Judge acquits three women accused of organising procession outside Istana

In acquitting the three women on Oct 21, District Judge John Ng said they had an honest and reasonable belief that they did not know the public path they were walking on to deliver letters to the Istana was a prohibited area.

He added that while the prosecution did prove that Ms Sobikun and Ms Amirah organised the procession, with assistance from Ms Annamalai, they failed to show that the women ought to have known that it was conducted on the grounds of a prohibited area.

The judge said the women did not reasonably know that the route they took from Plaza Singapura to the Istana was a prohibited area under the Public Order Act, noting that there were no signages or notices on the public path stating this.

“In conclusion, an acquittal of the three persons is in order,” Judge Ng said to loud gasps in the packed courtroom.

Those convicted of organising a public procession in a prohibited area can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.