THE hearing of an application to increase barrister Eddie Soh Chee-kong's seven-year jail term was postponed yesterday to enable him to be examined by a psychiatrist.
Soh's counsel, Desmond Keane QC, said it appeared his client had difficulty giving coherent instructions. Soh might be suffering from depression, he said.
Also, he had been briefed to represent Soh only last Thursday, and wanted to find out what help his client had given the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Adrian Huggins QC, for the Crown which is seeking the increased sentence, opposed the adjournment, saying leave had been granted for the review in June 1992. A Correctional Services Department medical report on Soh made no mention of a psychiatric problem.
The Court of Appeal, comprising Vice-President Mr Justice Power, Mr Justice Mortimer and Mr Justice Sears, considered Soh, 52, should have a chance to be examined by a psychiatrist, and adjourned the hearing to June 8.
Soh was convicted of seven corruption charges arising from bribing former government lawyer Warwick Reid to fix prosecutions.