Police identify two youths in supermarket drinks video that caused ‘public alarm’ online

SINGAPORE — The police on Wednesday (Feb 12) said that they have identified two youths  involved in filming a video in a supermarket in which one of them drinks from two unpurchased drinks and put them back on the shelf. The video has been circulating online.

Preliminary investigations indicated the youths, both aged 17, filmed the video out of mischief and intended it as a joke to be shared among a closed group of their friends. They later purchased the drinks, the police said.

The video filmed at an NTUC FairPrice outlet had the words “How to spread Wuhan” appearing on screen as part of the video, an apparent reference to the Covid-19 outbreak, which originated in the city of Wuhan in China’s Hubei province.

On Monday, TODAY reported that the police were seeking information on the duo, after their video was reposted on Twitter that day.

In their statement on Wednesday, the police said that one of the youths had uploaded the video to his private Instagram account.

“However, an acquaintance recorded a copy of the video and circulated it online. This caused public alarm and concern,” said the police.

“Police investigations are ongoing,” the police said, adding that they will not tolerate any actions that stoke undue public alarm, especially during this period of heightened sensitivity.