The Real Singapore editor allowed to visit sick father in Australia

SINGAPORE — The Real Singapore editor Yang Kaiheng has been allowed to leave the country while on bail, albeit on tightened bail conditions, to visit his father in Australia who is seriously ill.

In granting him permission to leave, District Judge Eddy Tham raised the total bail amount from S$20,000 to S$60,000. Yang, who faces seven counts of sedition charges, must return by May 17. The prosecution had withdrew their objections to Yang being permission to leave, after Yang’s co-accused Ai Takagi agreed to cooperate with the authorities.

Yang and Takagi, both editors of The Real Singapore, were charged last month with seven counts of sedition each, and also one charge of failing to produce documents to a police officer from the Criminal Investigation Department. Separately, they have also been ordered to cease operations on The Real Singapore by the Media Development Authority (MDA), for flouting the Internet Code of Practice under the Broadcasting Act. 

Yang’s lawyer, Mr Choo Zhengxi, made the application for his client this morning (May 4). The court heard that Yang’s father had suffered a stroke on May 1. His condition had deteriorated further since then and the prognosis given yesterday (May 3) was that he might die within the next 48 to 72 hours.  A doctor’s letter from Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane on Yang’s father’s medical condition was also submitted. 

Mr Choo also submitted that Yang’s family are based here and not in Australia, and his family, including his mother, had only flown to Australia to be with his father.

Deputy Public Prosecutor G Kannan, however, said that Yang has not been cooperative with the authorities in giving information. He also argued that Yang is a flight risk, pointing out that Yang is a permanent resident in Australia and owns property there. 

At the same time, the prosecution was sympathetic with his situation, and if Yang showed good faith on his part in responding to the authorities, then the prosecution would not object, he said.

When court hearing resumed in the afternoon, DPP Kannan said Ms Takagi, who was also present in court, had made a written undertaking to provide information to the MDA, in response to a Notice of Requisition under the Broadcasting Act. As such, the prosecution would drop its earlier objection to Yang leaving Singapore, he said.

DPP Kannan asked for an increase in bail amount, and that Yang must return to Singapore by May 17 as his pre-trial conference has been scheduled for May 18. He must also provide a travel itinerary and remain contactable while he is away. 

Delivering his decision, Judge Tham said while there was sufficient grounds to find Yang to be a flight risk, it was clear that his application for leave was not motivated by a desire to avoid facing justice but by an “unfortunate family calamity”.

“I further note that prosecution, after initially objecting to the application, is now amenable to do so after obtaining an undertaking by co-accused through his DC to comply with certain directions on production of documents and information,” Judge Tham added.

Yang has also been ordered to surrender his passport by May 18 and provide an updated medical report on his father to his defence counsel every three days starting today.