Indian-Origin Activist Faces Investigation for Defying Fake News Law

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Indian-Origin Activist Faces Investigation for Defying Fake News Law

A Singaporean activist, Kokila Annamalai, is under investigation for refusing to comply with a correction directive related to her statements on the legal processes for death row inmates, particularly concerning the execution of Mohammad Azwan Bohari on October 4. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a correction order on October 5, which Kokila has ignored despite reminders.

Under Singapore's Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 (Pofma), failing to comply can result in fines or imprisonment. Kokila has not contested the order in court but maintains her posts did not contain falsehoods. The MHA clarified that the order does not restrict her right to express her views; instead, it requires her to add links to official government statements for context.

Kokila's statements suggested that the government arbitrarily schedules executions and does not bear the burden of proof in drug trafficking cases. The MHA rebutted this, stating that executions occur only after all legal avenues have been exhausted and emphasized the government's obligation to correct false public statements. Kokila believes her statements are valid and has chosen not to appeal the order to avoid compliance, expressing skepticism about receiving fair treatment. 

The MHA also noted that her organization, the Transformative Justice Collective, complied with similar directives, emphasizing that the government does not target anti-death penalty advocates but insists on factual discourse regarding significant public interests.

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