SINGAPORE: Three women who were , charged over a pro-Palestinian procession to the Istana will be contesting their charges at trial, a court heard on Wednesday ( Sep 18 ).
The three Taiwanese women were accused in June of carrying out a march without a force on February 2 under the Public Order Act.
Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, 29, and Mossammad Sobikun Nahar, 25, are accused of organizing the procession, which occurred along the Istana, a prohibited place, between 2 and 3 p.m.
The second lady, 36-year-old Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, is accused of abetting the plot by engaging with Siti and Mossammad, along with Alysha Mohamed Rahmat Shah, Anystashe Mohamed Rahmat Shah and other mysterious persons to reorganize the march.
A group of about 70 people gathered along Orchard Road outside a store at around 2 p.m. on February 2 and headed toward the Istana, according to a previous statement from the authorities.
In support of the Arab cause in the midst of the Israel-Hamas battle, they carried tents with fruit images.
The color of the fruit is the same as that on the Arab flag, and the fruit has come to represent Israeli solidarity.
On Wednesday night, the group showed up together at the State Courts.
Their lawyer responded to the judge’s request for their opinion on the situation by saying that” the accused persons are all contesting the costs. Basically, they are all claiming test”.
The circumstances were adjourned to October for pre-trial events.
Each person does face jail time for up to six months, a fine of up to S$ 10,000, or both if found guilty of organizing a prohibited march under the Public Order Act or assisting in such an action.
The authorities have urged the people to refrain from engaging in activities that may endanger the cultural unity, public order, and peace that Singaporeans have worked hard to achieve.  ,
” We understand that some people may feel strongly about the Israel-Hamas turmoil, but they should not break the law to express their views, nor follow the protest in other countries”, the police said in June.
Alternatively, they could take part in the numerous dialogues and payment drives that have been properly organized on the subject.