Sex bloggers Alvivi get passports released to shoot documentary in Singapore

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12, 2014: A Sessions Court here has granted controversial sex bloggers Alvin Tan Jye Yee and Vivian Lee May Ling’s application to have their passports released.

Judge Abdul Rashid Daud made the order Monday after Tan and Lee’s counsel Chong Joo Tian told the court that his clients needed to be in Singapore to shoot a documentary film on their life there.‎

Judge Abdul Rashid later granted between May 18 and June 3 to enable the couple, known as Alvivi, go to the island republic for the purpose.

However, he instructed Tan and Lee not to make any press statement on their ongoing case here to the Singapore press.

He also exempted both from reporting to the nearest police station first day of each month pending the disposal of the case.

Earlier, Chong told the court that ‎Tan and Lee had been made an offer by Extreme Media Pte Ltd to shoot the documentary.

‎He said all the while, his clients had not breached the bail condition imposed by the court, including reporting at the nearest police station on the first day of each month.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin raised no objection to the application.

However, Wan Shaharuddin applied that Tan and Lee be refrained from commenting on their case while they were in the republic.

Chong interjected that ‎the documentary was about their real life in Singapore and not in Malaysia and was limited to the shooting locations which included Orchard Road.

‎On July 18, last year, Tan, 26, and Lee, 25, claimed trial to three charges under the Film Censorship Act, Sedition Act and Penal Code.

However, one of the three charges which was under Section 298A of the Penal Code, was struck out by the Court of Appeal on April 21.

The charges that still stand for the duo are for allegedly publishing a photograph with the comment “Selamat Berbuka Puasa (dengan bak kut teh…wangi, enak, menyelerakan)” which contained a halal logo and possibly seditious statements, and for displaying pornographic images on their blog.

The duo’s postings last July 11 caused an uproar among Malaysians of all races for their insensitivity, following which they removed the posting and uploaded a new picture of them eating ketupat, rendang and curry puffs.