SINGAPORE — Iris Koh, founder of the Healing the Divide group known to be against Covid-19 vaccination, was handed five new charges on Thursday (May 9).

Of the fresh charges, two were for instigating members of Telegram groups to harass doctors and two were for instigating the same members to voluntarily obstruct workers at the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

Koh, whose Chinese name has been changed from Shu Cii to Hsiao Pei, also faced one new charge of organising a public assembly to resist the government's Covid-19 vaccination programme.

On Dec 27, 2021, Koh allegedly instigated 2,828 members of one Telegram group and 879 members of another Telegram group to harass doctors at vaccination centres.

She purportedly advised parents of young children to book a Covid-19 vaccination slot for their child, question the doctor about vaccination safety and ask the doctor for permission to record their answers. If they declined, she told the members to report the doctors to the Singapore Medical Council.

Under her fresh charges, the 48-year-old is also accused of instigating the same members on Oct 11, 2021, to voluntarily obstruct workers at MOH and MSF.

She allegedly asked them to "flood" MOH and MSF hotlines and demand their calls be escalated for follow-up by ministry staff.

Koh was also accused of distributing T-shirts with the slogan "United We Stand for Choice - Healing the Divide" near Bedok police headquarters, encouraging members of her group to put on the T-shirts and taking photographs on Nov 25, 2021.

She now faces a total of 14 charges. 

Koh was previously given charges of engaging in a criminal conspiracy with doctor Jipson Quah and seven others to lie to the MOH to obtain fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates between 2021 and 2022. Quah's case is pending before the courts. 

Among her 14 charges, Koh is also accused of obstructing a police officer by refusing to sign a statement recorded from her and tearing up a printed copy during an interview in January 2022. 

Koh's case is set to return to court on May 17. 

If convicted of obstructing public servants, a person may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$2,500, or both. 

If convicted of harassment, a person may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$5,000, or both. 

For abetting the commission of an offence by the public or more than 10 persons, a person can be jailed for up to five years, fined, or both. 

If convicted of holding an assembly without a permit, a person can be fined up to S$5,000. CNA