- Title: SINGAPORE-TEEN/VERDICT Singaporean blogger sentenced to jail time already served
- Date: 6th July 2015
- Summary: SINGAPORE (JULY 6, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SINGAPORE STATE COURT COURT SIGN AMOS YEE AND HIS PARENTS, MARY TOH AI BUAY AND ALPHONSUS YEE, LEAVING COURT YEE HOLDING BELONGINGS WHILE WALKING DOWN STAIRS AND BEING LED BY HIS MOTHER YEE WALKING WITH HIS MOTHER, MEDIA SURROUNDING HIM VARIOUS OF YEE AND HIS PARENTS WALKING TOWARDS TAXI SURROUNDED BY MEDIA YEE AND HIS PARENTS
- Embargoed: 21st July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Singapore
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAEAFHSYILLAWRXN1LYMUAEYIFB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Singapore teenage blogger Amos Yee, 16, walked free from court on Monday (June 6) after being sentenced to jail time already served for posting offensive content online.
The teenager was sentenced to four weeks of imprisonment starting from June 2, which means he could have been released immediately after spending 50 days in remand.
Leaving Singapore's State Court on Monday alongside his parents, Yee looked less animated than on previous departures from the complex, this time clutching a bag close to his chest.
His lawyer, Alfred Dodwell, said there was now no point in focusing on the past, but confirmed there would be an appeal.
"Yes well, it's been a long and arduous journey, loads of obstacles, loads of hurdles, but we've come but we've come where we are today and we are happy and delighted that he is a free man today, but we can't say that we are happy with what has happened, with him having spent 53 days almost in remand, but now that's behind us so it's no use for me going back into those issues. What's before us is the appeal, so we'll deal with the appeal," he said.
Yee posted a video in late March with unflattering references to Jesus shortly after Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister, died. He also put on his blog a lewd image in which the faces of Lee and late British politician Margaret Thatcher were superimposed.
Yee was charged with spreading obscene images, offending a religious group and harassment. The latter charge was dropped.
The teenager underwent a mental health re-evaluation at Singapore's Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for two weeks prior to the sentencing after a doctor questioned whether he suffered from autism.
IMH's report concluded on Friday (July 3) that Yee did not suffer from autism, nor any other mental disorder, and stated he would admit to his guilt and promise not to reoffend, according to the prosecution.
Around 200 people had gathered on Sunday (July 5) at Singapore's Speaker's Corner in support of the teenager, whose case has stirred heated debate among Singaporeans about freedom of speech and education.
Some organisers of the rally also gathered outside the court on Monday, holding a sign advocating free speech and Yee's freedom.
Although Yee's freedom was welcomed by the group, social worker Jolovan Wham condemned the four week sentence.
"Community Action Network is happy that Amos will be released but we still condemn the fact that the judge has convicted him to four weeks imprisonment. Imprisonment for uploading a Youtube video is definitely not a crime so we condemn what the judge has sentenced him to," he said.
Yee's case has also reignited concerns about censorship and social controls in the Asian financial hub, and has drawn criticism from human rights activists.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took the stand in court for nearly seven hours on Wednesday (July 1), answering questions from a blogger he has successfully sued for defamation as the court tried to decide how much he should be paid in damages.
The blogger, Roy Ngerng, told reporters at a rally on Sunday he hoped the government would show Amos Yee compassion. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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