Blogger Arrested For Criticizing Judge
A California blogger has been arrested in Singapore for accusing a judge of prostituting herself to Singapore’s leadership in a defamation suit. Gopalan Nair is a former Singapore lawyer who is now a U.S. citizen. If convicted, Nair could be sentenced to prison for up to a year for insulting a public servant.
Although one can question the wisdom of going to Singapore and daring the authorities to do something in response, the fact that a blogger has been arrested for “insulting a public servant” in an email is unconscionable. Many public servants deserve criticism for incompetence and/or corruption. Although there are good judges and elected officials, too often these positions go to those who cannot compete in the real world and seek to live off the public trough through political patronage.
As for the Singapore officials who arrested Nair, their stupidity is an embarrassment to the civilized world. With a little luck, the blogosphere will rake these morons over the coals until they release the blogger.
And what’s the story with the U.S. Department of State? Why in the world are they putting up with this ridiculous arrest? Real diplomats with cojones would inform the Singapore government that Nair gets released immediately or the U.S. military will make an extraction and topple the idiots from power to secure his freedom. Less appeasement and more Teddy Roosevelt.
What are your thoughts?
At what point should we defer to absurd laws of other countries that suppress free speech on the Internet? If Nair can be arrested, why not you or me?
As a final note, this blog post contains multiple insults to Singapore public officials. Please feel free to issue a warrant for my arrest. I won’t be visiting your country until you respect free speech rights.
About the Author
With an advanced international law degree from Georgetown University and more than 15 years of real world legal experience, Attorney Mike Young is President of the Internet Ethics Council and creator of Website Legal Forms Generator software. He helps entrepreneurs protect and grow their businesses online.
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Update: Blogger Nair is out on bail after four days of imprisonment. His passport has been confiscated and they’re expecting additional charges to be filed against him. My guess? Singapore law enforcement will charge him with making funny faces or having bad thoughts.
I couldn’t agree with you more. That is absurd!
That was certainly going too far. Insult over the net? What about freedom of speech?
Well, he got his answer. Far more than he expected, I’m sure.
Mike, you’re not suggesting the U.S. do an Iraq approach on Singapore, are you?
David,
Not an Iraq-redux. Just what is necessary to secure the release of a U.S. citizen held on trumped-up charges. If he had been arrested for something legitimate (drug smuggling, for instance), Singapore would be within its rights to detain him.
Best wishes,
-Mike