The State Court was all a flurry of activity yesterday as enfant terrible Amos Yee finally received a verdict on the charges he faced after several weeks of drama.
And the verdict was none too surprising — the 16-year-old boy was found guilty of both charges, in which he circulated an obscene image online and wounded the religious feelings of Christians. A third charge for his derogatory remarks against Lee Kuan Yew in his infamous video was withdrawn.
Initially, Yee's lawyer Alfred Dodwell insisted that he did not want to be considered for probation and wants to be sentenced with a jail term. Yes, the teen actually wanted a jail term, even though the prosecution wanted him to be considered for rehabilitation, counselling and probation.
Following a meeting between District Judge Jasvinder Kaur, Dodwell, the Deputy Public Prosecutor and Amos' parents, the defence agreed that the teen should be placed under probation.
The sentencing has been adjourned to June 2, when the pre-sentence report will be presented. Yee, his parents and schools will be interview as part of the report, according to Channel NewsAsia.
Yee's bail amount was also reduced from $30,000 to $10,000, and he was allowed to post online once again. Since he was indeed found guilty, he will have to take down the anti-Lee Kuan Yew rant video and the obscene image (of late Lee Kuan Yew and Margaret Thatcher as stick figures have sex). His parents posted bail for him.
His father, Alphonsus Yee, remarked to reporters that both he and his wife will do their best in keeping their son in line, and stated that they will be consulting the lawyers before deciding to appeal.
The teen himself emerged from the court later on, and remarked that he wasn't sure if he should celebrate his release or mourn his sentence, and said that he'll be complying with the order to take down the offensive posts.
The whole Amos Yee saga will end on June 2, once the sentencing has been handed out. Or will it?
Photo: Jason Quah / TODAY
The State Court was all a flurry of activity yesterday as enfant terrible Amos Yee finally received a verdict on the charges he faced after several weeks of drama.
And the verdict was none too surprising — the 16-year-old boy was found guilty of both charges, in which he circulated an obscene image online and wounded the religious feelings of Christians. A third charge for his derogatory remarks against Lee Kuan Yew in his infamous video was withdrawn.
Initially, Yee's lawyer Alfred Dodwell insisted that he did not want to be considered for probation and wants to be sentenced with a jail term. Yes, the teen actually wanted a jail term, even though the prosecution wanted him to be considered for rehabilitation, counselling and probation.
Following a meeting between District Judge Jasvinder Kaur, Dodwell, the Deputy Public Prosecutor and Amos' parents, the defence agreed that the teen should be placed under probation.
The sentencing has been adjourned to June 2, when the pre-sentence report will be presented. Yee, his parents and schools will be interview as part of the report, according to Channel NewsAsia.
Yee's bail amount was also reduced from $30,000 to $10,000, and he was allowed to post online once again. Since he was indeed found guilty, he will have to take down the anti-Lee Kuan Yew rant video and the obscene image (of late Lee Kuan Yew and Margaret Thatcher as stick figures have sex). His parents posted bail for him.
His father, Alphonsus Yee, remarked to reporters that both he and his wife will do their best in keeping their son in line, and stated that they will be consulting the lawyers before deciding to appeal.
The teen himself emerged from the court later on, and remarked that he wasn't sure if he should celebrate his release or mourn his sentence, and said that he'll be complying with the order to take down the offensive posts.
The whole Amos Yee saga will end on June 2, once the sentencing has been handed out. Or will it?
Photo: Jason Quah / TODAY