Singapore YouTuber Amos Yee remanded for 3 weeks

Singaporean YouTuber Amos Yee, who posted an online video with offensive remarks on Christianity and the country's former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, was remanded for three weeks on Tuesday with no bail option, as a report is made to assess whether he is suitable to serve reformative training, local media reported on Tuesday.

This comes after Yee refused to accept probation as well as a term in the Reformative Training Center (RTC) as a sentence, but insisted on getting a jail term on May 12. Although he later changed his decision after repeatedly talking to his parents and lawyer, his defense lawyer Alfred Dodwell told the media on Tuesday after the hearing that Yee is still "quite ready to go in (to jail)".

Yee uploaded the controversial video which expressed his criticism for Singapore's founding premier on March 27, just five days after the passing of Lee Kuan Yew. He was arrested on March 29.

The teenager was charged in court on March 31, with granted a bail amount set at 20,000 Singapore dollars under the condition that he will not post materials online. But Yee later violated bail conditions by making a post asking for donations on April 14.

Family counselor Vincent Law bailed Yee out on April 21. However, Yee breached his bail conditions again on April 29 by writing two posts which touched on terms of his bail and accused his father of being abusive.

Yee was struck by a 49-year-old man on the way to court on April 30. Neo Gim Huah, who wanted to "teach him a lesson," was sentenced to three weeks in jail earlier in May for slapping the teenager.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hay Hung Chun said Yee's repeated violations of the bail conditions, including re-uploading an image and video pertaining on his Facebook page, should be taken in consideration as an indication of his conduct and character, Channel NewsAsia reported.

The case has been adjourned till Jun 23. Endi