16-year-old Amos Yee faces 3 charges later today (31 March). He will be charged for wounding religious feelings, circulating obscene material and harassment.
The charges come after more than 20 police reports were lodged his 8-minute video and blog where he criticizes Christians and the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The video has since been made private.
Yee was arrested by the Police on Sunday.
Wounding Religious Feelings
Yee’s first charge was under Section 298 of the Penal Code for uttering words “with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious or racial feelings of any person”.
This is in relation to what his comments in the video with regards to Christians and Christianity.
For this charge, Yee faces a maximum punishment of up to three years imprisonment, or with fine, or with both.
Harassment
Yee also faces a second charge of making threatening, abusive or insulting communication that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4 of the Harassment Act.
It is still unclear which of the things that Amos said – either the disparaging remarks directed at Mr Lee Kuan Yew or at Christianity – constituted the Harrassment.
This offence is punishable by a fine of up to S$5,000.
Circulation of Obscene Material
Yee also will be charged under Section 292 of the Penal Code for circulating obscene material in his blog.
This offence carries a punishment of a fine, or jail of up to three months, or both.
In a statement, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) Tan Chye Hee said:
“Police take a stern view of acts that could threaten religious harmony in Singapore. Any person who uploads offensive content online with deliberate intention of wounding the religious or racial feelings of any person will be firmly dealt with in accordance with the law.”