The Police will be charging a 52-year-old woman on 11 November 2022 for offences under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act and the Protection from Harassment Act for her actions during a court hearing on 18 August 2021.
On 18 August 2021, the woman was seated in the public gallery at the State Courts during a trial involving Mr Benjamin Glynn. She was asked to step out of a courtroom to adjust her mask, which was askew. She then used insulting words towards a District Judge of the State Courts by shouting “This is [a] ridiculous kangaroo court”, “if the kangaroo court requires me to wear a mask” and “I do not respect the judge”.
The woman will be charged with an offence of using insulting words towards a public servant, which is punishable under Section 6(3) of the Protection from Harassment Act. If found guilty, the woman is liable for enhanced punishment under Section 8(1)(d) of the Protection from Harassment Act as she was previously convicted and sentenced in April 2014 to a mandatory treatment order for committing a similar offence. In addition, the woman had behaved in a disorderly manner in the courtroom on 18 August 2021. Hence, she will also be charged with an offence of disorderly behaviour in the immediate vicinity of a court under Section 20 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.
The offence of using insulting words towards a public servant, punishable under Section 8(1)(d) of the Protection from Harassment Act, may be punished with imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The offence of disorderly behaviour under Section 20 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act is punishable with imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.
In addition, the woman is being investigated for offences of failing to attend in obedience to order from public servants under section 174 of the Penal Code, as well as offences involving the use of criminal force against Police officers under section 353 of the Penal Code.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
11 November 2022 @ 8:53 AM
Recap
Benjamin Glynn, the Briton who is being charged with not wearing his mask on a train and again outside the state courts, was in court on 18 August 2021 to contest his four charges of not wearing a mask, public nuisance and his use of threatening words to a public servant.
He was assessed by IMH to not be suffering from any mental disorder and his trial began in proper.
His previous hearing saw his supporters clapping and laughing in court, so this time there was added security presence.
Glynn arrived in court handcuffed, and taunted the Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh:
“Morning Mr Koh, hope you had a nice two weeks with your family.
Any messages from my family? Maybe my dead grandma has contacted you from beyond the grave.”
The court asked him whether he intends to plead guilty or not, to which he said he didn’t understand why he is being charged in a criminal court.
He argued:
“There’s been no victim. There’s been no harm to any living man or woman. Therefore it’s a farce that I am in a criminal court for a maritime breach … that has no legal jurisdiction over me. My position hasn’t changed. We have no contract whereby I comply to wearing a mask.”
Supporter causing a scene
One of Benjamin Glynn’s supporter was not wearing her mask properly when a security guard told her to do so.
She then reacted to the guard angrily as her mask slipped down and she had her entire mask off her face.
She was then told by District Judge Eddy Tham to step outside if she was not wearing a mask.
The agitated woman then exclaimed: “This is a ridiculous kangaroo court!”
The security guards then approached her as she told them: “You don’t touch me, I have no contract with you!”
She then said something about this not being about a mask, but about “control”.
A man then tried to admit himself as the accused’s (Glynn) lawyer but failed because he didn’t have a practising license, then told the security guard to refrain from “provoking” the woman.
Judge Tham then ordered the woman to be taken out of the courtroom: “That is enough interruption, please bring her out of the courtroom now.”
Proceedings were halted as the woman was hauled out of court, she then exclaimed as security guards surrounded her (without touching her): “You don’t tell me what to do, I’m a living, breathing woman. Shut up. I do not respect the judge.”
As the judge was away, Glynn continued his taunting remarks at the prosecutor: “Back to law school for you, Mr Koh.”
Made sarcastic remarks to Investigation Officer
Koh played video clips of Glynn not wearing a mask inside a train cabin on 7 May, as well as him outside the court without a mask.
Unrepresented Glynn, started his cross examination of the investigation officer:
“Some great investigation work there … Sherlock Holmes will be proud of you.”
The trial is still ongoing at the time of writing.