The Police will be charging a 51-year-old man on 19 May 2021 for wrongful communication of information under Section 5(1) of the Official Secrets Act.
On 12 June 2020, the Police received a report that information about the resumption of activities in Phase 2 of the post-circuit breaker reopening was circulating via WhatsApp messages amongst members of the public, before the information was officially released.
Investigations revealed that the man, who is a public servant and an authorised recipient of classified information on the post-circuit breaker plans, had allegedly shared the information via WhatsApp on 11 June 2020 with members of a private WhatsApp chat group who were not authorised to receive the classified information. The information was further disseminated by other members from this chat group, resulting in the wider circulation of the classified information before it was officially released.
Six others who had wrongfully received and further communicated the information downstream will be issued stern warnings for the wrongful communication of information under the Official Secrets Act.
The authorities take a serious view of any breach of the Official Secrets Act. The offence of wrongful communication of information under Section 5(1) of the Official Secrets Act is punishable under Section 17(2) of the Official Secrets Act, which carries a fine of up to $2,000 and imprisonment for a term of up to two years. Unauthorised recipients should delete and not further circulate any confidential information received, as they may otherwise be similarly liable under the Official Secrets Act.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
18 May 2021 @ 5:00 PM