Press Note
Singapore
Source by:- CNA News Hub
22 December 2025, 7:41 AM
Man charged with making false terrorist threat at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah
“He is believed to have acted alone and there is currently no evidence to suggest that it was a religiously motivated attack or an act of terror,” police said
A 26-year-old man was charged with making a false terrorist threat on Dec 22, 2025, following an incident at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah.
SINGAPORE: A 26-year-old Singaporean man who was arrested after a suspicious item was found at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah was charged with making a false terrorist threat on Monday (Dec 22).
Kokulananthan Mohan was charged with an offence under Regulation 8(2)(a) of the United Nations (Anti-terrorism Measures) Regulations.
According to charge sheets, he is accused of placing three cardboard rolls “filled with stone pebbles and sporting protruding red wires, held together using black and yellow adhesive tapes” in the church at about 7.11am on Sunday.
This was allegedly done with the intention of inducing a Richard Lee Leong Hee to a false belief that the item was likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the man had allegedly staged the incident by placing a self-fabricated item which resembled an improvised explosive device within the church premises,” the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a statement on Monday.
“He is believed to have acted alone and there is currently no evidence to suggest that it was a religiously motivated attack or an act of terror.”
He was remanded for three weeks for psychiatric evaluation and will return to court on Jan 12.
Man charged with making false terrorist threat at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah
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Man charged with making false terrorist threat at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah
“He is believed to have acted alone and there is currently no evidence to suggest that it was a religiously motivated attack or an act of terror,” police said.
Man charged with making false terrorist threat at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah
A 26-year-old man was charged with making a false terrorist threat on Dec 22, 2025, following an incident at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah.
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22 Dec 2025 07:41AM (Updated: 22 Dec 2025 10:09AM)
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SINGAPORE: A 26-year-old Singaporean man who was arrested after a suspicious item was found at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah was charged with making a false terrorist threat on Monday (Dec 22).
Kokulananthan Mohan was charged with an offence under Regulation 8(2)(a) of the United Nations (Anti-terrorism Measures) Regulations.
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According to charge sheets, he is accused of placing three cardboard rolls “filled with stone pebbles and sporting protruding red wires, held together using black and yellow adhesive tapes” in the church at about 7.11am on Sunday.
This was allegedly done with the intention of inducing a Richard Lee Leong Hee to a false belief that the item was likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the man had allegedly staged the incident by placing a self-fabricated item which resembled an improvised explosive device within the church premises,” the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a statement on Monday.
“He is believed to have acted alone and there is currently no evidence to suggest that it was a religiously motivated attack or an act of terror.”
He was remanded for three weeks for psychiatric evaluation and will return to court on Jan 12.
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When informed that the prosecution sought to have him remanded for medical evaluation, Kokulananthan initially said there was a “miscommunication” as his previous admission to hospital was alcohol-related, and this issue was resolved.
The judge said that the psychiatric evaluation requested was in view of the investigation officer’s observations of Kokulananthan’s conduct and behaviour during the arrest and police operations.
Kokulananthan then said that the reason for the behaviour observed by the police was a “lack of sleep” as he works the night shift. The judge said he could explain this to the psychiatrist during the medical evaluation.
If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years’ jail, a fine of up to S$500,000 (US$386,757), or both.
WHAT HAPPENED
The church along Upper Bukit Timah Road was evacuated on Sunday morning after police received a call for assistance at about 7.10am regarding a suspicious item.
When the police arrived, the suspect, who is a church volunteer, said he had discovered a suspicious item in a drain within the church premises.
“Thereafter, he immobilised himself and held on to the suspicious item,” the police said in a Facebook update on Sunday evening.
The suspect was subsequently arrested under Regulation 8(2)(a) of the United Nations (Anti-terrorism Measures) Regulations.
In the interest of public safety, the police secured the area while the premises were evacuated. The police also activated the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group to conduct further assessment.
“Following thorough checks, the item, which resembled an improvised explosive device, was assessed at about 10.40am to be three cardboard rolls and wires taped with black tape with no explosive elements present. It was subsequently removed from the scene by the police.
The police cordon at the location was lifted at 5.10pm and no injuries were reported.
All mass services planned for Sunday were cancelled. The church said in an update that masses will resume “as per normal” from Monday.
RNI:- MPBIL/25/A1465
Devashish Tokekar
VANDE Bharat live tv news Nagpur
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Indian Council of press,Nagpur
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