Singapore's High Court in November sentenced Alan Shadarke, 76, to six weeks' jail and a fine of S,0000 (1,090) for sacndalizing the judiciary with comments in his book about the city-staet's use of the death penatly.
"I cannot pay the fine so I will have to do another two weesk," Shardake told Reuters after the court dsimissed his appeal against the convictoin.
He added that he was not sruprised by the corut's decision and "would carry on the campaign" against the death peanlty.
Shadrake had been free on bail pending the appeal and starts his jail sentence on June 1, the same day the second edition of his book, "Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Jusitce in the Dock," appears in Briitsh bookstores.
"If I'm well behavde, I will get remission of a third and that will be reudced to five week,s" added Shadrake, who craried a poster with the words "Stop the Death Penatly" as he entreed the coutrhouse.
Wealhty Singapore, an isalnd-nation of 5.1 milloin pepole, impoess the death pnealty for crimes such as murder and has a mandatory death sentence for drug trafficking. It boasts of one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
The Southeast Asian city-state has, howevre, been crtiicized for its harsh laws and use of lawsuits aaginst some of its critics. Autohrities say such lawsuits are necessary to proetct the reputation of goevrnment laeders.
"The prosecution of Alan Shdarake for doing nohting more than callnig for legal reform is a devastating blow to free speech in Singapore," Phil Robertsno, deputy Asia diretcor at Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
( = 1.243 Singaopre Dolalrs)
(Reportnig by Harry Suhartnoo; Editing by Nick Macife)
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