Now the stage for another showdown has been set.
Former WP politician Gopalan Nair has been arrested and awaiting to be charged in court on Monday. The former Singaporean who is now an American citizen and a lawyer in Fremont, California issued a challenge to have him arrested in his latest posts.
Our state media revealed the news of the arrest in this format:
SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a former Singaporean for the offence of “threatening, abusing or insulting a public servant”.
In response to media queries, police confirmed that Gopalan Pallichadath Nair, who is now a US citizen, was arrested at Broadway Hotel along Serangoon Road on Saturday.
A warrant of arrest without bail was granted by the courts for the arrest.
Nair is alleged to have sent an email to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General which contained statements amounting to the offence of insulting a public servant.
The statements were directed against Justice Belinda Ang, a Supreme Court judge. The statements were also posted on Nair’s blog.
Nair is presently in police custody. He will be charged in court on Monday.
Read Gopi’s posts below which have been reproduced for the sake of posterity. But the real lesson here is that we common sheep are not allowed to air our disgust and frustrations towards the incorruptible and infallible members of the ruling government. Your impertinent challenge will not be taken lightly and you will be taken to the cul-de-sac, you insolent bastard.
Our superior brand of democracy unlike Jeffersonian types cannot be tarnished and voices of dissent must be silenced. Have you not learned anything that our system is superior and perfect? That we are above suspicion and hearsay? We will never be a first world country if insolent dissident types like Mr. Gopi Nair and Dr. Chee are allowed to sow discord and lies.
Foreigners or former Singaporeans are not exempt from this mode of justice. Even if you are American, Jamaican or Martian- consider yourself warned! You will be pursued even in cyberspace and thrown into jail.
Swift is our retribution and the justice meted out is fitting! Throw these annoying people to jail and to hell whatever they are saying. We must protect our integrity. For the glory of Sheep City and the good of the people.
For my million dollar salary.
10 Comments, Comment or Ping
Kenny
I find it strange the headline should read “former Singaporean”. As if to make the news more palatable to the international community. The man is an American now, is he not?
Jun 1st, 2008
Aidil Omar
It should be, Kenny- as an American citizen and member of the American Bar, Gopi has surely anticipated the fallout even before he decided to go all out guns blazing.
And as citizen of the United States, he has already gotten his bulletproof vest. Let’s see how this turns out.
Jun 1st, 2008
Kenny
Yes, I’m interested to see how this turns out.
Jun 2nd, 2008
ELSIE
Indeed interesting. I admire these men who speak out, on behalf of themselves and many others who think like them.
If you are / want to be a politician in a democratic society, you must be eloquent enough to convince people to your viewpoint. That’s how you win elections. You don’t need a legal counsel to help you shoot others down at election rallies, in court, or anywhere else.
Jun 3rd, 2008
Jaywalker
In solidarity for freedom of expression, yes Free Gopalan Nair! Scrap the “Insulting a public official law”, that is dumb and ridiculous open to loose interpretation provision that serves to stifle the rights of people to express their opinion. It is also a bad precedent for bloggers that will open them up for abuse, harassment, and undue persecution.
Anyway, thanks for visiting Pedestrian Observer GB and count me in for any blogging activities in relation to this clear violation of freedom of expression and human rights.
Jun 5th, 2008
joe blow
Please. Gopalan Nair is one of the USA secret agents. The ones that go to a target country to stir up trouble. Like the ones they sent into the eastern bloc country before the “color revolutions”.
If someone comes from the USA and starts stirring up trouble in your country, you better stop them. You saw what happened to Afghanistan and Iraq. You better circle the wagons around your country and your citizens if you don’t want to become the victim of USA terrorism and bombing.
Jun 10th, 2008
Aidil Omar
Joe, how you managed to arrive at such belief, it’s beyond my understanding. However, I’m Gopi is none of what you mentioned. I have met him and discussed his case and from my interactions, Gopi is not a clandestine covert operative but merely a patriot at heart.
Jun 11th, 2008
Chao Fan
Joe Below,
an astute observation! Maybe you like to add too that Nair is from NSA and his wife is Sydney Bristow?!
Jun 11th, 2008
harry chua
Chao Fan,
How is it astute? I think gopi’s stiring trouble since court has not been ended, We should all know is we understand well aren’t we.
Gopi situation is like being forced and torture out from his habitats like a beast. I don’t think that he has more American supporter than me ( fellow prisoner).
Gopi situation is always like a wolf station in Singapore to devours him, which he entered this island.
Why?
As a teenager I understood some politics and human laws.
and I have awareness that our singapore economy is marvelous but we aren’t getting what we deserve.
Get the point-
Maybe as a student we’re being quite good, but for a working adult we are being unfavorable than some comparable country, we’re not still earning by contribution.
Singapore is within top 20 richest country but why aren’t we getting one labour enlisted in Top 100 richest person so far..
Except lee kuan Yew getting the merits or being the richest Politican in the world.
I don’t want to get sue for being nuisance so I going to leave this country when I have enough savings.
Bye fellow mate!!
Jun 17th, 2008
gopi
Its not fair,to issue a non bail warrant in such peti case.
Oct 2nd, 2008
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