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Yap
Keng Ho not part of protest
Singapore Democrats
17
Mar 08
Mr Yap Keng Ho was not a participant in the Tak
Boleh Tahan! Protest on 15 Mar 08.
The police are
being mischievous as photographs and videotapes show that Mr Yap
did not appear with the group. He was one of the many people who
were documenting the event with cameras and video-recorders. It
is clear that he was not wearing the protest T-shirt.
If
Mr Yap is charged for participating in an illegal assembly and
procession, then those who were photographing and videotaping the
event must also be similarly charged.
Mr Kushwant Singh's
report makes two errors. First, he reports that Mr Yap is a
member of the SDP. Mr Yap is not an SDP member. Two, Mr Yap
refused to post bail. It was not that he could not afford to post
bail as reported.
SDP member charged with
illegal demo outside Parliament
Khushwant
Singh
The Straits Times
17 Mar 08
He was
among the 12 opposition party members and supporters rounded up
by police
The first of 12 Singapore Democratic Party
(SDP) members and supporters arrested on Saturday for illegally
demonstrating outside Parliament, was charged in a district court
on Monday.
Yap Keng Ho, 46, claimed trial to two counts
of participating in an assembly without a permit from 2.30pm till
2.40pm.
He is alleged to have committed the offences
together with SDP chief Chee Soon Juan, Chee's sister Chee Siok
Chin, chairman Gandhi Ambalam and leader of advocacy group SG
Human Rights Chia Ti Lik.
Others named in the charges
include former opposition candidate Muhammad Jufri Mohd Salim and
social activist Seelan Palay.
While the others were
released on police bail of $1,000 each pending investigations,
Yap was remanded as he was unable to put up the bail.
District
Judge Carol Ling did not grant his request for a lower bail but
allowed him to post a personal bond for the $1,000 bail.
Yap
also said that he was currently involved in another trial for
speaking in public without a permit.
He and Chee
allegedly committed the offence in the run-up to last year's
General Election.
Judge Ling said that the cases would
proceed separately.
Yap said that he would engage a
lawyer and if none was available, he would represent himself.
He was ordered to attend a conference on Wednesday
morning to discuss his on-coming trial.
SDP held the
rally to protest rising consumer prices to mark World Consumer
Rights Day on Saturday, even after its application had been
rejected by the police, who cited security concerns.
Those
arrested were among a group of 30 SDP members and supporters who
gathered in front of Parliament House with placards.
They
also placed food items such as rice, sugar and biscuits on the
ground.
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