Singapore court upholds law criminalizing sex between men

The Supreme Court of Singapore has upheld a law that criminalizes sex between men, dismissing three separate appeals claiming that the legislation was unconstitutional.

According to Reuters, two lawyers involved in the hearings reported the ruling on Monday.

The decision comes after a series of challenges last year to Singapore's controversial gay sex law, which has its roots in the country's British colonial era. 

According to their lawyers, the applicants had argued that Section 377A, a rarely implemented law, under which a man found to have committed an act of "gross indecency" with another man could be imprisoned for up to two years, is unconstitutional.

Singapore broadcaster CNA reported that the verdict was announced in the court four months after cases were made by the lawyers for the three men: Johnson Ong Ming, a disc jockey, Roy Tan Seng Kee, a retired general practitioner and Bryan Choong Chee Hoong, the former executive director of LGBT+ non-profit organization Oogachaga.

Tan's lawyer, only known by the name Ravi, told local media that the decision was "astounding" and "utterly shocking."

He argued that the "absurd and arbitrary application" of the law is a violation of the Constitution as all gay and bisexual men are forced to report their consensual private sexual acts to the police.

According to Ravi, the law breaches the right to equality and personal liberty. The lawyer said he is collaborating with a team to assess the prospects of appeal.