Youth accused of making false police report about anthrax attack at Bedok Mall

SINGAPORE — A 22-year-old was charged on Wednesday (May 25) with making a false police report, which alleged that a man would release anthrax spores in a mall and bus interchange at Bedok.

Mercury faces one charge each of communicating false information about a harmful thing, and possessing obscene videos and images.

The Singaporean is said to have submitted an I-Witness report to the police on the evening of National Day — Aug 9 — last year.

Using a different name, Mercury wrote of wanting to report “an incidence of anthrax spores being released later today at Bedok Mall and the attached bus interchange on National Day”.

Mercury also said that the spores “are to be poured into the ventilation system by 10pm”, and alleged that “this terrorist act” would be committed by another man who lived in a Jurong West public flat.

Mercury's motivations and connections with the woman and the other man are unclear.

In 2002, anthrax spores were mailed to several news media offices and politicians in the United States following the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that anthrax is a bacteria found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants or water.

Anthrax can cause severe illness in both humans and animals.

It is not contagious but it can sicken people if they come in contact with infected animals or ingest contaminated animal products.

Separately, court documents stated that Mercury allegedly possessed an iPhone containing 72 obscene videos and 60 obscene images between April 2020 and August 2021.

The court heard on Wednesday that Mercury, who remains out on bail of S$5,000, may face more charges under the Computer Misuse Act. The case was adjourned to June 22.

Under the Penal Code, those convicted of communicating false information about a harmful thing can be jailed for up to seven years or fined up to S$50,000, or punished with both.

Those convicted of possessing obscene objects can be jailed for up to three months or fined, or both.

Editor's note: The article has been updated to include only information available in the court documents and proceedings.