Jailed for wearing kangaroo in a judge's gown T-shirt
Thursday, 27th November 2008
20-year-old Muhammad Shafi'ie Syahmi Sariman, 33-year-old Activist Isrizal Mohamed Isa and 47-year-old John Tan Liang Joo, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) assistant secretary-general, were jailed for contempt of court. The action by the three was the worst form of insult when they branded Singapore's justice system as a 'kangaroo court' by wearing T-shirts with a kangaroo dressed in a judge's robe. 'Kangaroo court' is usually understood as being a court characterised by irregular procedures or sham proceedings. At the time of the incident, the three had been outside the Supreme Court building where a hearing had been taking place to determine damages that Singapore Democratic Party leader Chee Soon Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin had to pay. John Tan Liang Joo was sentenced to 15 days' jail. Isrizal Mohamed Isa and full-time national serviceman Muhammad Shafi'ie Syahmi Sariman, were each sentenced to seven days' jail. Justice Judith Prakash also ordered each of them to pay SGD $5,000 in costs to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).