Amos Yee is due to be sentenced on June 2, by which time a report on his suitability for probation will be ready.
TEENAGER Amos Yee Pang Sang was yesterday found guilty of uploading an obscene image on his blog and intending to hurt the feelings of Christians in a YouTube video.
The 16-year-old is scheduled to find out his sentence on June 2, by which time a report on whether he is suitable for probation will be ready.
After spending 18 days in remand in Changi Prison, Yee was bailed out by his parents after the court, at the request of the prosecution, set bail at $10,000.
His previous bail of $30,000 included requiring him to report daily to a police station and to abstain from posting online. These conditions were also removed.
But he has to take down the offending image he posted on March 28 and the video he uploaded on March 27 because of the conviction. As of 11pm yesterday, both were still on his site.
The teen's father, computer engineer Alphonsus Yee, told reporters the verdict was "a fair one". He said that with his wife Mary Toh, they would "try (their) best to ensure similar offences don't occur".
State Court No. 7 was packed for the verdict, as it was during the two-day trial last week.
After District Judge Jasvender Kaur found him guilty of the two charges, the prosecution asked that a third charge Yee faced in relation to comments he made about Mr Lee Kuan Yew in the video be withdrawn.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Hay Hung Chun then urged the court to consider probation for Yee, stressing that rehabilitation should be "the main sentencing consideration".
He called Yee a "misguided young man" who sought attention "without regard to the damaging effects on the community". But he added that "taking into account the age and profile of the accused, it is clear that neither... a fine nor a term of imprisonment would be suitable."
Yee's lawyer Alfred Dodwell at first asked for a fine or a maximum sentence of two weeks' jail, which would have seen Yee released immediately given the time he spent in remand. But after a private discussion with the judge, the prosecution and Yee's parents, Mr Dodwell agreed that probation would probably be best since it would leave his client without a criminal record.
The Straits Times / Top of The News Published on Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Teen blogger convicted on 2 charges
Teen blogger convicted on 2 charges
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Teen blogger convicted on 2 charges
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