Man charged with inciting violence against police officers who arrested Benjamin Lim

Chia Choon Kiat was charged in court on Tuesday (April 12) with three charges of communicating an electronic record containing an incitement to violence. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

SINGAPORE - An Internet marketeer was charged in court on Tuesday (April 12) with three charges of communicating an electronic record containing an incitement to violence.

Chia Choon Kiat, 40, allegedly posted on Facebook between Feb 2 and 5 consisting of a link to a Straits Times.com news article on the death of a 14-year-old boy.

The boy was reported to have fallen from his home after he was called up by the police for investigation over a an alleged molestation case.

The Straits Times article stated: "Schools must cooperate with police, but also have a duty of care to students, says MOE.

He allegedly commented: "When people buay lun (Hokkien for cannot take it) already... will need to take matters into our own hands. Please reveal the identity of the 5 plain clothes officers and we go handle them ourselves. Kill them".

On Feb 5, he allegedly posted on Facebook consisting of a link to a Yahoo news article titled: "We cannot forgive the way my son was treated: Benjamin Lim's father in open letter", along with his comment, "When people buay lun already... will need to take matters into our own hands. Please reveal the identity of the 5 plain clothes officers and we go handle them ourselves. Kill them."

The third charge says that on Jan 13, Chia posted on Facebook stating: "Don't play or attack Cigarette Butt Officers when they are on duty, they are under protection of the government. Track and Trace them down where they stay and where they work and 'play' them when they are off duty with no government's protection and cannot claim medical fee from their boss."

He is represented by Mr Alfred Dodwell who told the court that his client was willing to have himself examined by a psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sanjiv Vaswani applied for the case to be mentioned in a week's time.

Bail of $15,000 was offered. His passport is impounded.

The maximum penalty for the offence is five years' jail and a fine on each charge.

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