Andie Tan Kok Yong, a 35-year-old Singaporean, pleaded guilty on Thursday, June 18, to knowingly transmitting a false message after sending an edited image of a burning Marina Bay Sands to Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Facebook page. The message, which falsely claimed a “bomb” at the site, prompted a security response and led to the identification of Tan as the culprit.
The Incident and Legal Consequences
On September 29, 2025, Tan sent the doctored photograph to the Senior Minister’s official Facebook page via messenger at approximately 3:00 p.m. Along with the image, he included a message referencing a “bomb” and unspecified management figures. According to court proceedings, Tan intended to prank the Senior Minister, despite knowing the image was fake and that the message would likely be perceived as a genuine security threat.
An administrator monitoring the page observed the communication and promptly filed a police report, providing a screenshot of the message. In response, authorities instructed Marina Bay Sands security to increase patrols. Tan now faces charges under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act. While the prosecution has requested a sentence of four to eight weeks in jail, a second charge regarding the obstruction of justice—specifically the factory resetting of his mobile phone—will also be factored into the final sentencing.
The defendant, Andie Tan Kok Yong, chose to perform a factory reset on his phone after sending the hoax message, leading to an additional charge of obstructing the course of justice.
Why Security Authorities Take Hoaxes Seriously
The prosecution characterized the act as a bomb hoax, noting that such messages are designed to exploit public anxiety and trigger unnecessary emergency responses. Although the prosecutor acknowledged that the specific transmission was not highly credible, they maintained that the high value of the target building necessitated a swift and formal security intervention. The potential for such false reports to cause major public disruption remains a primary concern for the court, as resources are diverted to manage perceived threats.
The judicial focus on this case highlights the threshold for digital nuisance in Singapore. Even when a threat is deemed “not particularly credible,” the act of weaponizing an official communication channel to simulate a high-stakes security breach forces a mandatory, costly response from authorities, which the court treats as a serious public order violation.
What Happens Next
Sentencing for Tan has been adjourned to a later date. Under current laws, the offense of knowingly transmitting a false message carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both. The final sentence will likely reflect both the original hoax and the subsequent attempt to obstruct justice by wiping his device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the specific content of the message sent to the Senior Minister?
Tan sent an edited image of Marina Bay Sands on fire along with the text: “Bomb $1,500billion++wit management approved of 1st boss not merlion boss of tan jun yan.”
How did the authorities discover who sent the message?
An administrator for the Senior Minister’s Facebook page reported the message to the police. Law enforcement then tracked the communication to identify Tan as the individual responsible.
What is the maximum penalty for this charge?
For knowingly transmitting a false message, a person can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$10,000, or receive both penalties.
How should public figures and their digital administrators balance accessibility with the need to filter increasingly sophisticated or malicious digital hoaxes?
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