A man has made a police report against a pro-government Facebook page for violating a ban on election advertising during the Bukit Batok by-election.
Mr Augustine Lee accuses Fabrications About The PAP of publishing two Facebook posts on May 7, which was Polling Day.
He alleged that one post had asked people to vote for People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Murali Pillai, and the other post had criticised Mr Murali’s opponent, Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan.
Police confirmed yesterday that a report was made and said they are investigating the matter.
This comes nearly three weeks after an Elections Department officer made a police report against blogger Roy Ngerng, former political detainee Teo Soh Lung and socio-political website The Independent Singapore over online posts made on May 6, Cooling-Off Day, and Polling Day.
In his police report, made on Monday, Mr Lee said one of the posts allegedly said: “Vote Murali because he’s working for you. Not because you are part of a political journey.”
The other allegedly had a quote from former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock, “which criticises… Dr Chee”, said Mr Lee, who sent the police report to the press yesterday.
The posts have been taken down.
Election advertising, which includes posts intended to enhance the standing of a party or candidate or to promote their electoral success, is prohibited on Cooling-Off Day and Polling Day.
The ELD had said this is meant to give voters time to reflect rationally on issues raised before they vote.
Posting election advertising on those days is an offence under the Parliamentary Elections Act. A person found guilty of doing so may be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.
yanliang@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jun 16, 2016.
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