{"id":88646,"date":"2026-09-29T00:56:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T16:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=88646"},"modified":"2026-09-29T00:56:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T16:56:01","slug":"man-to-be-charged-for-fake-crocodile-pic-at-pandan-reservoir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=88646","title":{"rendered":"Man to be charged for fake crocodile pic at Pandan Reservoir"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE \u2013 A 30-year-old man is set to be charged on Sept 29 over creating a fake photograph of a crocodile<\/span><\/a> at Pandan Reservoir that led to a search operation and the suspension of water activities in August.<\/p>\n

On Aug 20, national water agency PUB received a report of a crocodile sighting at the reservoir, accompanied by a photo.<\/p>\n

In response to the report, water activities in the reservoir were suspended for two days, with PUB and the National Parks Board (NParks) launching search-and-capture operations in the area<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Sept 28, the police said preliminary investigations found that the man had used artificial intelligence to generate a fake image of a crocodile at Pandan Reservoir and sent it to his colleague.<\/p>\n

He then deleted the image and the related application in an attempt to conceal his actions.<\/p>\n

He will be charged with communicating a false message and obstructing the course of justice.<\/p>\n

If found guilty of communicating a false message, he can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $10,000, or both.<\/p>\n

If found guilty of obstructing the course of justice, he can be jailed up to seven years, fined, or both.<\/p>\n

PUB had said it was alerted\u00a0to the alleged crocodile sighting at about 3pm on Aug 20 and that NParks was informed.<\/p>\n

The agency had also informed the Singapore Rowing Association and Singapore Canoe Federation, which conduct water activities at the reservoir, to suspend all activities.<\/p>\n

Signs were also put up around the reservoir to alert the public and advise people to exercise caution.<\/p>\n

On Aug 21, PUB said in a Facebook post that it had filed a police report after verifying that the photograph of the supposed crocodile was fake.<\/p>\n

It added that it had ceased search operations, and\u00a0water activities in the reservoir were allowed to resume from Aug 22.<\/p>\n

The police said they will not hesitate to take action against anyone who communicates falsehoods.<\/p>\n

\u201cApart from causing fear and inconvenience caused to members of the public, such falsehoods also result in public resources being unnecessarily deployed to deal with these incidents,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

The police urged the public to act responsibly and to refrain from circulating false information or edited images that could cause unnecessary public alarm.<\/p>\n

They also warned the public against submitting fake or manipulated information, including AI-generated or digitally altered images, to the police or other government agencies as authentic information.<\/p>\n

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