Man jailed for inciting violence against PM Lee in FB post on Shinzo Abe's shooting
A Singaporean who struggled with job search due to health issues, gets 4 months' jail for inciting violence against PM Lee in a July 2022 Facebook comment.
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man was sentenced to four months in jail for a comment on a Facebook post regarding the shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, where he said, "Pls someone do the same to our PM".
The man, Kong Chee Kian in his 46-year-old, pleaded guilty on Wednesday (20 March) to one charge of inciting violence electronically, as per reported by Singapore state media the Straits Times.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Delicia Tan revealed that investigations showed Kong posted the comment on 8 July 2022, expressing his discontent with the government, particularly Prime Minister Lee.
The prosecutor said Mr Kong had difficulty in finding permanent employment due to health issues and “was looking for someone to blame for (his) problems” and accused that he “chose to blame the Government”.
However, the specifics of his health issues were not disclosed in court documents.
DPP Tan mentioned that Mr Kong, browsing Facebook under the alias "Carl Brown," commented after seeing a CNA article reporting Mr Abe's shooting.
An anonymous police report prompted Kong's arrest on the same day, within 5 hours of the report.
Mr Kong was subsequently charged under Section 267C of the Penal Code 1871, which prohibits the possession, making, or distribution of documents or electronic records that contain incitement to violence, encourage disobedience to the law, or could lead to a breach of the peace.
Additionally, Mr Kong commented on a Yahoo Singapore article reporting former PM Abe's death, saying: “Your good friend LHL will join you.”
Investigations also revealed Kong's prior engagement on Instagram, where he responded to a post about a Tamagotchi toy, stating it was "the only weapon against (Singapore) PM."
DPP Tan sought a 4½- to six-month jail term for Mr Kong, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach toward inciting violence against government officials.
Both parties referenced the 2013 case involving Gary Yue, which established a precedent of a three-month jail term for incitement to violence.
DPP Tan argued for a harsher sentence than Yue's two-month jail term, citing the outdated nature of Yue's case and the need for a deterrent punishment in Kong's case.
DPP Tan said: “A zero-tolerance approach ought to be taken against any individual who, dissatisfied with the Government for any reason, resorts to inciting violence against the head or senior members of the Government.”
DPP Tan highlighted that Kong specifically targeted the head of the government, and stressed the need to shield senior government members from such threats.
She stressed the importance of curbing such behaviour to prevent its normalization.
Defence lawyer Rajoo Ravindran requested a reduced sentence of two months, citing Kong's status as a first-time offender who fully cooperated with authorities.
In comparing Kong's case with Yue's, Mr Rajoo pointed out that Yue's case involved a larger group of people, including heads of government and state, thereby potentially posing a higher degree of harm compared to Kong's case.
Mr Rajoo conveyed Mr Kong's regret and commitment to complying with the law upon release, noting his family's support, including his elderly father's, in ensuring his adherence to legal standards post-incarceration.
"Kong's elderly father, who is about 80 plus, he is also in court today and the family will be providing the necessary support for Kong after his incarceration and promises this honourable court that he will remain on the right side of the law," said Mr Rajoo, added that Mr Kong has also sought counselling help.
The prosecutor then argued the distinction between Yue's case, which involved threats to beat people up, and Kong's, where the incitement was to assassinate PM Lee, making it "more serious."
District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam, in delivering the sentence, emphasized the necessity of firm action against the weaponization of social media to provoke violence.
She noted that Kong's comments were sustained and targeted at the head of state, with a specific threat of assassination rather than mere physical harm.
“He made a specific threat to assassinate and not just to beat up. All of this makes it that much more serious and ominous,” said the judge.
