Chee, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), and a fellow party member were arrested Wednesday outside the Istana state complex when they defied the police and attempted to mount a rally even if they had no permit.

An SDP spokesman, Bryan Lim, said Lee and party mate Gandhi Ambalam were released near midnight, nearly 12 hours after their arrest.

Lim said Chee was slapped with three charges, among them tresspassing on the Istana grounds and for attempting to hold rally without a license.

The case will be heard in court later this month, Lim said.

A Singapore Police Force statement said that Chee was arrested after he ignored a warning by an officer to leave because they were on the grounds of the Istana, which houses the residence of President S.R. Nathan and the offices of Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

"Sensing that the crowd was building up, (the police officer) then ordered Dr Chee to be arrested for remaining on Istana grounds with an intention to speak without a license," the statement said.

"His actions clearly demonstrated his intention to break the law," it said, recalling that Chee's application for a license to hold the rally had been turned down.

Chee, who is embroiled in potentially ruinous defamation suits filed by leaders of the ruling People's Action Party, had argued that he should be allowed to protest because it was Labour Day.

Rallies are rare in Singapore, where permits are required for such gatherings.

                                                    Home