Student suspected to be involved in fake PMO webpage assisting police with investigations

SINGAPORE — A Singaporean boy, below 16 years of age, is suspected to be behind the circulation of a screenshot of a hoax statement purportedly from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website announcing the death of former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

The suspect, a student, is believed to have operated alone, the police said in a statement today (March 20).

He is assisting the police with investigations for the offence of Access with Intent to Commit or Facilitate Commission of Offence under Section 4(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act. It carries a punishment of a fine of up to S$50,000 and/or a jail term up to 10 years.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was believed to have modified an earlier 2010 PMO media statement hosted on the PMO website and subsequently sent out a photo of the modified content,” the police said.

The police said it was alerted to “multiple messages that were being circulated regarding a screenshot photograph of a statement purportedly from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website” at about 10.10pm on Wednesday, and established the suspect’s identity within 24 hours.

Acting Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sekher Warrier, advised members of public not to spread falsehoods. “The Police take a very stern view against anyone who doctors a government website to spread false information to deceive the public. Individuals who do so must be prepared to face the consequences under the law,” the police said.