Police investigating duo who wore anti-death penalty T-shirts at Yellow Ribbon Prison Run

The police are investigating a 38-year-old Singaporean man and a 30-year-old Singaporean woman for offences under the Public Order Act committed at the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run on Sep 15.

In a statement on Tuesday evening (Sep 17), the police confirmed that a report was made after the run against the duo's actions.

The duo is believed to be Mr Nafiz Kamarudin, 38, a first aid trainer, and his wife, 30, who was at the event to support him.

According to The Straits Times, Mr Nafiz posted on his Facebook page last Thursday (Sep 12) that the Yellow Ribbon Run had contacted him to change his runner's bib as "the message... is not in line with their cause."

His bib had read "'2nd chances' means not killing them", referring to the death penalty.

On the day of the race, Mr Nafiz changed to another runner's bib that had just his name, but wore a yellow T-shirt that reproduced the same text from the previous bib.

The back of the T-shirts had the words #ANTIDEATHPENALTY on them.

In a Facebook post made on the day of the run, Mr Nafiz said the organisers did not allow him to take part in the race and he was "running parallel" to them.

Police investigations against them are ongoing.

It is a criminal offence under the Public Order Act to take part in a public assembly or procession without a police permit. Anyone convicted may be fined up to $3,000. Repeat offenders may be fined up to $5,000.

The police in their statement reminded the public that there are proper avenues for Singaporeans to express their views on issues.

"For example, they can use the Speakers' Corner to carry out public assemblies and speak on these issues, without the need for a permit, subject to certain conditions being met," it said.