Filipino nurse awaits Singapore sentence

Ed Mundsel Bello at a court appearance in April. He was convicted of promoting feelings of ill-will and hostility yesterday. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was still waiting for a Singapore court to sentence the Filipino nurse who was convicted on Wednesday under the island republic’s Sedition Act.

Ed Mundsel Bello, 29, was convicted after pleading guilty to publishing disparaging comments about Singaporeans on Facebook and lying to the police twice on Jan. 3 and 4.

“Our embassy in Singapore confirmed that he was convicted on Wednesday morning. His lawyer, his sister and an officer of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore were present at the hearing,” said Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, the DFA spokesperson.

“The embassy has accepted the judgment of the court,” Jose said.

Bello, who was employed as an assistant nurse at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, posted a message on Facebook on Jan. 2, calling Singaporeans “loosers” (sic) and vowed to “evict” them from their country.

He told police investigators that his Facebook account had been hacked, but later admitted having posted the derogatory Facebook comments.

The sentencing has been set for Sept. 16.–Niña P. Calleja