The Judge singled blogger Roy Ngerng, 33, out as the leader of a group that caused a public nuisance at Hong Lim Park. He also pleaded guilty to organising a demonstration without approval.
SINGAPORE: Blogger Roy Ngerng, 33, pleaded guilty to charges of public nuisance and organising a demonstration without approval, on Wednesday (Oct 7). He was fined S$1,900.
Both offences were committed at Hong Lim Park on Sep 27, 2014, where the YMCA was holding a charity carnival, YMCA Proms @ The Park 2014.
Ngerng, together with fellow blogger Han Hui Hui, 24, and four others, held their #ReturnOurCPF protest rally at the same time and place as the YMCA event. The group had made a successful application to the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation through the NParks website for approval to give a “speech” at Speakers’ Corner, located within Hong Lim Park.
Han, posting on the #ReturnOurCPF – Jobs Facebook page, said that according to NParks, “it’s very common to have two or more events happening on the same day”. She went on to add that “we are all Singaporeans at the end of the day. Let’s educate them the root cause of the problem and let us shout in unity when Teo Ser Luck comes”. She added: “Bring placards and whistles!”
On Sep 27, NParks officers spotted Ngerng and his co-accused - Han, Low Wai Choo, 54, Goh Aik Huat, 41, and Koh Yew Beng, 59 - gathering next to the registration point of the YMCA event.
The officers advised them to use an adjoining lawn of the park which was not occupied by the YMCA event, but Ngerng and his co-accused refused.
When then-Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck - the guest-of-honour for the YMCA event - arrived at the Park, the attendees of Ngerg’s protest became “more emotive”.
Han then suggested to Ngerng that the group “walk one round”. The two then led their co-accused and a group of at least 20 other people in a march towards the YMCA event.
The group demonstrated by shouting loudly, chanting slogans, waving flags, holding placards, blowing whistles loudly and beating drums, the court heard.
NGERNG "DEEPLY REMORSEFUL"
In court on Wednesday, Ngerng’s lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam said his client had contributed to society by volunteering his time to teach special needs and autistic children. He is also a “well-known advocate for matters of public interest”, Mr Thuraisingam said.
“His offence is ignorance”, said the lawyer, as Ngerng did not know that separate approval was required for a demonstration, after he had already obtained approval to hold an event at the Park.
Ngerng holds a “genuine belief” that he was speaking on matters of public interest, and is “deeply remorseful he did not do this in accordance with the law”, the lawyer said.
“He will not reoffend”, Mr Thuraisingam added, in seeking a fine of S$1,900.
Deputy Public Prosecutor John Lu agreed that a fine of that amount would be “appropriate”.
In ordering Ngerng to pay the fine, District Judge Liew Thaim Leng singled Ngerng out as the “leader of the group”, and said that the demonstration had “caused disruption to other events in the vicinity”. The Judge reiterated that the permit was granted for a specific purpose, and the demonstration was not covered by the permit.
Ngerng’s co-accused are expected to go on trial on Oct 12. Han is facing charges of public nuisance and organising a demonstration without approval, while Low, Goh and Koh each face a charge of public nuisance.
Another co-accused, Chua Siew Leng, had pleaded guilty in March this year. She was fined S$300 for causing a public nuisance.
- CNA/wl/vc
Source: CNA http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/roy-ngerng-pleads-guilty/2175122.html?cid=fbsg
This is the full 17-minute, uncut video recording of what happened at Hong Lim Park on 27 Sept 2014.
Additional Note
Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, 34, GE2015 Reform Party Candidate for
Ang Mo Kio GRC
Received 21.6% votes, vs PAP
Related Links
14minute video of NParks and Police Officers approaching
ReturnMyCPF Protestors
17-minute, uncut video shows Roy Ngerng & ReturnMyCPF
protesters encroaching on YMCA’s venue
Online reactions to Hong Lim Park rallygoers’ heckling of
special needs children at charity carnival
Mr Brown: On the #ReturnMyCPF Protesters disrupting the YMCA
event
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