Civil activist Jolovan Wham to be charged with organising illegal gatherings, vandalism
Civil activist Jolovan Wham (2nd R), will be charged in court on Wednesday (Nov 29) for organising public assemblies, vandalism, as well as refusing to sign police statements. Photo: Jolovan Wham/Facebook
SINGAPORE — Civil activist Jolovan Wham, 37, will be charged in court on Wednesday (Nov 29) for organising public assemblies without permits, vandalism, as well as refusing to sign police statements, the police said in a media release on Tuesday.
Wham, who is the former executive director of HOME, a migrant worker help group, is alleged to have organised a vigil outside Changi Prison Complex on July 13.
The police said that he had created a Facebook event to solicit for participants, and had stated that he did not get a permit for it.
Wham, and 16 others, were subsequently investigated for their roles in the assembly.
A month earlier, he organised a silent protest on an MRT train — again without police permit. He had also allegedly pasted two pieces of paper on a train panel, an act of vandalism which he will be charged for.
On Nov 26 last year, Wham organised another public assembly without a police permit. The police said that it had told Wham that a permit was required for the assembly, which featured a foreign speaker.
Noting that this was not Wham’s first time organising such illegal public assemblies, the police said: “Wham is recalcitrant and has repeatedly shown blatant disregard for the law, especially with regard to organising or participating in illegal public assemblies.”
Wham was also alleged to have refused to sign police statements, during the various times he was under investigations.
Last February, Wham was ordered to pay S$6,063 in costs to the Attorney-General for his failed bid to quash a police warning that had been issued against him.
The police warning came after Wham breached rules against foreigners participating in events at Hong Lim Park. He had organised a candlelight vigil to show support for protestors in Hong Kong fighting election restrictions in October 2014, and some foreigners had shown up, leading to investigations against him.
If convicted of organising a public assembly without police permit, Wham could be fined up to S$10,000 and/or jailed for up to six months, as this is not his first offence.
Wham could also face a jail term of up to three years, and a fine of up to S$2,000, if found guilty of vandalism.
The police reiterated in its media statement on Tuesday that the Speakers’ Corner at Hong Lim Park is "an established space for Singaporeans to express their views on issues with which they are concerned".
They added: "Singapore citizens can organise public assemblies at the Speaker’s Corner in accordance with the rules.”
