SINGAPORE: Online personality Kurt Tay, who faces a charge of distributing sexual content on Telegram, returned to court on Monday (Dec 11) with a newly hired lawyer.
The 41-year-old Singaporean, whose name in court records is Tay Foo Wei, is set to face additional charges, the court heard.
Tay was first charged on Nov 1 with one count of distributing a photo and video of a woman performing a sex act to a Telegram group chat on Oct 27 this year.
This was without the woman’s consent, and Tay knew it was likely to cause her humiliation, alarm and distress, the charge sheet stated.
Tay’s new lawyer, Mr Rohit Kumar Singh from Regal Law, told the judge that he had just been instructed on the case and was seeking an adjournment and for his client’s attendance to be dispensed with.
The latter refers to a request for the accused to be allowed not to attend future court mentions and have his lawyer turn up on his behalf.
The judge allowed the request, but stated that Tay and his bailor had to be present if fresh charges are tendered, or if his presence is otherwise required.
The prosecution said they were not ready for the case and asked for four weeks’ adjournment to tender additional charges against Tay.
On Monday, a handful of young men gathered in the public gallery to wait for Tay’s appearance. They numbered less than half of the 15 to 20 people who turned up for Tay’s previous hearing on Nov 16, with some of them heckling him when he emerged from the State Courts’ front doors.
About five of them were waiting for Tay outside the court building on Monday with their phones raised while Tay remained inside the building with his lawyer.
Tay’s case will be heard again in January. He first came to the public eye when he auditioned for Singapore Idol in 2006, and later became known for behaviour like carrying a World Wrestling Entertainment belt and participating in a street fight.
He refers to himself online as Superstar Celebrity Kurt Tay and updates his followers on his life on social media and in private chat groups.
If convicted of distributing intimate material without a woman’s consent, he could be jailed for up to five years, fined, caned, or given any combination of these punishments.