s 16H Community remedial initiative
16H.—(1) Subject to this section, the Minister may offer under this section to a person (called in this section an alleged offender) an opportunity to take one or more remedial actions, participate in one or more activities, or do any other thing, to promote religious harmony in Singapore (called in this section a community remedial initiative) if, in the opinion of the Minister, the alleged offender is attempting to engage in conduct, is engaging or has engaged in conduct, or is likely to engage in conduct —(a) that causes, or the alleged offender knows is likely to incite, feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against, or contempt for or ridicule of, a person or a group in Singapore, being a person or group distinguished by religion or religious belief or activity within the meaning of section 17E(6); or (b) on the ground of religion or religious belief or activity and that the alleged offender knows is likely to insult the religion or religious belief or activity (within the meaning of section 17F(5)), or wounds the religious feelings, of another person in Singapore. (2) However, no offer under this section may be made with respect to any engaging in conduct or attempt to engage in conduct occurring before the date of commencement of section 13 of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Act 2019. (3) A person may choose whether to enter into a community remedial initiative with the Minister. (4) One community remedial initiative may be entered into for 2 or more different conduct or attempts to engage in conduct mentioned in subsection (1) which constitute an offence under this Act or any other written law (called in this section an alleged offence). (5) In addition to subsection (4), a community remedial initiative in respect of an alleged offence —(a) may be entered into before, on or after the date on which an alleged offender is charged with the alleged offence; but (b) cannot be entered into after the commencement of the trial for that alleged offence. (6) While a community remedial initiative in respect of an alleged offence is in force —(a) if the alleged offender has been charged with the alleged offence, the alleged offender is deemed to have been granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in relation to that alleged offence, when the community remedial initiative comes into force; and (b) the alleged offender cannot be prosecuted for that alleged offence under this Act or any other written law in any criminal proceedings. (7) If the Minister believes that an alleged offender who entered into a community remedial initiative for an alleged offence has failed to comply with the terms of that agreement, the Minister may terminate the community remedial initiative and refer the alleged offence to the Public Prosecutor.[Act 31 of 2019 wef 01/11/2022]