SINGAPORE \u2013 In the first such prosecution, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has fined a man $12,000 for posting e-vaporiser-related content on his social media accounts. <\/p>\n
Krish Khalifa, 26, who goes by the online moniker Rapperboya, was fined an additional $2,000 for possession of vapes on multiple occasions between 2023 and 2024. <\/p>\n
On Dec 17, Khalifa pleaded guilty to five vape-related charges \u2013 two of possession and three over promoting the use of tobacco imitation products. <\/p>\n
He also pleaded guilty to other offences, including relinquishing his bank accounts to launder scam proceeds and committing a rash act. He was jailed for these offences. <\/p>\n
In a statement on Dec 17, HSA said it began investigating Khalifa after receiving complaints from members of the public about TikTok videos he posted that showed him vaping. <\/p>\n
According to court documents, Khalifa made a post on TikTok on July 20, 2024, showing him holding an e-vaporiser while sleeping.<\/p>\n
HSA prosecutor Vishnu Aditya Naidu said: \u201c(He) admitted that he uploaded the post, knowing that it depicted him holding on to the e-vaporiser while sleeping, as a response to a comment in one of his previous videos where he spoke about being caught for a vape-related offence. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe did so as he thought it would be funny.\u201d <\/p>\n
On Sept 10, 2024, Khalifa uploaded a music video on his TikTok account that showed him using a vape at various points. He admitted that the vape belonged to him. <\/p>\n
Investigations revealed that Khalifa posted a total of nine videos and photographs of him holding or using e-vaporisers in public places and at home on his social media channels, said HSA. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese posts on the social media accounts are essentially advertisements published by the accused, depicting (him) using (and) encouraging the use of imitation tobacco products,\u201d said the prosecutor. <\/p>\n
Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, content encouraging the use of e-vaporisers can constitute an advertisement for a prohibited tobacco product.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A check by The Straits Times revealed that Khalifa has since deactivated his TikTok account. <\/p>\n
HSA said it has intensified surveillance and enforcement action against the advertising of e-vaporisers on digital platforms. <\/p>\n
From Jan 1 to Nov 30, 38 people were fined for posting photos or videos of e-vaporisers on social media. <\/p>\n <\/a><\/figure>\n Mr Norman Chong, director of HSA\u2019s Tobacco Regulation Branch, said: \u201cThe promotion of e-vaporisers on social media platforms may normalise the use of these banned products and influence the public, especially young people, to experiment with vaping.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHSA takes a zero-tolerance approach and will continue active surveillance and take firm enforcement action against those who promote e-vaporisers.\u201d <\/p>\n For promoting the use of\u00a0tobacco products and imitation tobacco products, an offender can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both. <\/p>\n For subsequent offences, a person can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to a year, or both. <\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n