The media were greeted with a surprise revelation in court on Wednesday morning, at the sentencing of now-defunct The Real Singapore's Ai Takagi for four charges of sedition: She's eight weeks pregnant.

She has been sentenced to 10 months' jail altogether, and her prison term will start on April 22 — after requesting additional time to assist in looking after her father-in-law, as well as to attend to their Takagi Ramen Shop business.

Additionally, her lawyer Choo Zheng Xi said she would be called upon as a witness in her husband's trial — her Singaporean husband and ex-TRS co-owner Yang Kaiheng still faces the same charges, but has claimed trial, which will begin next week.

We first found out she and Yang had gotten married by the time their case rolled into court sometime last year, and a couple of weeks ago she pled guilty to four charges of seditious articles she had published on the super-successful website, which was shut down in May 2015.

Takagi seeking to integrate into Singaporean society

On Wednesday, Choo said in filed defence submissions that "a stiff custodial sentence is unnecessary to deter Ms Takagi from re-offending in the future", citing her young age (20) at the time of her first offence, and:

"Further, there has been a material change in the personal circumstances of Ms Takagi since the commission of said offences. Ms Takagi has since gotten married to her Singaporean boyfriend and chosen to settle down in Singapore, a country which she has come to love and understand better.

Ms Takagi has also sought to integrate into the Singaporean society and is now expecting a child who will be a Singapore citizen. Since then she has begun to better appreciate the delicate balance that holds the Singaporean society together. It is submitted that Ms Takagi has learnt her lesson, and is highly unlikely to risk everything she has by re-offending in the future."

Takagi's mitigation plea documents reveal more:

- She was a law student at Queensland University, and Yang was studying environmental science there. They met through the University's karaoke and gaming club.

- They dated for four years, and then got married in Singapore on October 16 last year.

- She "speaks fluent Singlish" and also now lives with her husband and his family.

- She also now helps her husband look after his father, who is paralysed, while helping Yang with his ramen stall (seems the business is owned by him, not her).

- Her father-in-law, Yeo Dai Shin, was paralysed since May last year after suffering a fall from a stroke and "locked-in syndrome", after he flew to Brisbane from Singapore to look after the couple's dog while they were in Singapore.

- She discovered she was pregnant on March 3 — which means it's likely she will be having the baby while serving her sentence.

Takagi was asked questions which 'have no bearing' on her charges

Previously, prosecutors said Takagi dismissed questions from investigators some 101 times as "irrelevant", Choo said she was indeed asked questions that in Choo's view "have no bearing on the charges faced by her", like:

- "We have evidence that Roy Ngerng actively contributes to TRS, and is paid for it. What do you have to say about this?"

- "So did you pay Roy Ngerng to write articles for TRS?"

- "We also have evidence that Roy Ngerng contributed almost 200 articles to TRS in the past few months. What do you have to say about this?" and

- "Do you know one Han Hui Hui?"

He also argued that Takagi used the pseudonym "Farhan" to protect herself from harassment she was experiencing for her writing.

Takagi's apology

She also read out the following apology in court:

"I, Ai Takagi, wish to take this opportunity to sincerely apologise to the people of Singapore for the harm I have caused them through my actions in posting content to my website TheRealSingapore.com.

I love Singapore and hope to call it my home permanently.

Before this case started, I was not fully aware of the level of sensitivity needed when dealing with topics related to racial and religious issues in Singapore. I did not fully appreciate the gravity and sensitivity required when approaching such subjects.

I now know that the harmony which Singapore enjoys today requires careful and continuous efforts on the part of everyone, citizens and visitors alike, to maintain. This is especially so online where articles, comments and opinions are seen by large audiences very quickly.

I will definitely be more careful with any and all my online postings in the future. Again, I sincerely apologise for the harm I have caused through my actions."

Prosecutors: Takagi's plea a 'tactical ploy'

Prosecutors argued in response that her case was the most serious one of sedition to date in Singapore, because of the sheer reach her articles had online, and also said her plea was a "tactical ploy to downplay the seriousness of her offences, in a bid to get off with a lower sentence than she deserves".

They also pointed out an article she published on TRS in the wake of her and Yang being charged with sedition, where she attempted to distance herself from the offending articles, without admitting any harm being done to the people of Singapore. Additionally, they cited a radio interview she did in Australia criticising Singapore.

She should be serving more than the 12 months they initially sought for her to be sentenced to, they said.

It does indeed look like she will be giving birth in prison, though, since District Judge Salina Ishak decided on a 10-month term for her in the end.

Related articles:

Here’s how TRS editor Ai Takagi ran one of S’pore’s most visited websites

The Real Singapore made AU$474,000 in Google ad revenue in 17 months from Dec. 2013 to April 2015

Top photo by Howgene Leong.

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