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Ms
Chee Siok Chin and Mr John Tan were taken away by an unmarked
police van against their wish.
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John
Tan lodges police report before interview
Singapore
Democrats
31 Jan 08
SDP Assistant Secretary-General
John Tan was called up for an interview by the police regarding
the incident
when he was stopped by the police at Orange Grove Road together
with Ms Chee Siok Chin during the ASEAN Summit in December last
year.
Mr Tan attended the appointment at the Bedok Police
Station. Just before the interview, however, he lodged the
following police report:
Police
report for unlawful detention, assault and battery
Persons
involved:
Superintendent Michael Tan
Philip Ong from
Special operation command
Peter Chan, Sgt Tian and others
On
20 November, 2007, at about 5 pm, Ms Chee Siok Chin and I were
walking along Orange Grove Road toward the Shangri-La Hotel when
about half a dozen police officers started stalking and filming
us. About 100 meters after their intimidating pursuit, one Philip
Ong from Special Operation Command told us to turn back because
that place was a protect area.
We would have complied had
we been satisfied as to why dozens of other people were allowed
to walk freely to and fro, whereas we were not. Philip Ong and
his colleagues did not seem to care about or understand one of
the fundamental principles of the rule of law, which is to apply
the law equally to all and sundry.
Shortly after,
Superintendent Michael Tan intervened and ordered his
subordinates to bundle us away. We were shoved into an unmarked
van. At that point in time, I feared for my safety since the van
was unmarked, suggesting an extra-official or extra-authorized
operation. Aggravating my fear was the fact that my abductors
(among whom were Peter Chan and SGT Tian) in the van either did
not know or refused to tell us where we were headed.
We
repeatedly asked our kidnappers whether we were being arrested.
To which we were repeatedly told we were not. My fear was
accentuated as it implied that our detention was indeed
unlawful.
After circling the city for about an hour, we
were told that we would be released at Orchard Hotel. On arriving
at the Hotel, I headed for the door, whereupon Peter Chan used
physical force on me to prevent me from reaching the door. It was
as if he was attempting to prolong my illegal
custody.
Signed,
John L. Tan
31 January 2008
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