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‘Return Our CPF’ protester let off with 2-year conditional warning

SINGAPORE — After contesting a criminal charge of causing public nuisance for four days, one of the four #ReturnOurCPF protesters in the dock backed down with an apology in court today (Oct 23) and was let off with a two-year conditional warning.

Goh Aik Huat. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong

Goh Aik Huat. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong

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SINGAPORE — After contesting a criminal charge of causing public nuisance for four days, one of the four #ReturnOurCPF protesters in the dock backed down with an apology in court today (Oct 23) and was let off with a two-year conditional warning.

Goh Aik Huat’s change of heart came after the first tranche of hearings for his case ended last Friday. He engaged lawyer Suang Wijaya, who made representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

In court today, Goh, 42, told the court through a Mandarin interpreter: “Your Honour, I wish to apologise to the court. I’m sorry, I undertake not to repeat this again. I hope Your Honour can grant me one last chance.”

In a press release, an AGC spokesperson said: “Upon careful consideration of these representations, Goh’s culpability relative to that of the other co-accused persons, his willingness to apologise unreservedly to those affected by his conduct on Sept 27, 2014 and (undertaking) not to engage in such conduct in future, as well as his conduct during the trial, the Prosecution has decided to discontinue the prosecution against Goh, and has directed the Police to administer a 24-month conditional warning to him instead.”

The conditional warning was issued to him on Wednesday.

He is the eighth person among the #ReturnOurCPF protesters charged in court to be let off with a conditional warning, which means should he re-offend within 24 months, he could be prosecuted for both the fresh offence and this public nuisance charge.

Meanwhile, the remaining three accused persons in this case — Han Hui Hui, 24; Koh Yew Beng, 60; and Low Wai Choo, 55 — said they will continue challenging their charges. Koh said they will continue to conduct their own defence in the second tranche of the trial taking place from Feb 24 to 26 next year.

The trio are accused of causing public nuisance, after taking part in a heated march around Hong Lim Park and creating a fracas by heckling special-needs performers at YMCA’s annual carnival in September last year. Han is also accused of organising the demonstration without an approval.

The first leg of their trial — spanning four days — ended last week, with the four accused persons expressing dismay over the need for a second tranche.

They had requested the judge to wrap things up swiftly, claiming that they might lose their jobs if the case drags on.

Two others involved — blogger Roy Ngerng, 34, and Chua Siew Leng, 43 — had pleaded guilty earlier, and were let off with a fine of S$1,900 and S$300, respectively.

For causing public nuisance, one could be fined up to S$1,000. The maximum penalty for organising a demonstration without approval is a S$5,000 fine.

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