Case Studies


Alan Shadrake was a 78 year old British journalist who wrote the book, 'Once a Jolly Hangman - Singapore's Justice on the Dock' about a government that loves capital punishment. In his book he featured quotes from Darshan Singh, Singapore's chief executioner for nearly 50 years who once executed 18 men in one day. He was warned not to publish the book or to return to singapore but he ignored the warnings.


An article written by Patrick Barkham, on July 27th, 2011.
Sourced from The Guardian.

Facing 14 charges for "scandalising the judiciary" – in essence, writing a critical book that could undermine public faith in Singapore's judicial system – Shadrake became a global media story. He was found guilty of nine charges and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and a S$20,000 (£10,000) fine. Shadrake, who has heart problems and chronic back pain from a slipped disc, was forced to sleep on a hard floor with only a couple of thin blankets, just along from the prisioners on death row. He fell ill and was rushed to hospital – chained to the bed – and put on a drip. His care improved, he says, when he warned the authorities it would be a PR disaster for them if he was photographed arriving back in Britain in a wheelchair.

Local blogger jailed for Racists Posts

A Chinese Singaporean blogger was arrested on the 22nd of May 2008 for making racist comments on his blog in Singapore. The blogger who named himself 'Sexy Fragrance Prince' made insulting comments about Malays on his blog which infuriated netizens. The police was informed and the blogger was promptly arrested and his computer was taken as evidence. Anything taken into evidence by the police in Singapore can be thoroughly searched. The blogger may face extra charges if the police find any illegally downloaded movies on his computer. The blogger wrote:



An article from The Straits Times written on Thursday, May 22, 2008 by Sujin Thomas Sourced from Asia Media Archives.


On his blog called "Sexy Fragrance Prince," the blogger has posted an apology.

He said: 'I would like to express my sincere apologies for any misinterpretation to my blog entry. I should have been more mindful.'

This is not the first time a blogger has got into hot water over a post.

In 2005, two people were convicted of posting racist remarks on their personal websites. One was jailed for a month and the other was jailed for one day and fined $5,000.

Anyone who deliberately wounds the religious or racial feelings of another may be jailed for up to three years and fined.

Singapore law penalizes anyone who "deliberately wounds the religious or racial feelings of another" with up to three years of jail and a fine

Sourced from Tomorrow.sg

'So so so... what is this pathetic malay man (again, it have to be a MALAY!!!!) doing in the train? ... Aiya....stupid MALAYS!! Even if you are a Malay and am reading this... good for you..coz this is my personal blog and i can say what i deem fit.... if u wana defend yourself.... i suggest you arm youself with education and a motor mouth to compete against me.. else dont bother... coz i will bet my life on the line that, should you challenge me in a conversation... you will lose like what a true malay would.... LIKE FUCK !!!' C4

Film about Lee Kuan Yew siezed during screening

During a private screening of the film One Nation Under Lee by Seelan Pillay for the People's Democratic Party (SDP), a group of activists, three officers from the MDA barged in and demanded the copy by handed over. One of them identified himself as senior assistant director Mr Tan Chiu Kee. The film had been screening for almost 20 minutes. Supporters of the SDP requested that the officers allow the film to finish its screening before seizing it but the MDA officers were adamant. The film featured a narrative on how Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew took control of the press and used it to control the country and shed a bad light on the Minister and the Singapore government. At one point even referring to their positions in the government as being 'better than corruption'.

An article written by Andrew Loh, on May 17th, 208.
Sourced from The Online Citizen.

The officers explained to Ms Chee that they were contravening the Films Act, which stipulates that any film intended for public exhibition must be submitted to the MDA for a licence. Failure to do so would incur a fine of $100 for each copy of the film in possession. Whether the SDP had committed any other offence is unclear as the MDA officers did not say.

The SDP explained that since the screening was already taking place, the officers should allow it to go on and the SDP would hand over the film then. The officers refused and at one point warned the SDP that they were “obstructing justice”.

The MDA officers then called in the police who arrived for a brief period. They left after the SDP agreed to hand over the film. By this time, the screening of the film had ended.

The copy of the film was then handed over to the officers who also asked for the dvd player used to screen the film.

The event continued with Seelan Pillay and film maker Martyn See taking the floor and answering questions from the audience, which TOC understands included two US embassy officials.

During See’s Q&A session, the MDA officers returned again and asked for the LCD projector. The SDP refused. The audience heckled and scolded the officers who promptly left – without the projector.