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THE publisher of the Wall Street Journal Asia denied on Wednesday that it has engaged in a campaign against Singapore's judiciary.
Dow Jones Publishing Company (Asia) made the comment after Singapore's High Court on Tuesday found it in contempt of court and fined it $25,000 for questioning Singapore's judicial integrity.
A spokesman said the publisher was 'extremely disappointed' with the ruling and strongly disagreed that the material constituted contempt.
'Also, contrary to what the Attorney-General has alleged, The Wall Street Journal Asia has not engaged in a 'campaign' of any sort against the Singapore judiciary,' the spokesman said. 'We will in the future continue to defend the right of The Wall Street Journal Asia to report and comment on matters of international importance, including matters concerning Singapore.'
High Court Justice Tay Yong Kwang found the publisher in contempt for two editorials, 'Democracy in Singapore' published on June 26 this year and 'Judging Singapore's Judiciary' which appeared on July 15.
He said that a letter which the business daily published in July by Chee Soon Juan, secretary general of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), was also in contempt, and fined the newspaper a total of $25,000.
The fine is the largest-ever levied for a case of this kind in Singapore.
Justice Tay said two previous contempt rulings against the Wall Street Journal Asia in Singapore were an aggravating factor.
'The constant refrain of the imputations in the publications is very serious in nature,' he said.
Singapore's Attorney-General argued during the hearing that the Wall Street Journal Asia had waged 'a campaign of attacks designed to denigrate the Singapore judiciary by calling into question the integrity and impartiality of the judges.' -- AFP
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