Kenneth Lai Yong Hui who was just jailed for four years over spreading fake news in Singapore (Photo: LIANHE ZAOBAO/Straitstimes) Singapore (VNA) – A Singaporean taxi driver was sentencedto four months’ imprisonment on May 27 for posting a fake message on Facebookabout supposed food outlet closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic and urgingpanic buying.
According to the Straits Times and Channel News Asia, the40-year-old cabby named Kenneth Lai Yong Hui posted a false message in a privateFacebook group which had about 7,500 members.
In the message, Lai claimed he had received information thatall food courts and coffee shops would close and supermarkets would open onlytwo days a week. He also said people should stock up stuff.
The man deleted his post after 15 minutes, however, DeputyPublic Prosecutor Deborah Lee, who proposed the sentence, said that his liescould "conceivably result in public alarm and panic buying" and calledfor a punishment that would deter others.
“The psychological fight to allay fear and hysteria is justas important as the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Lee said in her sentencing submission, according to casedocuments.
The offence of transmitting a false message in Singapore canresult in an imprisonment for up to three years and a maximum fine of 10,000USD.
The country, which has seen bouts of panic buying during afour-month battle with the virus, has imposed tough punishments on those whobreach containment rules or spread misinformation.
Last month, a man who broke quarantine with 30 minutesremaining to buy a flatbread worth a few dollars was fined 1,000 USD. Anotherman who breached an order to stay home to eat pork rib soup was jailed for sixweeks./.
VNA
