Both men, as well as SDP member Gandhi Ambalam, were found guilty last year of speaking in public without a licence. The trio did not pay the fine levied and went to jail.

During the appeal, Dr Chee had again argued that the SDP had been treated unfairly, but his suggestion that the charges were politically motivated again did not cut ice with Justice Tay Yong Kwang.

Earlier, Mr Yap — saying that no local lawyers other than Mr M Ravi were "brave enough" to represent him — had asked for an adjournment so he could get former Workers' Party chief J B Jeyaretnam to represent him in the appeal.

Mr Jeyaretnam was recently discharged as a bankrupt and has applied to renew his lawyer's licence.

Mr Yap, however, admitted that he had yet to make contact with Mr Jeyaretnam — prompting Justice Tay to describe his wish to engage Mr Jeyaretman's services as "nebulous at best, at this moment".

At yesterday's hearing, Dr Chee took issue with the way the earlier trial had been conducted. The trial was dogged by several delays, including a controversy over the presence of the investigating officer in the courtroom while the other witnesses were being cross-examined. Then, District Judge Eddy Tham acknowledged the irregularity, but allowed the trial to proceed as he accepted the prosecution's explanation that it was an honest mistake.

Dr Chee pointed out that during the trial, police officers who took the stand had conceded that the case was "sensitive" due to its political nature. Yet, Dr Chee added, District Judge Tham persistently declined to consider his argument that the police's actions against the SDP were politically motivated.

Dismissing the appeal, Justice Tay said: "I agree with (District Judge Tham's) findings ... which are amply justified based on evidence produced."

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