Singaporean activist Jolovan Wham is facing five charges for participating in public assemblies without a permit, following his participation in vigils ahead of the executions of individuals convicted of drug-related offences.
According to Wham, the charges were related to assemblies involving Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, Abdul Kahar Bin Othman, Nazeri Bin Lajim, and Tangaraju Suppiah, all of whom were executed for drug offences.
Wham revealed the charges through an Instagram post on 27 January, stating that he had been summoned to the Bedok Police Division and “slapped with five charges” related to the public assemblies.
He added that a court hearing is scheduled for 3 February at the State Court at 1 Havelock Square. He urged supporters to attend the session.
The charges against Wham come after a series of demonstrations protesting executions of death row inmates. In a video posted on 23 January, Wham described being confronted by a police officer while holding a vigil outside Changi Prison. He and others were there following the execution of Syed Suhail bin Syed Zin, a 48-year-old Singaporean, that same morning.
According to a statement released by Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau on 23 January, Syed Suhail was executed after being convicted of trafficking at least 38.84 grams of diamorphine, or pure heroin. Singapore enforces strict drug laws, and trafficking over certain quantities can result in the death penalty.
The Online Citizen (TOC) understands from Jolovan Wham that he had initially been asked to provide a statement regarding his participation in the vigil for Syed Suhail.
However, upon arriving for the interview, he was unexpectedly presented with five charges without any prior notice, following an unsuccessful attempt to postpone the interview until after the Lunar New Year.
TOC asked if there had been any changes in how suspects are notified of such appointments and whether this represented a deviation from past practices. TOC also understands that other activists have been called for further interviews with the police, and they speculate that they might also be handed charges in a similar manner.
No response had been provided as of the time of this article’s publication.
Wham was previously convicted on 15 February 2021 of an offence under the Public Order Act for organising a public assembly without a permit. The conviction was related to a ‘protest’ held on an MRT train on 3 June 2017 to commemorate the Marxist Conspiracy, during which individuals were arbitrarily arrested under the Internal Security Act in 1987. He was handed a global fine of S$8,000 by the court, with other offences taken into consideration.
In February 2022, Wham was fined S$3,000 for participating in an illegal assembly outside the State Courts in 2018, where he took a photo without any bystanders watching him, for less than ten seconds. Wham chose to serve a 15-day jail term in lieu of paying the S$3,000 fine.
The use of capital punishment in Singapore, particularly for drug offences, has drawn criticism from international human rights organisations and foreign diplomatic missions.
The European Union delegation, alongside the diplomatic missions of Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on 24 January condemning the execution of Syed Suhail.
The statement called for Singapore to adopt a moratorium on executions, emphasising the death penalty’s incompatibility with human rights and its failure as a deterrent to crime.
“We strongly oppose the use of capital punishment in all cases and in all circumstances. The death penalty is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and is a cruel, inhumane, and degrading punishment,” the statement read. It further highlighted concerns over the irreversibility of miscarriages of justice and the lack of rehabilitative opportunities in cases involving capital punishment.
Wham’s activism has made him a prominent figure in Singapore’s civil society, but it has also led to frequent confrontations with authorities. His previous charges include organising public protests without permits and contempt of court. Despite this, he remains vocal about human rights issues, particularly the country’s use of the death penalty.
Singapore maintains that its tough drug laws are necessary to deter drug trafficking and protect its citizens. However, NGOs and rights groups argue that these laws disproportionately target vulnerable individuals and do not address the root causes of drug-related crimes. They also highlight that there is no credible evidence to suggest that the death penalty serves as an effective deterrent to crime. In contrast, Singapore has largely relied on public opinion and surveys to justify the continued use of capital punishment.
Wham’s upcoming court appearance on 3 February will be closely monitored by local and international observers.
