Man admits sending SM Lee doctored photo of Marina Bay Sands on fire as ‘prank’

He did so in order to prank SM Lee, and he knew that either Mr Lee or someone reviewing the content would think that MBS had been bombed, the court heard.

An administrator of Mr Lee’s Facebook page who was monitoring the page at the time saw the image and message shortly after it was sent.

Concerned, he lodged a police report and took a screengrab of the communications.

The police informed the security management of MBS to step up security patrols and eventually identified Tan as the culprit.

He admitted to being the person who sent the image and message.

The prosecutor sought four to eight weeks’ jail for Tan, saying he had essentially perpetuated a bomb hoax.

“In essence, the accused had informed SM Lee (through his official Facebook page) that Marina Bay Sands had been bombed,” he said.

The prosecutor added that bomb hoaxes are egregious and clearly intended to create fear, exploit general apprehension and anxiety, and have massive potential to cause major disruptions to the public.

The target building here is of high value, he said, while acknowledging that the false transmission was not particularly credible.

Tan said nothing in mitigation.

Sentencing was adjourned to a later date.

For knowingly transmitting a false message, he could be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.