Activist-blogger Han Hui Hui was forcibly removed by the police from the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods hearing on Thursday afternoon, March 29.

This was after she disrupted proceedings by holding up a copy of a book cover in the midst of the hearings and refused to stop, despite being told repeatedly not to carry on with her actions.

Afternoon session

The incident occurred at around 3.05pm during the afternoon session, shortly after Han entered the room accompanied by Leong Sze Hian, a fellow activist.

Historian Thum Ping Tjin was in the midst of giving his testimony at that time in response to questioning by Law and Home Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam.

The session had been ongoing for one-and-a-half hours at that point.

Before the fracas

From a first-person eyewitness perspective, Shanmugam continued speaking when the duo first made their appearance and entered the area reserved for members of the public to be seated.

Raising papers

Shortly after they were seated, a female staff approached Han to ask her firmly but politely in hushed tones to refrain from holding up a stack of papers, with a book cover image directed towards the committee members.

The staff did not provide a reason for asking her to stop when Han questioned why she was not allowed to do so. Han spoke at an audible volume that other members of the public around her could hear.

The book cover image was a copy of, Authoritarian Rule of Law: Legislation, Discourse And Legitimacy in Singapore, by Jothie Rajah.

Han told the staff she was holding up "blank papers", which she needed to take notes.

"No, these are just blank papers. Look, I'm just trying to write my notes here ... I don't want to miss his hearing.

I want to follow his hearing which is why I purposely came here."

Did not stop

After Han did not stop, the staff appeared to leave her alone.

However, more parliament staff and the police subsequently showed up and surrounded Han. There were about five personnel in total.

One of the male police personnel was wearing a body camera, which appeared to be recording the confrontation.

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Hearing adjourned for five minutes

Han then had her papers taken away and was asked to leave, but she refused.

"I want to sit here because I want to follow the hearing… What else you want from me? I already give you my papers... What did I do wrong? Can you give me an official notice to say I cannot stay?"

Move or be moved

One female officer was heard saying either Han could walk out on her own, or she would be brought out.

Han then said she wasn't going to leave.

At this point, two female police officers had showed up and they proceeded to physically lift Han out of her seat by grabbing under her armpits and out of the chambers.

On her way out, Han could be heard saying her "shirt is coming up".

She was then kept in a holding room for about an hour, before being escorted into another room.

Serjeant-at-arms order

Entering the chambers for the Select Committee hearing follows strict security protocol.

Other than media personnel with accreditation passes, witnesses, and staff with official business in the chambers, members of the public are required to surrender their mobile devices at the entrance.

Before entering the chamber, there is a notice by the door that reminds the public they can be barred from the premises if they are judged to be dressed inappropriately, or are seen wearing or displaying messages or graphics.

This notice is by the Serjeant-at-Arms, who is responsible for maintaining order. The Serjeant acts on the direction of the Speaker and may remove any person from the Chamber, if ordered to do so.