SINGAPORE, March 31 — Amos Yee, the 16-year-old who posted a YouTube video making disparaging remarks about the late Lee Kuan Yew and of Christianity, was charged in the State Courts this morning.
The court heard that Amos had on Friday created and uploaded a video containing insensitive remarks against Christianity, with deliberate intention to wound religious feelings.
His eight-minute video compared the late Lee Kuan Yew to Jesus Christ, and referred to Christians as “power hungry and malicious but deceive others into thinking that they are compassionate and kind”.
The video which also insulted Lee was created in Amos’ home and disseminated intentionally, the court heard. In it, Amos also challenged Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to sue him. The video has since been taken down. TODAY understands that YouTube was forced to remove the video as there were too many negative comments on it.
On Saturday, Amos also posted obscene images of the late Lee and late United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the court heard.
Amos, who donned a black shirt and white pants today, was smirking when his charges were read against him.
More than 20 police reports have since been made against the teen within three days since the video was posted on Friday, said a police spokesperson.
Amos was arrested on Sunday and three charges were brought against him. The teen, who was accompanied by his parents today, will return to court on April 17 for a pre-trial conference.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Amos’ father said: “I would like to take this opportunity to say very sorry to PM Lee.”
Amos’ bail, set at S$20,000 (RM54,025), has been extended on the condition that he will not engage in making further posts directly or indirectly on social media while the case is against him.
In 2012, Amos, who had a minor role in local filmmaker Jack Neo’s movie We Not Naughty, was criticised for another video he made that mocked the origins of the Chinese zodiac.
Said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) Tan Chye Hee: “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.”
The maximum penalty for deliberately wounding the religious feelings of others is three years’ jail and a fine. One could get three months and a fine for circulating obscene material and fined up to S$5,000 for making threatening, abusive and insulting remarks causing harass to others. TODAY understands that while Yee is not a juvernile, his young age could be a consideration for the courts. — TODAY
