Singaporean sibling entertainers Preeti and Subhas Nair have been given a two-year conditional stern warning from the police for their rap video produced in response to the controversial E-Pay ad near the end of July 2019.

In a statement shared with Mothership on Wednesday afternoon, police also revealed that no action will be taken against the makers of a controversial E-Pay advertisement that triggered the video, as the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) had "advised that there is no criminal offence disclosed" with respect to it.

What's a conditional warning?

According to Singapore Legal Advice, a conditional stern warning is one that comes with an agreed-upon period the recipients of the warning must not commit any crime.

In the case of the Nair siblings, they agreed to not committing any more criminal offences for the next two years.

It does also mean, however, that they've escaped further criminal prosecution for the video, against which a police report had been filed.

Here is the Police's statement in full:

TWO GIVEN CONDITIONAL WARNING FOR ONLINE RAP VIDEO

The Police conducted investigations against Ms Preeti Nair and Mr Subhas Nair for a rap video that they produced and published on the Internet.

On 29 July 2019, the Police received a report of a rap video that was circulating on social media platforms, and commenced investigations.

Ms Nair and Mr Nair admitted to the Police that they had produced and published the video. The video was in clear contravention of the Penal Code. If this video were to be allowed, then similar expletive-laden, insulting, offensive videos, targeted at all communities will have to be allowed. There is clear evidence around the world, including in the past week, that such paths inevitably lead to more racism, more racial tensions, and eventually, violence. It will be the minority communities, specifically the Malay and Indian communities, who could suffer more in such a situation. Singapore has taken a clear approach, to say no to offensive speech, targeted at race and religion. Ms Nair and Mr Nair have subsequently issued public apologies for their actions.

The Police have completed their investigations. After consideration of the circumstances of the case and in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Ms Nair and Mr Nair were administered with a 24-month conditional warning on 14 August 2019 under Section 298A(a) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.

The Police also received reports on an E-Pay advertisement, which featured a portrayal of different races by an actor and which had been referenced in the rap video. The Attorney-General’s Chambers has advised that there is no criminal offence disclosed in respect of the advertisement. The Police will take no further action in relation to the advertisement.

"Brownface" issue in Singapore, so far:

Top screenshot via original rap video