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Liu Xiangying (C) and Gao Yue Qiang (R), two of the four Chinese drivers who instigated an illegal strike last November arrive at the subordinate court in Singapore on February. Photo: AFP

Singapore warns filmmaker over bus striker videos

Singapore’s attorney-general on Friday issued a stern warning to an independent filmmaker over online videos in which two Chinese bus drivers accused police in the city-state of assaulting them.

Lee Seng Lynn had released videos of her interviews with He Jun Ling, 32, and Liu Xiang Ying, 33, in January.

The two were among four Chinese nationals subsequently sentenced to jail terms of up to seven weeks for organising Singapore’s first industrial strike in nearly three decades.

They were out on bail when the videos were posted on Lee’s blog.

In the videos, Liu and He said police officers assaulted them in a bid to extract confessions.

They also alleged they were given death threats while being interrogated. They later withdrew the allegations when they were jailed.

“Ms Lee’s conduct amounted to contempt of court by creating a real risk of prejudice to the criminal proceedings which were pending then,” said the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC)  on Friday.

The statement said that the videos created a “real risk” that those involved in the case “would be improperly influenced” in assessing the confessions of He and Liu.

“All members of the public should note that contempt of court in its various forms harms the proper administration of justice in Singapore,” it said.

“Left unchecked, such conduct can obstruct the determination of the truth or erode respect for our judicial institutions.”

Lee said she had not read the letter as she was travelling overseas.

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