The Police are aware of social media posts by Charles Yeo that he will not be returning to Singapore and will be seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
On 19 January 2022, Charles Yeo was charged in court for the following offences and was granted court bail while court proceedings are ongoing:
- Three counts of threatening and abusive communication against public servants under Section 6(3) of the Protection from Harassment Act, in relation to his alleged posting of a series of Instagram Stories on 3 November 2020 and 1 January 2021 which made threatening, abusive and insulting remarks against a Police officer who had been carrying out his duties.
- Two counts of attempted offences of uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any persons under Section 298 of the Penal Code, and one count of the same offence, in relation to his alleged remarks on his Instagram and Facebook pages on 13 November 2020, 23 February 2021, and 26 February 2021, that wounded the religious feelings of the Christian community.
Charles Yeo is also on Police bail as he is currently under investigation for separate offences of alleged criminal breach of trust by an attorney under Section 409 of the Penal Code, and alleged forgery under Section 465 of the Penal Code, pursuant to complaints lodged against Whitefield Law Corporation. Charles Yeo was a former partner of Whitefield Law Corporation.
On 20 July 2022, the State Courts granted Charles Yeo permission to travel to Vietnam for work between 27 and 30 July 2022.
Charles Yeo reported to the Investigation Officer (“IO”) on 26 July 2022 to collect his passport, provide his travel itinerary, and furnish additional bail with his bailor before his departure on 27 July 2022. Under the conditions of his application to leave state, he was required to report to the IO on 1 August 2022 at 6.00pm to surrender his passport upon his return.
Charles Yeo did not return to Singapore on 30 July 2022 and he did not report to the IO on 1 August 2022. Police received a report from his bailor on 31 July 2022 informing that he did not return to Singapore on 30 July 2022 and had been uncontactable. Following the report, Police attempted to contact Charles Yeo on 1 August 2022 but to no avail. As Charles Yeo had breached the conditions for the Court’s approval of his overseas travel, the Police issued a police gazette for Charles Yeo’s arrest.
Police are working with foreign law enforcement counterparts to trace Charles Yeo’s whereabouts.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
01 August 2022 @ 10:40 PM