The Police have completed their investigations against nine individuals, aged between 19 and 41, for public order offences relating to their involvement in a public assembly without a permit on 26 January 2021.
On 26 January 2021 at about 5.00pm, a group of five individuals, aged between 19 and 41, had staged a protest by holding placards outside the Ministry of Education (MOE) Headquarters along Buona Vista Drive. The group did not have a Police permit to carry out the public assembly.
Upon Police’s arrival, only three individuals remained outside MOE Headquarters, including the 33-year-old organiser of the public assembly. The Police warned them to cease their activities as they were liable for an offence under the Public Order Act. However, they ignored the Police’s warning and continued with their activities. The trio was then issued with a ‘Move-on’ direction under Section 36 of the Public Order Act and were told that they would be arrested if they failed to adhere to the direction. They refused to comply despite the Police’s repeated warnings, and were arrested under the Public Order Act at around 5.35pm. Apart from the five individuals, four others, aged between 23 and 41, who were not part of the public assembly, were also investigated for their suspected involvement in the incident.
The Police, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, have issued the following warnings to six individuals:
- A 24-month conditional warning to a 33-year-old individual for organising the public assembly without a permit and contravening a ‘Move-on’ direction by the Police under Section 16(1)(a) and Section 37 of the Public Order Act respectively.
- A 12-month conditional warning to two individuals, aged 19 and 24, for participating in a public assembly without a permit and contravening a ‘Move-on’ direction by the Police under Section 16(2)(a) and Section 37 of the Public Order Act respectively.
- A stern warning to two individuals, aged 24 and 41, for participating in a public assembly without a permit under Section 16(2)(a) of the Public Order Act. Both individuals had complied with the directions given by the security officer stationed at MOE Headquarters and left the public assembly location promptly before Police’s arrival.
- A stern warning to a 23-year-old individual for abetting an offence of participating in a public assembly without a permit under Section 16(2)(a) of the Public Order Act read with Section 109 of the Penal Code. The individual was involved in the preparation of placards that were used at the public assembly.
No further action will be taken against the remaining three individuals who were investigated by the Police.
The Police would like to remind the public that organising or participating in a public assembly without a Police permit is illegal and constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act.
The Government takes a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal demonstrations and protests as these may lead to public order incidents. The measures in place to regulate public protests allow the Government to uphold public order, to ensure a peaceful and stable society.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 November 2021 @ 5:00 PM