Man arrested for threatening PM Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook after Abe shooting: report

SINGAPORE — A 45-year-old man was arrested on Friday (8 July) for suspected involvement in inciting violence against Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on a Facebook post about the shooting of former Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe.

CNA reported the police as saying that they received a report at about 3.10pm on Friday regarding a threat inciting violence against PM Lee, made in a comment on the national news broadcaster's Facebook page.

Central Police Division officers established the identity of the Facebook user who posted the comment after follow-up investigations.

Police said that the man was arrested within five hours of the report. CNA reported that a laptop, a tablet and four handphones were seized.

Investigations are ongoing. Anyone convicted of the offence of making or communicating any electronic record containing any incitement to violence faces up to five years’ jail and/or a fine.

PM Lee had posted on his Facebook page on Friday that he "received with a heavy heart" news of Abe's death, after he was shot in Nara prefecture, calling the incident "deeply shocking and distressing".

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.