UNWELL TO FOCUS: Ms Chee, who had turned up with a heavily swollen right cheek, said she had a tooth infection and her fever was rising. -- ST PHOTOS: AZIZ HUSSIN
THROUGHOUT the three hours in open court yesterday, Ms Chee Siok Chin appeared to have one thing on her mind: adjournment.
The defendant's first request came at 3.15pm, and the second, successful one, came at 5.35pm.
In between, she stood up twice - to ask for a 10-minute break to take medication and that proceedings not exceed beyond 5.30pm.
Ms Chee had turned up yesterday sporting a heavily swollen right cheek. She said she had a tooth infection and that her fever was rising.
Each of her requests sparked sharp exchanges between her and the lawyer for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh.
Even as PM Lee stood in the stand waiting to take his oath, Ms Chee asked for adjournment.
'You can see that half my face is swollen. I'm running a fever and do not want to go into the case not able to pay attention because of my condition,' she said.
Mr Singh countered that she was already taking medication and had in fact asked the court for short breaks to do so.
'There is no medical certificate attesting to her inability to be in court,' he added.
At 5.35pm, during her brother's cross-examination of PM Lee, she stood up to ask the court to call it a day.
'I am asking for today's session to be adjourned now so that I can take rest, come back tomorrow morning and be able to continue, and at least be able to be armed with greater energy and attentiveness in this matter,' she said.
She added that she had to go back to her doctor that night.
Mr Singh interjected that Dr Chee Soon Juan could carry on. In fact, she could watch the proceedings while resting.
Her voice rising, Ms Chee said: 'Mr Singh would bulldoze his way to ensure that the hearing ends by Wednesday.
'I am a co-defendant here. My life is on the line here. If you think that's not important, then please think again.'
Mr Singh: 'I did not say that. All I say is that Mr Chee Soon Juan is cross-examining now. He is not ailing.'
More to-ing and fro-ing ensued with Ms Chee asking Mr Singh if he had been ill before and Mr Singh saying that an adjournment was unnecessary as all of Dr Chee's questions for PM Lee so far had been irrelevant.
At which point Dr Chee said he was 'just getting started'.
At 5.45pm, Justice Belinda Ang announced: 'I will accede to Ms Chee's request...adjourned till 10am tomorrow. And please be on time.'
JEREMY AU YONG