25-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) A woman, formerly known as Lee Hui Yin and now using the name Tarchandi Tan, was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment and fined S$4,200 on Tuesday (Jul 25) for defying police instructions during an investigation for contempt of court.
Tan, aged 53, had contested five charges against her, which included refusing to cooperate with police investigations and court appearances, as well as spitting at police officers.
Her legal troubles began when she allegedly disrupted the trial of Benjamin Glynn, a British anti-masker, in August 2021. She is accused of making derogatory remarks during the proceedings, showing contempt for the court and the judge.
Around a year later, when summoned to a police station for related investigations, she failed to comply. She returned all letters sent to her address and resisted when the officers came to her home to arrest her, even spitting at them.
Tan represented herself in court and claimed that she was a “sovereign individual” and not obliged to obey police orders. However, the judge rejected this argument, stating that such claims are contrary to the rule of law and may lead to anarchy.
During the sentencing, District Judge Kow Keng Siong clearly explained the procedure to Tan and offered her the option to plead guilty to the remaining charges related to her earlier remarks. Tan vacillated between maintaining her innocence and pleading guilty.
After conferring with her partner several times, she chose to maintain her innocence and claim trial for the two remaining charges. As a result, the judge proceeded to sentence her for the five charges related to her resistance to the police.
The prosecutor had asked for three months’ jail and a fine, leaving the final decision to the court.
When given the opportunity for mitigation, Tan reiterated her innocence and accused the authorities of misconduct. She expressed a lack of remorse, which the prosecutor pointed out as a sign of her refusal to accept responsibility for her actions.
The judge advised her to be cautious of her statements, as they could have further implications. Tan’s sentencing for the remaining two charges will be scheduled for a later date.
