, even a human being; no attempt is made at all to speak to him, to improve him; so he can be a better citizen than he now is.

California courtrooms are different. In California the defendant is treated at as a human being. Quite often the judge himself greets the defendant with the usual "Good Morning Mr. Smith". The defendant is seated next to his counsel. The lawyers say what they want. Then the judge speaks to the Defendant like a father who would speak to his son. He has advise for the man or woman who had gone astray. You see a genuine attempt by the judge to help the Defendant better his ways, with the hope that he will never see this defendant in court again. After the court session, you respect the judge for his sincerity and his wisdom and the Defendant himself begins to realize that committing crimes is not the best thing to be doing.

This is the good feeling that I have in courts in California USA everyday that I appear before these courts. I respect these judges because they are worthy of respect. They are real judges. They are honorable men of integrity. And the judges in their turn show me the courtesy that I deserve as an officer of the court, and especially as a human being.

At the end of the day, in California courts, you feel wanted. You feel respected. And you realize that we are all in it together and we improve and advance and become better citizens. This is something that Singapore judges are unable to understand, since after all, they are only interested in their work of pleasing their master Lee Kuan Yew and bending the law as and when called upon.

In these circumstances, should we be surprised why Singaporeans do not want to be lawyers!

Gopalan Nair

http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/2008/03/singapores-disgraceful-judges.html

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