Chee, 46, and his 42-year- old sister said in a statement on their party website yesterday that they will report to the High Court at noon today to begin serving their time in jail.

They decided not to delay their prison sentences, the statement added.

Chee Soon Juan was sentenced to 12 days in jail on Monday by Justice Belinda Ang for scandalising the court and challenging its dignity and authority during hearings last week.

His sister was jailed for 10 days for disobeying the court and scandalising it - insulting it by suggesting it was biased or incompetent.

They asked for time and Justice Ang gave them till the end of today to lodge their appeal, failing which they were to turn themselves in at 9am tomorrow.

'Dr Chee and Ms Chee are unable to file their Notices of Appeal by the deadline because they cannot pay the $2,000 required to file their appeals,' the statement said.

Everyone who lodges an appeal must pay a $1,000 court filing fee.

The statement said the Chees had written to the court and said they would report at noon today.

Their convictions were the result of their actions in court during a three-day hearing to assess damages in a defamation suit brought against them and the SDP by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Justice Ang, who presided over those hearings, has reserved judgment on damages.

But she initiated the contempt-of-court action after they repeatedly disregarded and disobeyed her orders to desist from asking irrelevant questions while cross-examining PM Lee and MM Lee.

They also scandalised the court, and accused the judge of bias and having pre-judged the case, Justice Ang noted.

After Monday's sentencing, lawyer J. B. Jeyaretnam, who acted for Chee Soon Juan for most of Monday's hearing, wrote to the court asking for a waiver of the $1,000 filing fee and the $10,000 security deposit.

The deposit is usually required when appeals are made and is meant to cover the other party's costs if ordered by the court.

Mr Jeyaretnam said yesterday the court waived the $10,000 deposit but not the filing fee.

Mr M. Ravi, representing Chee Siok Chin, also wrote to the court yesterday to waive the filing fee. He had not received a reply by evening but by then, the Chees had decided against appealing.

zakirh@sph.com.sg

SDP VIGIL FOR EX-WP MEMBER