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Civil activist Jolovan Wham charged in court

SINGAPORE — Civil activist Jolovan Wham was charged in court on Wednesday (Nov 29) for organising public assemblies without permit, vandalism, as well as refusing to sign police statements.

Civil activist Jolovan Wham leaves the state court after being charged on Wednesday (Nov 29) with organising public assemblies without permit, vandalism as well as refusing to sign police statements. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY

Civil activist Jolovan Wham leaves the state court after being charged on Wednesday (Nov 29) with organising public assemblies without permit, vandalism as well as refusing to sign police statements. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Civil activist Jolovan Wham was charged in court on Wednesday (Nov 29) for organising public assemblies without permit, vandalism, as well as refusing to sign police statements.

The former executive director of migrant worker group HOME faces seven charges, and has no lawyer yet, though he intends to engage one. 

Wham, 37, allegedly organised three public assemblies without permit.  

The first was on Nov 26 last year, where he allegedly facilitated live transmission of a speech by Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong. 

The second concerned activities carried out on an MRT train on June 3 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Operation Spectrum, in which 22 people were arrested for allegedly plotting a Marxist conspiracy to overthrow the Government. 

The last was on July 13, outside Changi Prison Complex, for the execution of convicted drug trafficker Prabagaran Srivijayan. 

Wham also faces three charges for refusing to sign police statements relating to these three public assemblies. 

He faces one count of vandalism for sticking two pieces of paper on a train panel for the public assembly he organised on a MRT train. One piece of the paper read "MARXIST CONSPIRACY? #notodetentionwithouttrial”, and the other, "JUSTICE FOR OPERATION SPECTRUM SURVIVORS #notodetentionwithouttrial”.

If convicted of organising a public assembly without police permit, Wham could be fined up to S$10,000 and/or jailed up to six months per charge, as he would be a repeat offender. 

Wham could be jailed up to three years, and a fine of up to S$2,000, if found guilty of vandalism. 

For refusing to sign police statements, he could be sentenced to a jail term of up to three months and/or fined up to S$2,500, if convicted. 

Wham is out on bail of S$8,000. He will return to court on Dec 13.

Dressed in a pink shirt and jeans, he was accompanied by a group of about 10 supporters, including blogger Han Hui Hui, and activist Teo Soh Lung. 

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