Amos Yee, arrested over video-Singaporean teenager was behind online attacks on former premier Lee Kuan Yew. He was charged for wounding religious feelings.
Amos Yee, 16, was jailed for three weeks for wounding religious feelings in an expletive-laden YouTube video comparing Lee Kuan Yew to Jesus, which was posted after the independence leader’s death in March.
The Singaporean teenager uploaded a video on YouTube criticizing Lee, also compared Lee to Jesus, casting both in an unfavorable light.
As a result, Yee was arrested and charged with the “intention of wounding the religious feelings of Christians”, and also separately for uploading an image of Lee and Margaret Thatcher engaged in a sexual act. Both charges fall under the Singapore Penal Code.
A third charge, later stood down, was under the Protection of Harassment Act. This charge accused Yee of “making an online video containing remarks about Mr. Lee that offended people who viewed it.”
Amos Yee was initially released on bail on the condition that he not comment or distribute any content online while the case was still ongoing, but Yee refused to obey the conditions of his bail. Yee’s trial, which took place on 7 to 8 May 2015, attracted much public interest.
The court found Yee guilty on 12 May 2015. In an expletive-laden YouTube video comparing Lee Kuan Yew to Jesus and for hurting Christian feelings which was posted after the independence leader’s death in March.
District Court judge said “were not serious in nature but not trivial either”.
After a judge had ordered psychiatric tests before he was sentenced. Singaporean teenager is due to appear in court Monday following two weeks at the Institute of Mental Health.
A psychiatrist previously said that Yee may have autism, though he was declared mentally and physically fit for an 18-month stint in a reform Centre.
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