Falun Gong case postponed due to hospitalized lawyer

Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa
Published: Monday September 25, 2006

Singapore- The lawyer for two Falun Gong members accused of displaying an insulting banner opposite the Chinese embassy has been hospitalized, resulting in the postponement of an appeal hearing until next month, news reports said Tuesday. M Ravi was scheduled to appear Monday in court to argue against the dismissal of his application to stay the Subordinate Courts' trial of housewife Ng Chye Huay, 42, and computer engineer Erh Boon Tiong, 49.

Ravi was admitted Wednesday to a private hospital offering psychiatric services.

His clients were accused of displaying a banner reading, "7.20 Stop persecution of Falun Gong in China" on July 20, the date marking the anniversary of China's crackdown on the Falun Gong movement.

The group is legal in Singapore.

Ng and Erh asked for the trial to be adjourned until Ravi recovers or to allow them to engage another lawyer, The Straits Times said.

District Judge Siva Shanmugam gave the pair until the end of Tuesday to find another lawyer.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa