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Activist Jolovan Wham fined $3,200 for organising public assembly, refusing to sign police statement

Activist Jolovan Wham arrives at the State Court in Singapore February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Activist Jolovan Wham arrives at the State Court in Singapore February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Social worker and activist Jolovan Wham was fined $3,200 on Thursday (21 February) for organising a public assembly without a permit and refusing to sign a police statement.

Wham, 39, who works for the Community Action Network, was convicted last month in the State Courts after a trial last year.

He told the court on Thursday that he will serve the default jail term of 16 days instead of paying the fine, and applied for bail pending an appeal against his conviction.

Wham organised an event titled “Civil Disobedience and Social Movements” to discuss issues relating to civil disobedience and democracy in social change. It was held on 26 November 2016 at The AGORA, Sin Min Lane. Wham had publicised the event on Facebook and it was open to the public.

Prominent Hong Kong student activist Joshua Wong Chi-Fung addressed the audience through a live Skype call.

But the event required a police permit due to Wong’s involvement as he was a foreigner. On 23 November 2016, a police officer advised Wham to apply for a permit under the Public Order Act. But he did not so so.

On 20 December 2016, a police investigator recorded a statement from Wham at the Police Cantonment Complex. After it was read back to him, Wham affirmed that the statement was true and correct, but he refused to sign the statement.

During the trial, Wham testified that he had asked for a copy of the statement if he were to sign it but his request was rejected.

The maximum penalty for organising a public assembly without a required permit is a fine of up to $5,000.

The maximum punishment for refusing to sign a statement, when required to do so by a public servant, is up to three months’ jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

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