SINGAPORE — A public servant who allegedly shared classified information on the resumption of activities in Phase Two of Singapore’s reopening of its economy last year will be charged under the Official Secrets Act, the police said.

In a news release on Tuesday (May 18), the police said that the 51-year-old man will be charged on Wednesday with wrongful communication of information under the Act.  

The police said that they received a report on June 12 last year that information about the resumption of activities in Phase Two was circulating via WhatsApp messages among members of the public.

This was before the information was officially released.

Investigations found that the man — who was authorised to receive classified information — had allegedly shared the information via WhatsApp on June 11 with members of a private chat group.

They were not authorised to receive the classified information, the police said.

The information was then further disseminated by other members from this chat group, resulting in the wider circulation of the classified information before it was officially released.

The police said that six others who had wrongfully received and further communicated the information to others will be issued stern warnings for the wrongful communication of information under the law.

The police said that they take a serious view of any breach of the Act.

The offence of wrongful communication of information carries a S$2,000 fine and up to two years’ jail.

“Unauthorised recipients should delete and not further circulate any confidential information received as they may otherwise be similarly liable under the Act,” the police said.