15-year-old investigated for making false robbery report
By Maryam Mokhtar
The Straits Times
Thursday, May 16, 2013
SINGAPORE - The 15-year-old made the report on April 18, claiming an unknown man had assaulted him along Toh Yi Drive before running away with his wallet containing $40 cash and some personal documents.
Get the full story from The Straits Times.
Here is the full statement from the Singapore Police Force:
SUSPECTED ROBBERY VICTIM INVESTIGATED FOR FALSE REPORT
Police are investigating against a 15-year-old youth for making a false police report, claiming that he had been robbed in the vicinity of Toh Yi Drive.
On April 18, 2013, the Police received a report of robbery where the 15-year-old youth informed that an unknown man had assaulted him in the vicinity of Toh Yi Drive before running away with his wallet.
His wallet contained cash of $40/- and some personal documents.
Upon receipt of the report, officers from Clementi Police Division responded immediately and conducted a coordinated search and extensive ground enquiries at the crime scene.
Through follow up investigations and subsequent interviews, it was established that the victim had made a false report on the alleged offence of Robbery.
He had actually made it up so that he would not be reprimanded for misplacing his wallet.
Investigations against the subject are still on-going.
Anyone who is convicted for giving any information which he knows to be false to a public servant shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $,5000, or with both.
Commander of Clementi Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Melvin Yong, commended his officers for establishing the truth of the matter. DAC Yong warned that members of public must know the severe consequences of giving false information to the Police.
He said, "In this instance, valuable police resources were totally wasted in the search operations and immediate on-scene investigations. In the current climate of heightened security threats, valuable police resources must not be distracted in attending to such fictitious reports. The Police is here to keep our people safe and to fight real crime".
DAC Yong also reminded youths on the serious consequences of making a false report. He said, "Giving false information to a public servant is a crime and having a criminal record at such a young age would have serious implications for the young offender's future".
