Local blogger Amos Yee to claim trial to 8 new charges

AsiaOne,
May 26, 2016

Local blogger Amos Yee was charged with eight new offences in court on Thursday (May 26), local media reported.

According to Channel NewsAsia, the 17-year-old faces six charges for allegedly wounding the religious feelings of Muslims and Christians under Section 298 of the Penal Code.

On Wednesday, Yee posted photos of his charge sheets on his blog, which showed that the above charges pertain to offensive material he had posted on his social media accounts, TODAY reported.

He also faces two charges for failing to turn up at Jurong Police Division twice despite receiving a notice from Assistant Superintendent of Police Doreen Chong as well as an magistrate's order.

The alleged offences took place between November 2015 and May 2016.

If found guilty of deliberately wounding the religious feelings of others, Yee faces up to three years' imprisonment and a fine.

For failing to report to Jurong Police Division despite an order, he faces up to a month's imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,500.

The teenager, who was not represented by a lawyer, told District Judge Ronald Wee that he intends to claim trial to all charges, according to The Straits Times.

Yee is currently out on $5,000 bail and a pre-trial conference has been fixed for next Monday (May 30).

Last year, the teenager served four weeks in jail for posting an obscene image on his blog and making offensive remarks against Christianity in a video.

minlee@sph.com.sg