Man stabs himself and makes false police report about it

SINGAPORE - Police are investigating a 24-year-old man for lodging a false police report of armed robbery which supposedly took place at Lower Seletar Reservoir Park.

On Nov 22, 2013 at about 12.25am, the man called the police informing that an unknown man wearing goggles, a wetsuit, and toe-shoes had robbed him of over $500 cash at the park.

He alleged that during the struggle, the man stabbed him in the leg before fleeing with the loot by jumping into the reservoir.

Upon receiving the report, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division conducted investigations into the case, and subsequently established that the victim had made a false report on the alleged offence.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the man was suffering from home- and work-related stress which led him to stab himself.

To get himself treated for his injuries, he staged the bizarre robbery.

Police have recovered the knife from the man and he is receiving treatment for his injuries in hospital.

Investigations against the man are on-going.

Anyone convicted for giving any information which he knows to be false to a public servant shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or a fine which may extend to $5,000, or both.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Keok Tong San commended his officers' investigative acumen in establishing the credibility of the report.

He warned that those who lodge a false police report not only face serious consequences under the law, doing so also impedes police responses to real crimes and emergencies.

spanaech@sph.com.sg