Part 9/15:

The trial of 59 accused detainees was unprecedented in Singapore's judicial history. It lasted 64 days, with more than 100 witnesses providing testimony. The sheer scale of the proceedings—placing so many defendants in the dock simultaneously—highlighted the gravity of the riot and the government’s commitment to justice.

Judge John Murray Batros, an Australian colonial judge, presided over the case with considerable responsibility. The jury faced an enormous task: distinguishing between those involved directly in the violence and those possibly coerced or acting under the influence of secret societies.