A British ex-pat on trial in Singapore for refusing to put on a masks on the subway has been remanded right into a psychological hospital after declaring the court docket listening to ‘ridiculous.’
Benjamin Glynn, initially from Yorkshire, berated the decide on Thursday calling the proceedings ‘disgusting’ and ‘preposterous’ as spectators cheered within the public gallery.
The 39-year-old was initially arrested for failing to put on a masks on a subway on Might 7, however has been additional charged for refusing to put on a masks at his first court docket look final month.
Prosecutor Timotheus Koh advised the court docket he had communicated with Glynn’s family and friends who spoke of a ‘marked change of behaviour’ because the pandemic began.
‘The accused’s behaviour in court docket speaks for itself,’ Mr Koh stated.
Glynn shot again: ‘My thoughts is crystal clear. I am extensive conscious. I am enlightened. Simply because I refuse to be a slave, you accuse me of being a lunatic.’
All through the listening to, Glynn declared that he was a ‘sovereign’ and denounced the legitimacy of the court docket, saying he would neither plead responsible nor not responsible.
Benjamin Glynn, 39, went viral on the web in Might after he was filmed refusing to put on a masks on the subway in Singapore
Glynn additionally misplaced a brand new job he was attributable to begin within the UK and fears he might should spend as a lot as 12 months on bail earlier than his trial
The married father-of-two additional claimed that he had been ‘kidnapped and kidnapped’ and ‘tortured bodily and psychologically.’
He says he spent 18 days ‘being tortured in Changi Jail’.
Glynn urged the decide to return his passport in order that he might journey dwelling to Britain to see his spouse and kids.
‘They’ve stolen my passport, my God-given proper to journey,’ he stated.
‘I am unable to imagine this has been happening because the eighth of Might,’ Glynn stated, in line with Channel News Asia.
‘It is so simple it is so clear that this sham of a case needs to be dropped.’
He added: ‘I am disgusted with how the Singapore judicial system has handled me.’
At this level a lady obtained up within the public gallery to clap and cheer.
Glynn has been in custody since July 19 after his £2,700 bail was revoked by the decide.
Initially of proceedings, Glynn launched Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman as his authorized consultant.
Mr Rahman has additionally acted as Glynn’s bailor, in line with The Straits Times, and was turned away from the court docket beforehand for inappropriate apparel.
District Choose Eddy Tham blocked Mr Rahman from representing Glynn as a result of he was not legally certified.
Mr Rahman advised the decide that he was an ‘ambassador-at-large and advocate of Kingdom Filipina Hacienda’ and had each proper to defend his ‘sovereign compatriot.’
Choose Tham replied that this was ‘not the place’ of Singaporean legislation.
The prosecutor went on to argue that Glynn wanted to be reviewed by psychiatrists as a result of there may be proof he isn’t of ‘sound thoughts.’
‘Prosecution has acquired a letter from the accused’s household and mates or individuals purporting to be his household and mates and on this letter, the individuals report a marked change of behaviour within the accused’s person who was noticeable particularly after the COVID restrictions set in,’ Mr Koh stated, in line with CNA.
Glynn, 39 (pictured) arrived for an additional court docket look final month with out a masks and was additional charged for this alleged offence
Glynn (pictured) is towards the sporting of masks as he would not imagine them to be efficient
Mr Koh famous an elevated ‘hostility’ by Glynn in direction of his household.
The prosecutor stated that in gentle of this new info, in addition to Glynn’s behaviour in court docket, it will not be ‘prudent’ to proceed to trial with out a medical report.
Glynn interrupted the lawyer, saying: ‘The certificates of vaccine laws don’t apply to the dwelling man and I am properly conscious of this reality.
‘Why have the masks laws been dropped throughout America and Europe? As a result of they’re unconstitutional. I do not get my info from the Straits Occasions.’
Nevertheless, Choose Tham agreed with Mr Koh and ordered Glynn to be remanded to the Institute of Psychological Well being till August 19.
Earlier than he was led to the cells, Glynn known as out: ‘Good luck stepping into the guide of life, Mr Koh. How are you going to say Singapore is a protected nation. Police who hunt me down like a pack of untamed animals. This isn’t justice. That is disgusting.’
Glynn had been working for the Singaporean department of a British recruitment firm since January 2017.
Weeks earlier than he was attributable to return to the UK for a brand new job, he was filmed with out a masks on a subway close to Raffles Place, the monetary district of Singapore, on Might 7.
In Singapore it’s necessary to put on a masks when residents depart their properties, with only a few exceptions.
The clip was broadly shared on social media and detectives quickly tracked Glynn down.
The Brit claims that he was arrested by police whereas his household have been asleep on Might 8.
He beforehand revealed how his household had returned dwelling to Leeds on Might 31, saying: ‘This entire state of affairs is ridiculous. I wish to depart the nation anyway – simply let me go!
Glynn is a British expat initially from Helmsley, Yorkshire, who’s now caught in Singapore awaiting trial after Singapore police arrested him on Might 8 for not sporting a masks on public transport the day earlier than
‘I believe it is insane that I’m going through a trial in any respect, only for not sporting a masks.’
He’s now out of labor as a result of he was attributable to switch to a place again within the UK, which has now been revoked.
‘It is a horrible state of affairs to be in after I do not know after I can subsequent see my household,’ he stated beforehand.
‘Particularly after I do not even imagine masks cease the unfold of the virus within the first place.
‘I truthfully imagine it is a hoax – I do not really feel there may be any proof to point out mask-wearing is efficient in any approach.
‘From a scientific foundation, I believe it is nonsense, however now all I can do is wait.’
Glynn is charged with harassment, being a public nuisance, an offence beneath the Covid-19 (Momentary Measures) Act and a cost linked to an offence ‘inside and outdoors’ the States Court docket constructing.
If convicted for breaching the Covid-19 guidelines he faces as much as six months in jail and a superb of £5,300.
For harassment, the utmost sentence is a 12 months in jail and a superb of £2,700.
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