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Six persons, aged between 31 and 70, will be charged in court on 28 September 2026, for their involvement in various public assemblies and processions without a permit and/or in a prohibited area.

Of the six persons, two persons had been investigated and warned for their involvement in public assemblies without a permit under the Public Order Act preceding this series of cases. Despite the past warnings, these two persons continued to be involved in multiple public assemblies without a permit and/or in a prohibited area under the Public Order Act. Two other persons had similarly been repeatedly involved in such cases despite being under investigation for offences under the Public Order Act. The details of the cases are as follows:

Public Assemblies without a Permit outside Changi Prison on 22, 29 November 2024, and 23 January 2025

A 31-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman will be charged for their participation in public assemblies without permits outside Changi Prison.

1. The 31-year-old man will be charged with three counts of participating in a public assembly without a permit under Section 16(2)(a) of the Public Order Act, in relation to public assemblies. This is despite having been issued a stern warning for two counts of participating in a public assembly without a permit for his involvement on 29 March 2022 and 26 April 2022, and one count of obstructing the course of justice on 29 March 2022 under Section 204A(a) of the Penal Code in relation to his involvement in these public assemblies. 
    
2. The 56-year-old woman will be charged with two counts of participating in a public assembly without a permit under Section 16(2)(a) of the Public Order Act, in relation to public assemblies held on 22 and 29 November 2024. This was also not the first time as she had already been issued a stern warning for a similar offence on 26 April 2022. In addition, she was issued another stern warning on 18 September 2026 for her involvement in a public assembly outside the State Courts on 3 February 2025, described in paragraph 4 below.

Public Assembly without a Permit in a Prohibited Area outside the State Courts on 3 February 2025

Five persons, aged between 31 and 70¹ will each be charged with one count of participating in a public assembly in a prohibited area under Section 15(2) of the Public Order Act for gathering outside the State Courts, a Prohibited Area on 3 February 2025. Two members of this group have multiple brushes with the law in relation to Public Order Act offences and have either been warned by the Police in the past: 

1. Of the two, the first person is a 37-year-old woman who has had numerous run-ins with the law: 

1. Public assembly without a permit on 13 July 2017, 29 March 2022, 26 April 2022;  
2. Obstruction of course of justice under Section 204A(a) of the Penal Code on 29 March 2022 and 26 April 2022; and  
3. Public procession from Novena MRT to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 7 June 2024  
   
   For her participation in these various public assemblies/procession, she faced penalties ranging from stern warnings to a 12-month conditional warning.  
   

      b. The second person is a 38-year-old woman who, likewise, was previously convicted for several offences: 

1. Organising a public procession without a permit in a procession to a prohibited area, i.e. the Istana on 2 February 2024; and 
2. Public assemblies without permits on 3 June 2017 and 26 January 2021.
   
   For these egregious offences, this person received consequences ranging from a fine of $3000 to 24-month conditional warning. 

The Police would like to remind members of the public that under the Public Order Act, organising or participating in a public assembly without a Police permit carry the following penalties: 

1. An offence under Section 15(1) is punishable with a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for a term of up to six months or both; 
2. An offence under Section 15(2) is punishable with a fine of up to $5,000; and c) An offence under Section 16(2) is punishable with a fine of up to $3,000.

Public assemblies or processions at prohibited areas without a police permit will be subjected to even higher punishments. Areas defined as “prohibited” can be found under Section 12 of the Public Order Act and are gazetted under Public Order (Prohibited Areas) Order. Prohibited areas include The Istana, Parliament and Supreme Court, State Courts and their vicinities.

Individuals who have previously been warned or dealt with for breaches of the Public Order Act should not disregard such warnings. The Police will not hesitate to take enforcement action when there are breaches of the Public Order Act. 

Members of the public should apply for a Police permit prior to organising public assemblies. Those wishing to express their views but do not have a permit can consider the Speakers’ Corner ², a long established space for Singaporeans to express their views.

Annex – Summary of Charges Against the Six Persons

¹Including the 31-year-old man mentioned in para 3a.

² The Speaker’s Corner provides a designated space for Singapore citizens and entities to organise and participate in assemblies without a Police permit. Only Singapore citizens and permanent residents are allowed to participate in assemblies or processions at the Speakers’ Corner without requiring a permit, subject to the conditions in the Public Order (Unrestricted Area – Speakers' Corner) Order 2025.