(Editor's note: We've corrected an earlier version of this article which erroneously attributed a bigoted comment by Jason Neo to Calvin Cheng, to reflect the accurate sentiment expressed. We're sorry for the mistake.)
We have learned that Singaporean YouTuber and teen troublemaker Amos Yee was arrested on Wednesday (May 11) on two offences, against section 174 and Section 298 of the penal code.
What's Section 174?
This refers to a failure to attend a session as ordered by a public servant — this after Yee reportedly fled the country in late 2015, allegedly ignoring an order to report to Jurong Police Division on December 14 and 22 to assist in investigations.
He later failed to turn up once again after a Warrant of Attendance was issued by the State Courts.
And what's Section 298?
This one might be more familiar to you — it relates to uttering words with an intent to wound religious and racial feelings, which is allegedly what Yee wrote in a blog post responding to NMP Calvin Cheng's comment suggesting the killing of children of terrorists.
This is the second time Yee has been arrested for allegedly violating Section 298 of the penal code, having been convicted under the same offence last year.
A premonition?
Eerily, in an earlier video uploaded on May 8 titled "Amos Yee Arrested For Wounding Religion Again", Yee had actually talked at length with his talk show's co-host, Sean Francis Han, about the possibility of being sent back to jail.
We aren't going to link to or embed it, but here's an excerpt from their discussion:
Han: So how do you feel? This seems like it might go into LKY video round two.
Yee: Game on la. Because you see there are two ways to play it; I'm sure people know. They put me in jail, they get f**ked by the international press. They don't put me in jail, I make even more videos which f**ks them.
Han: Yeah I mean there's not really a way to... I mean just because you're such a f**king radical... there's nothing they could take away from you in that sense.... or blackmail you with.
Yee: ... The people who suck run for politics. So if you want to liberate yourself from that, you can't rely on them. And that's pretty much how I predicate my life. Genius isn't it, uh?
Han: Any sort of fear or consideration going into this?
Yee: ... I've f**ked around with the police so many times now, there's always fear but much less than before.
Han: Because you've been through it before?
Yee: I've been through it before and now I really know how to play the game.
Here's the full police statement on Yee, shared with us:
“In response to media queries, the Police confirm that a 17-year-old male Singaporean was arrested on 11 May 2016 for offences under section 174 of the Penal Code and section 298 of the Penal Code respectively.
The offence under section 298 of the Penal Code relates to online remarks made in November 2015 that contained offensive and disparaging remarks against various religious communities. Following Police reports lodged against the subject’s online remarks in November 2015, the Police issued a notice in December 2015 requiring the subject to report at a Police Division and assist with investigations. The subject disregarded the notice and left the country shortly thereafter, and remained overseas for a prolonged period until his return in April 2016.
After his return, the subject was served a Warrant of Attendance issued by the State Courts to report at a Police Division. The subject did not comply. Intentionally omitting to attend to an order from a public servant to report at a Police Division constitutes an offence under section 174 of the Penal Code. Investigations are ongoing.”
Guess he, and probably all of us, knew for sure this was coming.
Related articles:
Poly student explains really well how damaging Amos Yee’s NS video is to the mental health community
26-page book selling for $7 likens Amos Yee to Nelson Mandela
Teen blogger Amos Yee gets backdated four weeks’ jail, walks away a free boy again
Top image by Eisabess Chee
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