Singapore Man Juggles “Right to Free Speech” and a 7‑Day Jail Term
Lee Poh Kian, a 56‑year‑old Singaporean, rubbed elbows with two foreign workers in Toa Payoh and decided to throw a rap‑in‑the‑mouth at them—complete with xenophobic smack‑downs and a missing face mask. He claimed it was his “constitutional right,” while the court was all, “You can’t walk into a democracy and assume you’re free‑to‑insult anyone.”
What Happened
- On a rainy July 12 last year, Lee stood by a construction site where Mr Ratnasingam Jatheesan and Mr Krishnan Karthikeyan were taking measurements.
- Lee, not wearing a mask, confronted them with lines like, “You enter my country wrong… this government is illegal. We will get you out.”
- He also told them Singapore “doesn’t like” them and will “remove them” due to alleged overcrowding.
- Neither worker had bothered Lee before, and nobody used profanity against him.
Legal Punch‑line
The District Court heard that Lee was convicted of two counts of harassment and one violation of the COVID‑19 (Temporary Measures) Act—no extra lawyers, no evidence, just a big “you’re not allowed to do that” verdict.
Sentencing:
- Harassment: up to 6 months & $5,000 fine per charge
- COVID‑19 offence: up to 6 months & $10,000 fine for first‑time; up to 1 year & $20,000 for repeat offenders
Lee received a one‑week jail term and a $1,000 fine.
Feelings on the Ground
- Mr Krishnan felt “upset, stressed, insulted.”
- Mr Ratnasingam was “sad, stressed, and down.”
Bottom Line? “Freedom Isn’t Unlimited”
Though Lee claimed a constitutional “right” to speak as if it was a free‑speech buffet, the judge and deputy prosecutor reminded him that “there’s no such right” for hateful language or mask‑less threats. Shoutings about “overcrowding” or “illegal entrants”? They’re just empty buzzwords, after all.
Lesson for the crowd: in Singapore, you can argue about democracy, but you can’t treat it as a public rabble‑rousing platform—otherwise, the Justice Department will shut your mouth, at least for a week.
