UK man charged with sending hoax about terror attack on NDP 2005
A British man who sent a hoax in writing about an impending terrorist attack on Singapore’s national day parade in 2005 to the local authorities was charged in court on Friday (5 October).
Khor Chye Siew, 42, allegedly informed the then Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Arts (MICA) of the hoax on 24 July 2005 while in Singapore. He faces one charge of giving false information to a public servant.
A police press release sent on Thursday said that Khor sent the information via email and that his identity was established by the police afterwards.
He was arrested at Changi Airport on 26 May this year when he flew into Singapore from London.
According to his charge sheets, Khor sent to MICA in writing, saying, “To Whom It May Concern I’m writing this mail just to inform that something your country’s Intelligent Service has failed to do, which is to track down 100% the terrorist activities in your country. Kindly take this information seriously or else don’t blame me if something horror (sic) & ugly happens. There is (sic) gonna be 3 suicide bombings during your country’s 40th National Day Parade, I know who & where these crooks are, you guys still have plenty of times (sic) to crackdown this people, I say about two weeks from now. Reply me asap.”
He sent the information knowing that MICA would report it to the police, according to his charge sheets.
Khor, who was unrepresented by a lawyer, told the court on Friday that he intends to plead guilty. His case will be heard again on 19 October.
Investigations showed that Khor sent the false information to MICA to cause unnecessary alarm so that resources would be deployed to deal with the incident.
If convicted on his charge, Khor can be jailed up to a year and/or fined a maximum $5,000.
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