Warning for contempt of court issued against indie filmmaker Lynn Lee
Posted on Jun 14, 2013 6:19 PM Updated: Jun 14, 2013 6:25 PM
ByWalter Sim
By Walter Sim
The Attorney-General's Chambers on Friday, June 14, 2013, issued a letter of warning to independent film-maker Lynn Lee for contempt of court. Ms Lee had in January published on her blog two video interviews with former SMRT bus drivers He Junling, 32, and Liu Xiangying, 33, who were involved in a strike last November (pictured). -- FILE PHOTO: SHIN MIN
The Attorney-General's Chambers on Friday issued a letter of warning to independent film-maker Lynn Lee for contempt of court.
Ms Lee had in January published on her blog two video interviews with former SMRT bus drivers He Junling, 32, and Liu Xiangying, 33, who were involved in a strike last November.
The two bus drivers had alleged in the videos that they were assaulted by police officers for the purpose of extracting confessions. They pleaded guilty on Feb 25 for their roles in the strike and were sentenced to jail. Both have since served their time and were deported to China.
The AGC in a statement said that Ms Lee was aware, at the time of publication, that criminal proceedings against He and Liu were ongoing, and thus her conduct had created "a real risk of prejudice" to the proceedings through subjudice.
This may lead to parties connected with the trial "would be improperly influenced" by the publication, in their making of findings of fact, the AGC said.
It added: "These are matters that should be determined at a trial and not by publications that are made outside the court." The AGC further warned the public that contempt of court harms the proper administration of justice in Singapore.
It said: "Left unchecked, such conduct can obstruct the determination of the truth or erode respect for our judicial institutions." "In appropriate instances, AGC will not hesitate to take firm action, including the institution of committal proceedings for contempt of court."
