SINGAPORE: Twenty-two men had been on Wednesday (Jul 6) charged with obstructing the course of justice by showing off WhatsApp talk groups about ongoing law enforcement operations.
The men are accused of delivering the messages understanding that the chat team members would likely take steps to prevent the detection of offences in the region.
Sixteen of the men allegedly delivered their messages to a chat group known as “Night Owl” between January and April 2019, from past due at night to the earlier hours of the early morning.
The men are: Abdul Hadi Zainuddin, Mervin Yeoh Wei Kian, Muhammad Rashidi Rashid, Muhammad Rasyidi Safiee, Daniel Seet Joo Tong, Muhammad Azhar Dawood, Goh Wei Jie, Brandon Chung, Muhammad Ikhmal Bin Ismail, Ang Whay Chong, Ong Wee Sen, Wilson Soon Jien Yang, Jeffrey Goh Hock Soon, Ilex Bronze, Lim Poh Kian and B Barathkrishnan. They are aged twenty nine to 49.
The alleged messages, detailed in charge linens, appeared to name massage parlours and discos where raids had been taking place, including vehicle number plates, plus locations and amounts of enforcement officers.
Another group of three men are accused associated with sending similar communications to a chat team called “UncleValet” upon Feb 1, 2020. Lim Wei Xiong, Mah Chee Kean and Lim Track Huat are from the ages of 33 to forty-four.
Two a lot more men – Yam Jianwen, 27, and Raymund Reuben Mervyn, 42 – allegedly sent similar communications to the “Rolex Movement” chat group in April 2019.
One of the messages, apparently sent by Mervyn, read: “My get in touch with informed me they have CNB operation next three days tropical isle wide, ” mentioning the Central Narcotics Bureau.
The rest of the man, Chua Yong Dan, 32, allegedly sent similar messages to a chat team with a Chinese title that translates to “artillery regiment” on Feb 6, 2020.
Anyone convicted associated with intentionally obstructing the particular course of justice could be jailed for up to seven years, fined or even both.