AGC will not prosecute cartoonist Chew for sedition

SINGAPORE — The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said today (July 29) that it will not pursue sedition charges against Leslie Chew Peng Ee, the cartoonist behind the Demon-cratic Singapore series on Facebook. But Mr Chew still faces contempt of court charges, with the AGC commencing legal proceedings in the High Court against him last week. Mr Chew, 37, is accused of scandalising the judiciary in five comics published online, said the AGC. The case will be heard at the High Court on Aug 12. The AGC’s statement in full: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST CHEW PENG EE The Attorney-General’s Chambers (“AGC”) has completed its review of the investigation papers relating to Chew Peng Ee, also known as Leslie Chew. Leslie Chew was arrested on 19 April 2013 as part of investigations into whether he had committed offences under the Sedition Act in connection with his publication of the comic series “Demon-cratic Singapore” on Facebook. He was released on bail on April 21, 2013 and has remained on bail since. Having reviewed the evidence in the investigation papers submitted by the Police to AGC in late May 2013, the Public Prosecutor has determined in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion that no further action will be taken against Leslie Chew for any offence under section 4(1)(a) read with section 3(1)(e) of the Sedition Act (doing an act with a tendency to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population in Singapore). Leslie Chew was informed of AGC’s decision earlier today. Accordingly, his police bail will be allowed to lapse and his passport, which was surrendered as a condition of bail, will be returned to him. As announced last week, legal proceedings for an order of committal against Leslie Chew for committing contempt of court have been instituted and are now pending before a court of law. AGC would like to take the opportunity to reiterate that the proper forum in which factual issues in a pending matter before a court should be determined, is the court itself.