A 17-year-old student has appeared in court in Singapore after he posted a video highly critical of the city-state's founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who died last week.

Amos Lee, who is a former child actor, was charged with three counts; two of intending to wound the religious feelings of Christians and a third of making offensive remarks against Lee Kuan Yew.

In the eight-minute YouTube clip, Amos Yee, sought to present an alternative account of Lee Kuan Yew's legacy.

"Why hasn't anyone said 'F*** yeah! The guy is dead'?" he asked in the video.

"Lee Kuan Yew was a horrible person, because everyone is scared, everyone is afraid if they say something like that, they might get into trouble."

Lee Kuan Yew, who founded Singapore as a nation and built it up from nothing, died last Tuesday, aged 91.

He was given a state funeral on Sunday watched in heavy rains by thousands of Singaporeans.

According to figures released by local media, some 454,687 people turned up for the lying in state at Parliament House.

An average of 6,500 visitors walked through every hour.

In all, 1.1 million people visited the 18 community tribute sites set up around the city, the figures suggested.

However, the teenage student was unimpressed.

"Lee Kuan Yew was an awful leader to our country," he said in the clip.

"He was a dictator but managed to fool most of the world to think he was democratic.

"However during your rule, you controlled the entire media and education proliferating nationalistic propaganda on a daily basis."

As the longest-serving PM in global history, Lee Kuan Yew created Asia's wealthiest country and the world's most successful city-state.

The 'Singapore Model' is emulated by countries and cities around the world.

He was respected by leaders globally, whether they be Western Democrats, Asian Communists or something in between.

However his methods, which have endured, were controversial and earned the nickname "the benevolent dictator".

During his time in office between 1959 and 1990, he introduced limits on freedom of expression and controlled the media and courts.

He maintained that full western-style liberal democracy wouldn't work in multi-ethnic Singapore.

In the inflammatory online video, Amos Lee likened Lee Kuan Yew to Mao, Hitler and Stalin.

He also drew a comparison between Lee and Jesus Christ.

He said that he and Jesus were "both power hungry and malicious but deceive others into thinking they are both compassionate and kind."

He went on to raise questions about Singapore's political leaders' salaries. They are among the highest paid politicians globally.

The current Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew's son, is reported to have an annual salary of £1.5m.

That is five times more than the American President.

"They are acquiring so much money. Why aren't they spending it on the people? What are they actually spending it on?" Amos Lee asked in his video.

"Most people in Singapore are struggling to make ends meet. We are one of the richest counties in the world and yet we have one of the highest income inequalities," the 17-year-old said.

The original version of the video has been removed from the internet but it has since been re-posted numerous times.

In court, the Deputy Public Prosecutor, Hon Yi, asked Yee not to upload or distribute any comment or content online while his current case is ongoing.

Yee told the judge he understood the order, replying: "Yes, Sir."

His $20,000 police bail was extended and a pre-trial conference has been fixed for 17 April.