Singapore to jail British author over `insulting book`

Alan Shadrake authored `Once A Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock`.

Singapore: A 76-year-old British author on Friday lost his appeal against a six-week jail term and fine for insulting Singapore`s judiciary in a book about criminal executions in the city-state.

Alan Shadrake, a freelance journalist and author of `Once A Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock`, was allowed to undergo a medical test before starting his jail term on Wednesday.

He had been out on bail while seeking to reverse a High Court ruling in November 2010 sentencing him to prison and a fine of Sg$20,000 (USD 16,150).
"We affirm the sentence imposed by the judge," said Justice Andrew Phang of the three-member Court of Appeal panel, asked by the defence to overturn the conviction.

Bureau Report