Singapore blogger warned over Christ cartoons

A Singaporean blogger has received a stern warning but escaped possible imprisonment after posting cartoons mocking Jesus Christ on his online journal. "After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, in consultation with attorney-general's chamber, we have decided to issue a stern warning to the offender in lieu of prosecution," police said Thursday. They said the unidentified blogger "was warned accordingly" earlier this month. The blogger could have been jailed for up to three years or fined 5,000 Singapore (3,150 US) dollars or both if convicted under the Sedition Act. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) press freedom group had criticized police for investigating the blogger, saying the case showed Singapore had scant regard for media independence. The Straits Times has reported that the 21-year-old blogger, who described himself as a free-thinking office worker, first posted a cartoon in January depicting Jesus Christ as a zombie biting a boy's head. He ignored an online message asking for the cartoon's removal and went on to post more caricatures of Christ to spite the sender.

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