TRS husband-and-wife team in court to face sedition charges
The couple who were allegedly involved in former socio-political website, The Real Singapore, appeared in court on Monday (March 7) to face sedition charges.
Yang Kaiheng, 27, and his wife, Ai Takagi, 23, an Australian national, each face seven counts of sedition and one count of failing to present documents to the police.
Their lawyer, Remy Choo, told reporters the couple got married in October 2015.
In one sedition charge, they had allegedly published an article that falsely claimed a Filipino family's complaint caused trouble between the police and participants of the February 2015 Thaipusam procession.
They were charged in April 2015, a month before the Media Development Authority (MDA) suspended the website's operating licence and ordered it be shut down.
On Monday (March 7), Yang pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Takagi, however, indicated she would plead guilty and a separate hearing was scheduled for Tuesday (March 8) afternoon.
Yang's case will be heard again on Friday (March 11).
The maximum punishment for each sedition charge is three years' jail and a $5,000 fine, if convicted.
An accused can also be jailed up to a month and fined $1,500 for failing to submit documents to the police, if found guilty.
Get the full story in our print edition (March 8).
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now