UK reporter held in Singapore

2010-07-19 08:44

Singapore - Police have arrested a 75-year-old British journalist over a book he wrote on the death penalty in the city state.

Alan Shadrake would appear on July 30 in the high court to answer charges of contempt of court, reported The Straits Times on Monday.

Shadrake authored the book Once A Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice In The Dock, which includes interviews with former executioner Darshan Singh.

A spokesperson at the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) said there were statements in the book that the AGC believes "impugn the impartiality, integrity and independence of the Singapore judiciary".

Arrested on Sunday morning, Shadrake is being investigated over allegations including criminal defamation.

He was in Singapore for a private launch of the book, which was first released last month in Kuala Lumpur.

The Media Development Authority of Singapore lodged a police report last week on the 219-page book, which had accounts of cases involving the use of the death penalty in Singapore.

The book has not been banned in Singapore, according to the report by the daily.
 

- SAPA