Chinese bus drivers attend court hearing in Singapore (1/5)

Chinese bus driver Liu Xiangying (L) attends court proceedings held at Subordinate Court in Singapore, Dec. 12, 2012. Four Chinese bus drivers charged with instigating illegal strike attended a court hearing in Singapore Wednesday. A total of 171 Chinese bus drivers took medical leave on Nov. 26 in protest against inequitable pay rises by local public transport operator SMRT, and 88 of them stayed away from work the following day. Five drivers were arrested and charged, while 29 others had their work permits revoked and deported to China. Out of the arrested, Bao Fengshan was sentenced to six weeks in jail, and the remaining four charged with instigating an illegal strike were released on bail. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)