Shanmugam: Assault on Amos Yee 'unacceptable'
PUBLISHED ONApril 30, 2015 1:58 PM
SINGAPORE - Law Minister K Shanmugam has said that the assault on Amos Yee today (April 30) while the teen was going to court is "unacceptable".
The teenage blogger was on his way to a pre-trial conference this afternoon when a middle-aged man slapped him and then taunted Yee to "sue me, come and sue me". The man then fled the scene.
Mr Shanmugam said in a Facebook post tonight: "People may have strong feelings about Amos (or anyone else who is charged). But we have to leave it to the courts to deal with them. Taking the law into one's own hands cannot be condoned.
"Rule of Law means respecting the legal process. If everyone starts taking the law into his or her own hands, then we will no longer be a civilised society. I hope that the attacker will be caught quickly, and is dealt with appropriately."
Yee, 16, was charged on March 31 with several offences, including attacking Christianity in a YouTube video.
Mr Shanmugam said in his Facebook post that he "understands that" Yee's charge "in respect of his statements on Mr Lee Kuan Yew have been stood down".
Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reported that Yee has been placed back in remand after the pre-trial conference, after he flouted his bail conditions by publishing two blog posts. It said that Yee's bailor, youth counsellor Vincent Law, discharged himself.
Yee's bail is now set at $30,000, up from the $20,000 that was put up by Mr Law, who is unrelated to the family, CNA reported.
sinsh@sph.com.sg