Judge acquits three women accused of organising procession outside Istana

They had reasonable belief they were not in breach of any prohibited areas order: Judge

- Nadine Chua

(From left) Ms Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, Ms Annamalai Kokila Parvathi and Ms Mossammad Sobikun Nahar arriving at court on July 2. The prosecution will file a notice of appeal. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

(KELVIN CHNG)

Three women who were accused of organising a procession outside the Istana to publicise the cause of solidarity with Palestine were acquitted on Oct 21.

Ms Mossammad Sobikun Nahar, 26, Ms Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, 30, and Ms Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, 37, had been accused of organising a procession on Feb 2, 2024, along the perimeter of the Istana, bound by Orchard Road, Buyong Road and Cavenagh Road.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said: “The prosecution will be filing a notice of appeal in relation to the court’s decision to acquit the accused persons.”

The three were each charged under the Public Order Act, with the case going to trial on July 1.

In acquitting them on Oct 21, District Judge John Ng said the women had an honest and reasonable belief that they were not in breach of any prohibited areas order.

He added that it was unreasonable to say they ought to have known that the route taken by the group that day would be within a prohibited area.