Singaporean teen blogger heads back to court to face fresh charges

The 17-year-old is set to defend himself against five charges for allegedly wounding the religious feelings of Muslims, and one for allegedly wounding the religious feelings of Christians. He also faces two charges for allegedly failing to show up at the police division on two occasions despite a police notice and magistrate's order.

Court proceedings against Yee have drawn criticism from the United Nations for being "a sign of the increased criminalisation of expression" in Singapore.

"First, the trial concerns an expression that is lawful under international human rights law, and second, the person being tried is considered a child under international human rights law," said the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye.

Yee first made headlines in March 2015 when he was arrested after publishing a rant on YouTube criticising both Christianity and Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew shortly after his death.

He was sentenced to four weeks in jail.

Yee will appear in court on Wednesday and Thursday this week, as well as Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

If convicted of wounding religious feelings, he could be fined and jailed for up to three years. A conviction of failing to present himself despite orders to report to the police station could lead to a fine of up to 1,500 Singapore dollars (1,118 US dollars) and a month's imprisonment.
- DPA