SINGAPORE — A 31-year-old man will be charged on Wednesday (Jan 19) with the deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of other people, the police said. 

He will also be charged under the Protection from Harassment Act after he purportedly posted a series of Instagram Stories that contained threatening, abusive and insulting remarks towards a police officer.

The police did not identify the man in its press release on Monday. However, an Instagram Story post by Reform Party chairman Charles Yeo shortly before the police statement contained a screenshot of a notice asking him to attend court on Wednesday afternoon.

The notice had similar charges as what the police had released. When contacted by TODAY, the police did not confirm that it was Mr Yeo, who is a lawyer.

The police said in their statement that the man had allegedly made remarks on his Instagram and Facebook accounts to wound the feelings of the Christian community on three occasions — Nov 13 in 2020 as well as on Feb 23 and 26 in 2021.

Before that, he had posted a series of Instagram Stories on Nov 3 in 2020 and Jan 11 in 2021 aimed at a police officer who had been carrying out his duties. An Instagram Story is a slideshow of photos or videos that will disappear 24 hours after it is uploaded.

The man will be charged with an offence and two attempted offences of uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of another under Section 298 of the Penal Code. For allegedly posting the Instagram Stories, he will also be charged with three offences under Section 6(3) of the Protection from Harassment Act. 

The police said that they take a stern view of abusive behaviour against public servants who are carrying out their public duties.

They also said that they take a serious view of acts that can threaten religious harmony in Singapore.

“Any person who makes remarks that can cause ill-will and hostility against any religion will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.”

Anyone found guilty under Section 6(3) of the Protection from Harassment Act against the police officer can be jailed up to 12 months or fined up to S$5,000, or both.

For allegedly making remarks to wound religious feelings, a person can be jailed up to three years or fined, or both.

On Saturday, the police said that Mr Yeo was one of two people arrested last week for alleged offences of criminal breach of trust and forgery. They “categorically reject” Mr Yeo's allegations that their investigations into his case were politically motivated.