SINGAPORE-TEEN/COURT Singapore's remanded teen is ordered mental health re-evaluation

Record ID: 151972

  • Title: SINGAPORE-TEEN/COURT Singapore's remanded teen is ordered mental health re-evaluation
  • Date: 23rd June 2015
  • Summary: SINGAPORE (JUNE 23, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS REMANDED TEEN, AMOS YEE'S FATHER, ALPHONSUS YEE, WALKING TOWARDS COURT VARIOUS YOUNGER YEE'S MOTHER, MARY TOH, WALK TOWARDS COURT VARIOUS YEE'S LAWYER, ALFRED DODWELL, AND COLLEAGUES WALKING TOWARDS COURT VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF COURT VARIOUS POLICE VEHICLES BEHIND COURT DODWELL LEAVING COURT (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMOS YEE'S LAWYER,
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAPKA6WU3MMTAHP3W7JDF6XEQ1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A Singapore court on Tuesday (June 23) ordered blogger Amos Yee, 16, be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health, pending a psychiatric report.
    The teenager was previously found guilty of offending Christians and spreading an obscene image on the internet.
    The court is seeking a re-evaluation of his mental health. He was remanded for three weeks, after he refused to remove the offensive content from his webpage.
    Most of the three-hour court session was held behind closed doors.
    "The Judge has called for a 'MTO' which is Mental Treatment Order. So, he's going to be in remand at IMH (Institute of Mental Health) for two weeks to consider this. That's really all that is to say about this. On a good note, Amos has agreed to privatise all his postings and he's informed us that he will not repost these offending postings. So, that's a good note in relation to what Amos has decided to do," said Yee's lawyer, Alfred Dodwell.
    The court will resume hearing on the case on July 6.
    Amos Yee, 16, was arrested in March for comments he made on social media about Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, and Christians soon after Lee's death at the age of 91.
    He pleaded not guilty last month (May 7) to charges of spreading obscene images and offending a religious group, but was not required to enter a plea on a harassment charge for comments he made about late former premier. The prosecution said neither a fine nor prison term would be suitable, partly because of Yee's age.
    The case has reignited concerns about censorship and social controls in the Asian financial hub and has drawn criticism from human rights activists.
    Yee's case has stirred heated debate among Singaporeans about freedom of speech and education.
    The harassment charge carries a fine of up to S$5,000 ($3,770).
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