The prosecution in the Amos Yee trial on Wednesday (May 27) called for the teen to be sent to the Reformative Training Centre (RTC) instead of probation.
He was back in the State Courts on Wednesday for an urgent hearing after his probation officer filed a report to the State Court, indicating what had transpired between Yee and the officer after the accused was found guilty on May 12.
The teen refused to attend any interviews with the probation officer and has informed her that he does not want probation, since the Court made the order for a probation report on May 12.
Yee was found guilty of two charges – one for making offensive or wounding remarks against Christianity and another for circulating obscene imagery. A third charge, for the teen blogger’s statements to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew in a YouTube video, was withdrawn.
It was made known to prosecutors on May 21 that Yee had republished the offending video and image pertaining to the case. He was asked to take both materials down when he was charged for his offences.
Prosecutors said to media after a short hearing on Wednesday that recommending an RTC charge for Yee would be in line with attempts for rehabilitation as it was understood that a jail term or fine would not have rehabilitative effects on him.
Reformative training at the RTC is an option for young offenders aged between 16 and 18 years old who are assessed to be unsuitable for probation. Offenders will be detained for a minimum of 18 months in the RTC.
Yee’s defence lawyers have asked for time to convene and come to a decision on the RTC request that the prosecution has surfaced.
The trial will reconvene on Jun 2. If the judge makes a decision in favour of RTC, Yee will have to be remanded for up to four weeks for a report to be conducted on his suitability for an RTC sentence.
Yee remains out on bail at the S$10,000 pledge.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
