6 repeat offenders to be charged for participating in public assemblies without permit

A total of six persons, aged between 31 and 70, will be charged in court on Monday (Sept 28) for their involvement in various public assemblies and processions without a permit, including in a prohibited area.

Police said in a news release on Sunday that these incidents happened between November 2024 and February 2025.

They added that two of the six individuals had previously been investigated for the same offence and were subsequently issued with warnings for their involvement in public assemblies without a permit under the Public Order Act.

Under the Act, a police permit is required for organising or participating in a public assembly or procession in a public place, unless explicitly exempted from doing so.

Such activities at prohibited areas without a police permit will result in higher penalties.

According to the police, the two persons continued to be involved in multiple public assemblies without a permit and/or in a public area despite these past warnings.

Two other individuals had similarly been repeatedly involved in such cases despite being under investigation for offences under the Act, police said.

The six being charged are:

A 31-year-old, who faces three charges for participating in a public assembly without a permit. He had previously been issued with a stern warning for two prior offences under the Act, and for obstructing the course of justice in relation to his involvement.

A 56-year-old woman, who faces two charges for participating in a public assembly without a permit. She was twice issued with a stern warning for the same offence.

The four others, and the 31-year-old, will also each face one charge of participating in a public assembly in a prohibited area. They had done so outside the State Courts on February 3, 2025.

Of the five facing charges for public assembly without a permit in a prohibited area, two woman, aged 37 and 38, are said to have had numerous run-ins with the law.

Received stern warnings

Between 2017 and 2024, the 37-year-old woman is said to have received stern warnings and a 12-month conditional warning over similar conduct.

Meanwhile, the 38-year-old woman was previously convicted for organising a public procession without a permit outside the Istana, and for various public assemblies between June 2017 and January 2021.

She was fined $3,000 and issued with a 24-month conditional warning.

The police reminded members of the public that those found organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit could face a fine of up to $10,000, six months' jail, or both.

"Members of the public should apply for a police permit prior to organising public assemblies," police stated, adding that those who wish to express their views but do not have a permit can consider the Speakers Corner, a long established space for Singaporeans to express their views.

共有六名年龄介于 31 岁至 70 岁之间的人士将于周一（9 月 28 日）在法庭上被起诉，罪名是未经许可参与各种公共集会和游行，包括在禁区内进行集会和游行。

警方周日在一份新闻稿中表示，这些事件发生在 2024 年 11 月至 2025 年 2 月之间。

他们还补充说，这六人中有两人此前曾因同样的罪行接受调查，并因违反《公共秩序法》未经许可参与公共集会而受到警告。

根据该法，在公共场所组织或参与公共集会或游行需要获得警方许可，除非有明确的豁免规定。

未经警方许可在禁区进行此类活动将受到更严厉的处罚。

警方表示，尽管此前已多次发出警告，但这两人仍继续在未获得许可的情况下，在公共场所多次参与集会。

警方表示，另有两人也曾多次卷入类似案件，尽管他们正因违反该法案而接受调查。

被指控的六人分别是：

一名31岁男子因未经许可参加公共集会面临三项指控。此前，他曾因违反该法案的两项前科以及妨碍司法公正而受到严厉警告。

一名56岁女子因未经许可参加公共集会面临两项指控。她曾两次因同一罪行受到严厉警告。

其余四人以及这名31岁的男子还将分别面临一项在禁区参与公共集会的指控。他们于2025年2月3日在州法院外参与了集会。

在五名因未经许可在禁区集会而面临指控的人中，有两名分别为 37 岁和 38 岁的女子，据说曾多次触犯法律。

收到严厉警告

据称，2017 年至 2024 年间，这名 37 岁的女子曾因类似行为受到严厉警告和 12 个月的有条件警告。

与此同时，这位 38 岁的女子此前曾因在总统府外组织未经许可的公共游行以及在 2017 年 6 月至 2021 年 1 月期间组织各种公共集会而被定罪。

她被罚款 3000 美元，并被给予 24 个月的有条件警告。

警方提醒公众，未经警方许可组织或参与公共集会者，最高可处以 10,000 美元罚款、六个月监禁，或两者并罚。

警方表示：“公众在组织公众集会前应申请警方许可。”并补充说，那些想要表达意见但没有许可的人可以考虑使用“演讲角”，这是新加坡人表达意见的一个历史悠久的场所。