Man charged with taking part in public assemblies near Changi Prison without a permit

S Suraendher Kumarr, a 32-year-old man, faced charges on September 25 for participating in public assemblies near Changi Prison without a permit, as well as in the State Courts where such gatherings are illegal. He is accused of three offenses under the Public Order Act, having attended two public assemblies without a permit and one in a restricted area, according to court documents.

Kumarr serves as the vice-president of the board of directors on the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) website. In November 2024 and January 2025, he allegedly attended candlelight vigils near Changi Prison to commemorate the executions of two drug traffickers, Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad and Syed Suhail Syed Zin, as per court documents.

Additionally, he is accused of participating in a February 2025 assembly at the State Courts in support of abolishing capital punishment in Singapore, which is an area where such gatherings are prohibited, according to court documents. Kumarr's lawyer requested permission to leave the country for his honeymoon, and District Judge Wong Peck granted the request.

If found guilty of participating in a public assembly without a permit, he could face a fine of up to S$3,000 (US$2,345). The penalty for attending a prohibited assembly or procession is a fine of up to S$5,000.