Lim Tean to defend activist Gilbert Goh on pro bono basis (free service for public good) in court next week over unlawful assembly charges

In a Facebook post on Friday morning (May 27), lawyer Lim Tean said he will be representing Mr Gilbert Goh in court starting from Monday next week (May 30).

Mr Lim, who heads the opposition party People’s Voice, wrote: “Next week from 29 May to 1 June, I shall be defending Gilbert Goh in the State Courts on 2 charges of unlawful assembly and refusing to sign a police statement.”

He added that the trial begins at 9:30 am in Court 10D on Monday before District Judge Luke Tan, and that proceedings are open to the public.

Mr Goh, a social activist who along with a team of volunteers provides meals and other essentials to the unhoused and needy, especially the elderly, was charged on Dec 15, 2021, with an offence under the Public Order Act. 

He is said to have staged an unlawful protest on May 1 last year near the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority building at Kallang Road.

Mr Goh held up a sign saying, “Please ban all flights from India. We are not racist! Just being cautious”, and posted a photo of himself on Facebook holding the sign up.

At that time, other than Singapore citizens and permanent residents, people who had been to India in the previous 14 days were not allowed to enter or transit through Singapore. That restriction was imposed following a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in India. 

The activist was also reported to have refused to sign his statement to the police on May 11, 2021, when the incident was being investigated.

He was also given a stern warning on Dec 14, 2021, as he had failed to follow the conditions for organisers of assemblies as well as refused to sign a police statement for another incident, an event held at the  Speakers’ Corner on Nov 3, 2019, where a foreigner was allowed to participate.

When foreigners join or organise events at this venue, a police permit must be obtained.

In a comment, Mr Lim said that he is representing Mr Goh for free.

Netizens voiced their support for both Mr Lim and Mr Goh.

/TISG

Gilbert Goh ‘prefers jail to paying fine’ for protest against flights from India