Police on Tuesday (20 November) seized equipment such as desktop computers, mobile devices and laptops from the residence of Terry Xu, executive editor of long-running socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC).
According to a post on TOC’s Facebook page at about 1.45pm, “The Online Citizen will be on hiatus for the time being as all electronic equipment used for the purpose of the website have been seized by the Singapore Police Force for an investigation into an alleged offence of Criminal Defamation under Section 21 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code Chapter 68.
“The equipment, which include desktop, mobile devices and laptops, was seized at the residence of Terry Xu in the presence of five police officers this morning. No confirmed date of return has been given as investigation will take some time to conclude.”
Kirsten Han, freelance journalist and editor-in-chief of online journalism platform New Naratif, tweeted at around 2.05pm, “Five police officers went to the home of @tocsg editor Terry Xu and seized his electronic equipment, as part of their investigation into an alleged offence of criminal defamation.”
Xu was uncontactable when Yahoo News Singapore tried to reach him via his mobile phone.
Founded by Andrew Loh in 2006, TOC is one of the longest-running independent online media platforms in Singapore.
In 2011, the Singapore Registry of Political Donations gazetted the platform as a political organisation, noting that the editors of the website organised online and offline campaigns to change legislation and government policies.
Under the Political Donations Act, political entities cannot receive funds from foreign contributors and anonymous contributions above S$5,000.
In February 2018, TOC was de-gazetted as a “political association”, as it is currently run by only Xu.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/police-seize-equipment-online-citizen-defamation-investigation-072748907.html
It's business as usual again for TOC. Will those who donated to Terry Xu get arrested?
The Online Citizen resumes operations through public donations
Socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC) resumed operations on Monday (26 November), after it received donations from the public to purchase new computer hardware needed to run the site.
The long-running independent online media platform, which was founded in 2006, stopped operations on 20 November after police seized electronic equipment such as desktop computers and mobile devices from the home of TOC chief editor Terry Xu.
The police later said it was investigating an alleged criminal defamation by the website, reported by Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), in which the article “The take away from Seah Kian Ping’s Facebook post” made “serious allegations that the Government’s highest officers are corrupt and that the Constitution has been tampered with”.
The article was written by a member of the public who goes by the pen name of Willy Sun, in response to comments made by Member of Parliament Seah Kian Peng on Facebook about a meeting between several Singaporean activists and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in August. The article misspelled Seah’s name.
Repaying the kindness of supporters
On Monday, however, Xu posted a note on the website saying that TOC will continue its publication, even as the police continues its investigations.
He added, “Other than purchase of new hardware, a number of kind hearted individuals have signed up as supporters on Patreon or subscribers to the site. In light of such support, we cannot but to continue our work to repay their kindness.
“We would like to express our thanks to all who have contributed so far, whether it is in monetary or in contribution of article and information.”
Fund-raising campaign soon
Xu also revealed that TOC will be launching a fund-raising campaign soon to expand its team in preparation for the upcoming general elections.
He wrote in his note, “As there is the risk of me being arrested and put to jail, there is an urgent need to ensure that the publication is able to run even with me behind bars especially during the election period.
“With your support, my team and I pledge to continue our work till the day we have exhausted all available resources or forced to have our operations ceased.”
In 2011, the Singapore Registry of Political Donations gazetted TOC as a political organisation, noting that the editors of the website organised online and offline campaigns to change legislation and government policies.
Under the Political Donations Act, political entities cannot receive funds from foreign contributors and anonymous contributions above S$5,000.
In February 2018, TOC was de-gazetted as a “political association”, as it is currently run by only Xu, with volunteer editors and writers.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/online-citizen-resumes-operations-public-donations-010811958.html
Roy's hairstyle is a dead giveaway as far as his sexual orientation is concerned.
Resident fat female dissenter Kirsten Han has activated AMDK Phil Robertson! Faggots Jolovan Wham and Roy Ngerng also activated and standing by in full battle order!
Alex Tan the cockroach from STR responds to TOC's shut down! Offers to train individuals to setup a similar website for free!
https://www.facebook.com/1599939350224250/posts/2162150400669806/
It's okay. Botak Terry already said previously he was prepared to go squat in Changi Hilton forever. SPF is merely making his xmas wish come true early.
http://ricemedia.co/terry-xu-i-am-ready-to-go-to-jail-forever/
Still alive
Though readers may not be seeing new content being put out by TOC for now, the site itself remains live. It remains unclear which (if any) TOC piece is being accused of criminal defamation, but of late, Xu and his contributors have been focusing heavily on the contentious issue surrounding hawker centers run by social enterprises here.
https://coconuts.co/singapore/news/online-citizen-involved-case-criminal-defamation-police-seize-editors-electronic-devices/