22 men charged with obstructing justice by alerting WhatsApp groups about raids

SINGAPORE — Twenty-two men were on Wednesday (July 6) charged with obstructing the course of justice by tipping off WhatsApp chat groups about ongoing law enforcement operations.

The men are accused of sending the messages knowing that the chat group members would likely take steps to prevent the detection of offences in the area.

Sixteen of the men allegedly sent their messages to a chat group called "Night Owl" between January and April 2019, from late at night to the early hours of the morning.

The men are: Abdul Hadi Zainuddin, Mervin Yeoh Wei Kian, Muhammad Rashidi Rashid, Muhammad Rasyidi Safiee, Daniel Seet Joo Tong, Muhammad Azhar Dawood, Goh Wei Jie, Brandon Chung, Muhammad Ikhmal Bin Ismail, Ang Whay Chong, Ong Wee Sen, Wilson Soon Jien Yang, Jeffrey Goh Hock Soon, Ilex Tan, Lim Poh Kian and B Barathkrishnan. They are aged 29 to 49.

The alleged messages, detailed in charge sheets, appeared to name massage parlours and nightclubs where raids were taking place, including vehicle number plates, and locations and numbers of enforcement officers.

Another group of three men are accused of sending similar messages to a chat group called "UncleValet" on Feb 1, 2020. Lim Wei Xiong, Mah Chee Kean and Lim Song Huat are aged 33 to 44.

Two more men — Yam Jianwen, 27, and Raymund Reuben Mervyn, 42 — allegedly sent similar messages to the "Rolex Movement" chat group in April 2019.

One of the messages, allegedly sent by Mervyn, read: "My contact informed me it's CNB operation next three days island wide," referring to the Central Narcotics Bureau.

The remaining man, Chua Yong Dan, 32, allegedly sent similar messages to a chat group with a Chinese name that translates to "artillery regiment" on Feb 6, 2020.

Anyone convicted of intentionally obstructing the course of justice can be jailed for up to seven years, fined or both. CNA