Quora Answer: Will Raeesah Begum Farid Khan Still Face Fabricated Charges Now That She Has a Parliamentary Seat?

 The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Will Raeesah Begum Farid Khan still face fabricated charges, under S298 of the Penal Code, for 2-year-old tweets now that she has won a seat in the Parliament of Singapore?” 

Firstly, Raeesah Begum Farid Khan is under investigation by the Singapore Police Force.  Any report that involves the alleged wounding of racial and religious feelings, and threatens the social fabric of Singapore is given the highest priority, and investigated immediately.  An investigation, once opened, is not closed merely because someone has won a Parliamentary seat, or even appointed to the Cabinet.  Belonging to the legislative or executive branch of government does not put anybody above the law. 

Secondly, since the investigation is ongoing, no charges have been formally filed.  To claim that there are fabricated charges is mischievous and misleading.  Any charges filed will not be by the Singapore Police Force, but by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.  The Police Force does not decide on whether to proceed on charges; its role is only to substantiate the possibility that an offence was committed. 

Finally, since this is an active investigation, I will not comment on the possible outcomes since such an act may be viewed as prejudicial.  However, I will state that the Singapore Police Force deserves its sterling reputation in community policing.  We are not the police force in the United States with its documented history of institutionalised racism.  The Singapore Police Force puts great effort in being sensitive to minorities.  You will never find, for example, any police team that consists of people only belonging to one race.  This is an attempt to eliminate allegations of racism.