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Singapore prosecutes anti-government critic under new Internet curbs

IN A 51-YEAR-OLD man who posted an inflammatory document on the Internet, asking voters in the last General Election (GE) to break polling rules, was acquitted in court yesterday after he was found to be mentally ill.

A psychiatric report on Robert Ho Chong said that he was suffering from paranoia and would need long-term treat- ment.

The prosecution withdrew the charge against Ho, unemployed, who has a long history of psychiatric illness.

He was charged last month with posting the article to encourage electors to enter polling stations on Nov 3 without authority.

The article, Break the Law and get away with it, like PAP, was allegedly posted on the online newsgroup, soc.culture.singapore, from his condominium in Bukit Batok on Oct 19.

Under the law, anyone who makes, prints, possesses, posts, distributes or has under his control any document to incite violence or disobedience to the law or likely to lead to any breach of peace can be jailed for up to three years and fined.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Han Ming Kuang said the psychiatric report showed that since 1979, Ho has been remanded or treated at various hospitals.

Consultant psychiatrist G. Sathyadevan also stated in the report that Ho was first examined at the Changi Prison Hospital in 1979, after being charged with vandalism.

He was found to be suffering from paranoia.

In 1991, he had a relapse and was admitted to the Adam Road Hospital.

Two years ago, he was warded at the Woodbridge Hospital for using a hammer to knock on his neighbour's door.

'He had an odd belief that a particular neighbour was shining a torch at his head and thus he could not sleep,' said the report.

Dr Sathyadevan found that Ho had delusions of persecution and that he was being watched all the time.

He found Ho's delusions to be directed at politicians or political parties.

The psychiatrist also said that at the time of the alleged offence, Ho had a 'loss of impulse control'.

DPP Han told the court that Dr Sathyadevan felt that with medication and treatment, Ho is less likely to act impulsively.

Furthermore, Ho's wife has agreed to send him for long-term psychiatric treatment.

His sister will also look after him.

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