Police probe fake online news report

The police are looking into a fake online news report about satirical group SMRT Ltd (Feedback).

The viral report used a photograph of Mr Geoffrey See, the managing director of a non-profit body.

The caption under Mr See's picture said "the man behind SMRT Ltd (Feedback), a satirical and online vigilante Facebook group, was arrested in a police raid at Arab Street".

SMRT Ltd (Feedback) has been in the news recently for targeting Mr Jover Chew, owner of a mobile phone shop in Sim Lim Square accused of dodgy sales tactics.

The group published Mr Chew's information on its Facebook page.

Mr See, 29, said he is not from SMRT Ltd (Feedback) and that the fake report caused considerable embarrassment and distress among his family and friends.

It is not clear who was behind the fake report, which also mimicked the appearance of The Straits Times website.

The photo of Mr See was published in the newspaper in March along with a report about his company.

Mr Lau Kok Keng of law firm Rajah & Tann said the allegations which refer to the man in the picture are "clearly defamatory" of Mr See, while copyright also appears to have been infringed by the unauthorised reproduction of ST's website format and its photograph.

It could be difficult to track down the culprits, given how they might have used fictitious details to create the spoof.

The article about Mr See was taken down yesterday at his request.

"This is a rude awakening about Internet rumour mongering and its potential dangers," he said.

This article was first published on November 12, 2014.
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