A concerned Singaporean citizen, Mr Lee, has filed a police report against Jason Tan Kok Whee, believed to be a grassroots leader at Telok Blangah over a statement the latter made online directed at 16-year old Amos Yee.
Yee is being charged with harassment, and with allegedly wounding the religious feelings of Christians in a YouTube video.
Mr Tan had posted the comment, “For me, I would cut his dick and put in his mouth for blemish Jesus Christ.”, referring to Yee.
Mr Tan’s comment was posted under the Facebook handle of “Cookie Tan” on the Facebook page of The Real Singapore.
In his police complaint, Mr Lee said that Mr Tan’s statement is a criminal threat to Yee.
Mr Lee added, “I am seriously distressed by Jason Tan’s statement which bears the intention to harm Amos Yee physical and sexually. I have checked the penal code of Singapore and it seems that Jason Tan have breached the laws and should be liable to be arrested and be charged in the courts.”
Mr Lee also explained that Mr Tan has likely breached the law in making that comment against Yee, particularly penal code section 503*, 504, 507 and 508.
Mr Lee added that Mr Tan should be punished according to the penal code section 506**.
After Mr Lee had made his report, he was then called up by the investigating officer from the Tanglin Police station for an interview.
He said that the investigating officer had informed him that “quite a few police reports” have been made against Mr Tan.
Mr Lee also shared that the police officer had asked why he felt distress about Mr Tan’s Facebook comment. He replied that any normal person would feel distressed when they see someone threatening bodily harm against another and Mr Tan’s offence is worse than Amos’ as Amos didn’t threaten anyone with physical harm.
According to Mr Lee, the police officer then replied that Amos’ offence is serious as it involves religion.
Mr Lee replied and highlighted the case of then Young PAP member Jason Neo’s case in 2011.
Mr Neo had posted a photo of a school bus with a derogatory caption which offended Muslims.
The police said then that it was investigating the matter, but no outcome has been reported since.
Mr Lee asked why Jason Neo did not get arrested since several police reports were made more than 3 years ago. The officer said that she did not know why and will have to feedback to her superior about this and revert to him.
TOC has written to the Singapore Police Force to seek clarifications on the case and will include the replies when they respond.
*Criminal intimidation
503. Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to that person, or to cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do, as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat, commits criminal intimidation.
**Punishment for criminal intimidation
506. Whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine, or with both; and if the threat is to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years or more, or impute unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, or with fine, or with both.
