Man Charged Over Fake Bomb Threat at Singapore Church
A man from Singapore, who is of Indian origin, was charged in court on Monday. He is accused of making a fake terror threat at a church. This incident caused all church services on Sunday to be cancelled.
What Happened?
The man, Kokulananthan Mohan, is 26 years old. He was charged under special anti-terrorism laws. Police found a strange item at St Joseph's Church in the Upper Bukit Timah area. This area is known for its nice homes.
Court papers say that Kokulananthan put three cardboard rolls inside the church around 7:11 AM. These rolls had small stones and red wires sticking out. Black and yellow tape held them together. Police believe he wanted people to think these items could blow up or catch fire, which could have hurt people or damaged the church.
Police Investigation
The Singapore Police Force said that early checks show the man likely planned the event himself. He placed an item he made that looked like a bomb (an improvised explosive device) inside the church.
Police also stated that Kokulananthan acted alone. They have no proof that he did this because of religion or that it was a real act of terror.
Legal Consequences
- Kokulananthan will be held for three weeks to see a mental health doctor (psychiatric evaluation).
- He will go back to court on January 12.
In court, Kokulananthan said he had been in the hospital before because of alcohol. He also said his actions were due to not getting enough sleep from working night shifts. The judge said these points would be looked at during his mental health check.
If found guilty, Kokulananthan could face serious punishment. This includes:
- Up to 10 years in jail.
- A fine of up to SGD500,000 (which is about USD386,757).
- Or both jail and a fine.
