IT WAS a lively start to the first day of court proceedings for 19 people accused of demonstrating in front of Parliament House in March this year.

The 19, who include Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin, have been charged with taking part in an illegal assembly and a subsequent procession.

The group piled into Court 5 of the Subordinate Courts at 9.30 am on Thursday, and extra chairs had to be brought in to accomodate all of them. The public gallery was filled with about 20 people, including supporters of the SDP and those on trial.

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