Police threw me to the ground: Nair

July 25, 2008
TRIAL OF EX-S'PORE LAWYER Police threw me to the ground: Nair
CONDUCTING HIS OWN DEFENCE: Gopalan Nair is accused of spewing expletives at police officers and behaving in a disorderly manner. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW FORMER Singapore lawyer Gopalan Nair told a court yesterday that he was thrown to the ground, with his face pressed against the road tarmac, by police officers. The 58-year-old, facing charges of abusing police officers and behaving in a disorderly manner, raised several issues in the morning before the start of the trial. Among other things, he asked for the full names of the investigation officer, the prosecutor and the judge. He also said that he is now known as Gordon and wanted that name to be used in court documents instead. Nair, a former Workers' Party member who contested the elections here in 1988 and 1991, also objected to the presence of the investigation officer in court. The officer later left the courtroom. It is common for the investigator to sit in court to help the prosecution with documents and physical evidence, even though he is also a witness. Nair, who is now an American citizen and practising law in the US, is accused of spewing expletives at police officers near the junction of Bukit Timah and Race Course roads on July 4. The second charge accuses him of gesticulating and shouting in public. A doctor who examined him at the Police Cantonment Complex a day after said Nair complained of pain in his left shoulder and both arms. On the stand, Dr Gabriel Chong said: 'He told me he was pushed down to the ground during his arrest, and that his spectacles had been damaged.' Dr Chong found superficial abrasions on Nair's wrists and a small patch of abrasion over his right eyebrow. The doctor passed Nair fit to be locked up as he was healthy and had no serious injuries. Under cross-examination by Nair, who represented himself, Dr Chong said he felt that the depth of Nair's wound above his right eye suggested a very minor injury with minimal force. But Nair is claiming that the police caught hold of his hands and body, and pushed and forcibly threw him to the ground. Nair also faces trial in September on charges of insulting two High Court judges. If convicted of using abusive words on a public servant, he can be fined up to $5,000 or jailed for up to a year. Disorderly behaviour is punishable with a $1,000 fine or one month in jail. The case continues next week. ELENA CHONG