 Print Article
|
All are claiming trial.
District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan set July18 as the date for a pre-trial conference. This is when a judge, lawyers and the accused discuss matters before actual court hearings begin.
The 18 charged included Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan, his sister Chee Siok Chin, SDP chairman Gandhi Ambalam, blogger Ng E-Jay and film-maker Seelan Palay.
Chee Siok Chin was also charged with using criminal force on a police officer when she was arrested on March 15. The police said she tried to bite a female officer.
She was released on bail of $5,000.
Separately, Chee Siok Chin, Ambalam and three others were also charged yesterday with taking part in another illegal march on Sept 16 last year.
A sixth person allegedly involved in that Sept 16 march, Charles Tan, 28, was not in court yesterday. It is understood he is abroad.
Following yesterday's court appearance, lawyer Chia Ti Lik - who was among those charged with involvement in the March 15 incident - read a statement on behalf of the group outside the Subordinate Courts building.
Standing with him was a group of about 30 SDP members, supporters and activists, many of whom wore red as a sign of unity.
The statement said the March 15 gathering was to protest against 'ill-timed price hikes initiated by the Government, directly and indirectly, in areas ranging from the goods and services tax and public transport to education and health care'.
The group charged that further increases since March 15 showed that the Government was 'unwilling to take active steps to make life less unbearable for all Singaporeans'.
They said their protest was 'justified' and that they had a right as citizens to assemble and express themselves freely.
A similar point was made in court by former Workers' Party member Jufrie Mahmood after charges were read to him. But Judge Shaiffudin told him yesterday's proceedings were to have the charges read and to record any plea - not to go into the merits of the case.
Separately, Chia told reporters that as he was among those charged, he could not represent the group. As such, the group wanted 'Singaporean lawyers to come forward to represent us in these proceedings'.
