Singapore: Pre-trial Hearing Reveals a Plot to File New Fabricated Charges against Practitioners

After the Singapore Subordinate Court rushed to its verdict on the "July 20th" (See below) case on November 30th, a pre-trial meeting was held on December 8th. The meeting was to schedule a trial agenda for other practitioners who have been prosecuted by Singapore police on other fabricated charges. However, the Judge said that the plaintiffs have requested an extension of a week to consider adding new charges against practitioners. The Judge has accepted the request and thus a pretrial hearing will be held on December 15th. Practitioners believe that this is just a tactic to intimidate them and they all remain very calm.

In July, 2006, around the time that former 610 Office [a CCP Gestapo-like organisation] head Li Langqing visited Singapore, four cases were filed by the Singapore Police against local practitioners for their peaceful and legal activities:

On October 22nd, 2005, five practitioners distributed fliers downtown ("October 22nd" Case) On October 23rd, 2005, six practitioners distributed fliers downtown ("October 23rd" Case) On July 12th, 2006, Ng Chye Huay protested Li Lanqing's visit outside the Chinese Embassy ("July 12th" Case) On July 20th, 2006, Ng Chye Huay, Erh Boon Tiong and Chen Peiyu protested the 7-year persecution of Falun Gong outside the Chinese Embassy. ("July 20th" Case)

The "July 20th" lawsuit ended on November 30th with Ng Chye Huay and Erh Boon Tiongand being sentenced with fines or detention terms while another practitioner defendant, Ms. Chen Peiyu, was deported after the Singapore government rushed to drop charges against the 73-year-old woman. The remaining cases involve a total of nine practitioners, and several practitioners were charged in more than one case.

During the pretrial hearing held on December 8th, the Judge announced the trial of the "October 22nd" case will start on January 22nd, and the "October 23rd" case is expected to start in February. As no practitioners raised an objection, typically a pretrial hearing would then conclude. However, the Judge then added: "The plaintiffs have requested an extension of one week to confirm the trial schedule because they are considering adding new charges, and whether these new charges should be added to these current cases. The next pretrial meeting will be held on December 15th."

Practitioner Ms. You said that the pretrial hearing was scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. but it was delayed for 2.5 hours.

Regarding the possible new charges, a reporter interviewed practitioner defendant Ms. Wang: "What are the possible new charges and what is the purpose for them to announce this at the court?

Ms. Wang said: "All their charges are fabricated. For example, before Ms. Chen Peiyu was deported, policemen Huang Yaozong [phonetic] brought her a pile of "Serious Warnings". All of them were about her activities of distributing Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials in the past several months. The claim that a 73-year-old senior can harass others by distributing fliers--it is totally ridiculous. All we can do is advise them not to do things against their conscience, but it is still up to them to decide what they are going to do."

Upon hearing the Judge's announcement, all practitioners at the pretrial hearing were very calm, though they knew very well that this was just to intimidate them. Several practitioners said: "Though they may add new charges, we will deal with these with the same attitude. However, we will try to advise them not to do so for their own benefit. It is so evident that they are very weak inside. From conducting secret trials against us, banning media reports and intimating us with such statements--they are so afraid of having their wrongdoings brought into the daylight and they apparently don't have any good methods."

Practitioner Ng Chye Huay, who is still under detention, was also brought to the Court. As soon as she entered the courtroom, she shouted: "Falun Dafa is Good." It was a really touching moment. She seemed to be very calm. She briefly told fellow practitioners: "Cultivation is most righteous and I am very relaxed." Ms. Ng was sentenced to prison for 15 days for conducting a protest outside the Chinese Embassy.

Reportedly, practitioner Erh Boon Tiong was released at noon on December 8th and his relatives and several practitioners welcomed him outside the prison. Mr. Erh was sentenced to prison for 10 days for the same reason.