J.B. Jeyaretnam, 80, had applied for annulment of the bankruptcy incurred as a result of defamation lawsuits filed by his political opponents from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

Facing debts of more than US$308,641, Jeyaretnam said he went to court Tuesday, Mar 14, seeking a two-week adjournment of his annulment application.

"My reason was that I still did not have all the monies that were necessary," he said, adding that he also wanted the public administrator to file an affidavit outlining a computation of the debts owed along with costs and expenses.

He said the court refused that request and instead ordered him to pay outstanding costs totalling US$4000 by next week -- or his appeal to clear the bankruptcy will not proceed.

Jeyaretnam wants his bankruptcy annuled so he can contest general elections widely expected to be held soon. Bankrupts cannot run for elected office.

The former secretary-general of the Workers' Party made political history in 1981 when he became the first opposition politician elected to parliament.

Another opposition leader, Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party, is is to appear in court Thursday to answer contempt of court allegations.

The attorney-general filed a contempt action against him after a hearing last month at which Chee was declared bankrupt. The bankruptcy order followed his failure to pay damages to the city's founding father Lee Kuan Yew and to another former prime minister.

During those proceedings, Chee read a statement questioning the independence of the city-state's judiciary. The Law Society rejected his allegations.

Lee and other members of the PAP, which has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965, have a history of taking legal action against their political opponents and media critics.

They argue that they do so to protect their reputations.

                                                      Home