Author arrested in Singapore over death penalty book

A British author promoting his book on alleged double standards in Singapore's use of the death penalty has been arrested here on charges of criminal defamation and contempt of court.

Freelance journalist Alan Shadrake, who was arrested at a hotel yesterday, remained in police custody as the investigation was ongoing, a police spokesman said.

70-year-old Shadrake will appear in the High Court on July 30 relating to the content in the book, 'Once A Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice In The Dock'.

The Straits Times newspaper reported on its website that Shadrake's 219-page book was filled with accounts of high-profile cases in Singapore involving the use of the death penalty.

Shadrake's book also contains interviews with former executioner and a retired prison officer Darshan Singh.

The reports said the Attorney General's Chambers believed the book had "impugn the impartiality, integrity and independence of the Singapore judiciary".

The Media Development Authority of Singapore had filed a police report last week about the book's content.

Shadrake was in Singapore on Saturday for the launch of the book but was arrested, according to the reports.

The book was launched in Kuala Lumpur last month.

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