Charges against YouTuber Amos Yee have been heard in a Singaporean court, and the 16-year-old blogger was convicted for making offensive statements about Christianity and for distribution of obscene pictures.
"The teen blogger drew international attention for mocking former prime minister and revered founder of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew," channelnewsasia.com reported. "He was convicted of two charges - one for making offensive or wounding remarks against Christianity and another for circulating obscene imagery.
Amos pleaded not guilty to both charges on May 7 and no one took the witness stand. The charges made against YouTuber Amos Yee for slandering former PM Lee Kuan Yew were withdrawn. Yee had posted a video comparing Kuan with Jesus Christ saying that both figures were "power hungry" under the pretense of being "compassion and kind."
BBC News described Amos Yee as "the enfant terrible who has fascinated and infuriated Singaporeans ever since he was arrested in March over a Youtube video."
Even with all the attention he was getting, he walked past reporters in a black T-shirt and khakhi shorts eating a bannana.
Singapore traditionally has a zero tolerance policy toward anti-religious crimes and racial slurs since race riots were a common theme in the country's history.
Sociologist Tan Ern Ser was quoted by BBC as saying, "some may have agreed with him (Yee) but disapproved of his 'show of disrespect.'"
Ser added, "others marginalised by Lee's policies were inclined to see someone who dares to openly speak up against the system as a kind of folk hero, and worthy of praise."
Defence lawyer Alfred Dodwell said that the police statement was adequate to build his case. While the prosecution maintained that Yew be sentenced to rehabilation, further counseling and probationary measures. But Amos Yee's lawyers said that the YouTuber-cum-blogger wanted to be sentenced to a jail term.
Yee's defense attorney Dowell said that Mr. Yee should receive either a fine or a two weeks' jail term taking into account the teen social media activist had spent about 18 days in jail.
