6 in S'pore to be charged for public assembly without permit & in prohibited areas despite prior convictions & warnings

Six people aged 31 to 70 will be charged in court on Sep. 28 for participating in public assemblies outside the State Courts and Changi Prison with without a permit and/or in a prohibited area.

Of the six, four had previously been investigated for similar offences under the Public Order act. Two of these people had received past warnings.

Public assembly outside Changi Prison

Two individuals, a man, 31, and woman, 56, will be charged for participating in public assemblies outside Changi Prison without permits.

The man will face three charges for the offences conducted on three occasions, Nov. 22, 2024, Nov. 29, 2024 and Jan. 23, 2025.

He had previously be issued a stern warning for two counts of the same offence on Mar. 29, 2022 and Apr. 26, 2022.

He also faced one count of obstructing justice on Mar. 29, 2022 in relation to these public assemblies.

The woman will face two counts of participating in a public assembly without a permit on Nov. 22, 2024 and Nov. 29, 2024.

She had also previously been issued a stern warning for a similar offence on Sep. 26, 2022.

Public assembly outside State Courts

The same 56-year-old woman also received another stern warning for participating in a public assembly outside the State Courts without permit on Feb. 3, 2025.

A total of five people, aged 31 to 70, will be charged with one count of this offence, as the area where the assembly was held is considered a prohibited area.

Previous offences

Two of the five individuals have had previous brushes with the law in relation to the Public Order Act.

One of them, a 37-year-old woman, had received either stern warnings or 12-month conditional warnings for the following:

• Public assembly without a permit on three occasions from 2017 -2022
• Obstruction of course of justice on two of those days
• Public procession from Novena MRT to the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 7, 2024

The second person, a 38-year-old woman, had also received penalties ranging from a fine of S$3,000 to a 24-month conditional warning for other "egregious offences":

Police advisory

The Singapore police warned that organising or participating in a public assembly without a permit is an offence punishable by law.

Organising a public assembly in a prohibited area is punishable with up to S$10,000 fine, up to six months' jail, or both.

Participating in one is punishable with up to a fine of S$5,000.

A person who participates in an unpermitted public assembly or procession may face up to S$3,000 fine.

Those who participate in public assemblies or processions at prohibited areas without a police permit will face higher penalties.

Prohibited areas include The Istana, Parliament, the Supreme Court and State Courts and their vicinities.

The Police also warned against disregarding previous warnings issued for breaches of the Public Order Act, as enforcement actions will be taken.

While members of the public should apply for a Police permit to organise public assemblies, those without one can express their views at the Speakers' Corner.