Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Number of Swatting Cases With the Intention to Harass Reported to Spf in the Past Three Years

Question:

Mr Murali Pillai: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) for each of the past three years, what is the number of swatting cases that have been reported to the Police on prank calls to emergency services to direct attention at a particular address with a view to harass the occupant or a person who has a connection with the property at the address; and (b) whether, having regard to the additional aggravating harassment element in such conduct, there is a need to update the laws to deal with persons engaged in swatting.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1. The Police does not track reports of ‘swatting’ cases.

2. Our laws are adequate to deal with persons engaged in swatting. Depending on the facts of a case, a person who engages in swatting may be charged under section 14D of the Miscellaneous Offence (Public Order and Nuisance) Act for communicating a message that he knows to be false. This person may also be charged under section 268A of the Penal Code for communicating false information of a harmful thing, or section 182 of the Penal Code for communicating false information with the intent to cause a public servant to use lawful power to the injury or annoyance of another person. Upon conviction for any of these offences, the person may be subject to a fine, imprisonment or both.