First tranche of Han Hui Hui trial ends with a twist
Han Hui Hui together with Low Wai Choo and Koh Yew Beng arriving at the State Courts on Oct 14, 2015. Photo: Ernest Chua
SINGAPORE — The first tranche of the trial of blogger Han Hui Hui ended with a twist, with Han appearing to have a change of heart and indicating she may plead guilty, when she learnt that the trial will likely conclude only next year.
Han, 24, and co-accused Goh Aik Huat, 42, Koh Yew Beng, 60 and Low Wai Choo, 55, are alleged to have caused public nuisance during a protest that disrupted a YMCA charity event held concurrently at Hong Lim Park on Sept 27 last year. Han faces an additional charge for organising a demonstration without approval.
All four are contesting the charges against them, but when District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt said at the end of today’s hearing (Oct 16) that the trial — originally scheduled to conclude today — will have to enter another tranche, panic ensued in the dock.
The defendants took turns to plead with the judge to close the case promptly, with Han saying that her co-accused may lose their jobs if the case drags on.
“We have all spent a lot of time and leave (from work) for this...our employers are also angry that we protested against the Govermment, he may even get sacked,” she said, referring to Goh.
Over the past four days, the prosecution, comprising Deputy Public Prosecutors Francis Ng, John Lu, Amanda Chong and Jane Lim, had called on 14 witnesses. All but the last witness, Investigation Office Samantha Wong, have been cross-examined. The defence has yet to be called.
When DJ Chay said that the next tranche may not be heard until next February, the defendants were visibly anxious, with Goh breaking down in tears when pleading with the judge in Hokkien.
Han said there would be no other time when the four could come together again before the court. Setting the pre-trial conference for Oct 23, DJ Chay said: “You will have to make the time.”
To which Han responded: “I think we know where this going...If that’s the case, I think we will plead guilty now.” This prompted Low to point out she did not think she was guilty.
DJ Chay then advised Han not to make a hasty decision, and told the defendants to indicate their courses of action in the pre-trial conference.
Earlier in the day, court proceedings were halted when Low broke down while cross-examining National Parks Board’s Director of Parks Chia Seng Jiang.
Low alleged that it was Chia’s negligence in apprising protestors of the concurrent YMCA event that had led her to be embroiled in a criminal case.
“Do you know that if you had informed me there would be another event (that involved persons with) special needs, I would have cancelled my application (to speak at the Speakers’ Corner)?” she said.
Other prosecution witnesses who took the stand also included Assistant Superintendent Eric Chionh from the Singapore Police Force.
ASP Chionh, who was present at the events last year, testified that he noticed the crowd was “getting rowdy” but did not intervene as there was “no immediate threat to people’s safety”.
