Amos Yee claims trial to 8 charges, bail extended

SINGAPORE — Teen blogger Amos Yee has claimed trial for allegedly wounding the religious feelings of Muslims and Christians, and for reportedly not showing up at Jurong Police Division on two occasions.

The 17-year-old, who faces eight charges, told the judge in court on Thursday (May 26) that he would try to get a lawyer to represent him. His bail of S$5,000 was extended.

The prosecution did not object to Amos being granted bail, but noted that the teen posted anti-Islamic content online when he was out on police bail, so he was asked to make an undertaking not to commit any of these offences or any further offences while on bail. In response, Amos said: “I won’t post any content which will wound religious feelings, I promise.” He also said that he would not commit further offences while on bail.

Since the teen is claiming trial, the prosecution sought an urgent pre-trial conference — set for Monday at 9.30am — saying the “expeditious disposal” of these charges is necessary because the blogger has increased both the tempo and offensiveness of his online posts.

The prosecution added that the teen is escalating his offending behaviour in a bid to gain attention.

Less than a year ago, Amos was released from jail for posting online an obscene image and content intended to hurt the religious feelings of
Christians.

On Wednesday, he uploaded images of the eight charge sheets on his blog — five charges are for allegedly wounding the religious feelings of Muslims and one for allegedly wounding the religious feelings of Christians.

They relate to content he posted online between November last year and last Thursday.

He is said to have failed to show up at Jurong Police Division last December and this month for investigations, despite a notice from Assistant Superintendent of Police Doreen Chong and a magistrate’s order to do so, and he now faces two charges for that.

If convicted of deliberately wounding the religious feelings of others, Amos could be jailed up to three years and fined.

For failing to turn up at the police station in spite of an order, he could be jailed up to a month and fined up to S$1,500.