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FREED WHILE PROBE CONTINUES: Gopalan Nair leaving court yesterday with former WP candidate Jufrie Mahmood (left) and the man who put up his bail, SDP's Jeffrey George. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
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FORMER Singaporean lawyer Gopalan Pallichadath Nair, 58, was released on bail yesterday after having been arrested last Saturday for allegedly insulting a High Court judge.
He has to appear in court again next Thursday.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Francis Ng told the court that the prosecution saw no need for Nair to be further remanded while investigations continue, and was prepared to let the accused go on $5,000 bail with surety.
There were two bail conditions for Nair, who gave up his Singapore citizenship in 2005 and is now a US citizen running a law firm in California.
His United States passport was to be surrendered to the police, and he has to report to the Central Police Division when necessary to assist in investigations.
Nair's lawyer Chia Ti Lik tried to apply for the passport to be released, saying: 'My client is concerned about affairs in California and might want to make a trip back.'
Mr Chia later told reporters that Nair was worried about the lease of his law firm, which was due soon, and also about parking charges for his car at the San Francisco airport.
District Judge Wong Peck turned down the request before granting bail.
Mr Jeffrey George, assistant treasurer of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), put up Nair's bail.
Nair walked out of court accompanied by SDP chairman Gandhi Ambalam, former Workers' Party candidate Jufrie Mahmood, and a couple of friends.
He declined to talk to reporters.
A spokesman for the US Embassy said it remains in close communication with Nair after his release.
Said the spokesman: 'The embassy continues to follow the case very closely. The United States consistently advocates freedom of expression, including the Internet.'
The former Singaporean returned to the Republic on May 25 to observe a three-day court hearing to assess damages in a defamation suit that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had won against the SDP, its secretary-general Chee Soon Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin.
Nair is charged with using insulting words to describe the judge in that hearing, Justice Belinda Ang, in an e-mail that he is believed to have sent last Thursday to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General.
If convicted, Nair, believed to have made the same insulting remarks against Justice Ang on his blog, faces a fine of up to $5,000 or up to one year in jail.
Last night, he attended a vigil organised by the SDP outside Changi Women's Prison for Chee Siok Chin, who is serving a 10-day sentence for contempt of court.
kianbeng@sph.com.sg
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