Teen behind video insulting Christians charged
Amos Yee leaves the State Courts with his parents. Screengrab from Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE — The teenager who posted a profanity-laced YouTube clip of himself making remarks about the death of Mr Lee Kuan Yew was charged today (March 31) with three offences.
Amos Yee Pang Sang’s comments on the founding Prime Minister’s death — he described it as “good riddance” — are said to be “insulting” and likely to cause distress to Singaporean viewers, which constitutes an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA), the prosecution said.
The 16-year-old’s remarks against Christianity in the clip were also intended to wound the “religious feelings” of Christians, it added. In addition, Amos is said to have committed an offence by uploading an obscene image of the late Mr Lee and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher last Saturday. These two charges fall under the Penal Code.
Amos, who was accompanied by his parents today, was seen smirking in the dock as these charges were read read out to him. No plea was taken and he told the court he wants to engage a lawyer. He was allowed out on S$20,000 bail, on the condition that he does not upload or distribute any content online before his case concludes.
The POHA offence is punishable with a fine of up to S$5,000. Under the Act, an offence is committed if any person is likely to be harassed, alarmed or distressed by “threatening, abusive or insulting” words, behaviour or communication of another.
If convicted of wounding the feelings of Christians, Amos could be jailed for up to three years and/or fined. The offence of transmitting obscene images carries up to three months’ jail and/or a fine.
Outside court today, Amos’s father told reporters: “I would like to take this opportunity to say ‘very sorry’ to Prime Minister Lee (Hsien Loong).” PM Lee is the son of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who died last Monday. In the clip, Amos also challenged PM Lee to sue him for his remarks.
The eight-minute video, titled Lee Kuan Yew is Finally Dead!, drew widespread condemnation after it was posted last Friday, including police reports lodged by more than 20 people. Amos was arrested last Sunday and YouTube is understood to have had to remove the clip because of the number of negative comments it attracted.
In a statement on the case, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) Tan Chye Hee: “Police take a stern view of acts that could threaten religious harmony in Singapore. Any person who uploads offensive content online with deliberate intention of wounding the religious or racial feelings of any person will be firmly dealt with in accordance with the law.”
When TODAY visited his home, Amos’s father said he hopes the media can convey his “deep regret” about the incident, but declined further comment. In 2012, Amos also caused controversy by making a video mocking the origins of the Chinese zodiac.
Amos will return to court on April 17 for a pre-trial conference.
