Police Raid in Singapore Over Viral TOC Post
Why the Scrutiny?
Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has filed a criminal defamation case against The Online Citizen (TOC) and one of its writers. The trigger? An article titled “The take away from Seah Kian Ping’s Facebook post” that stirred the pot with harsh claims about government integrity.
Key Facts in a Nutshell
- Article published on Sept 4, incorrectly spelling the MP’s name.
- Author identified as Willy Sum.
- Content critiqued MP Seah Kian Peng’s response to a meeting with Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad.
- Accusations landed the post as a defamation hit: “Government officials are corrupt” and “Constitution has been tampered with.”
- TOC was shut down and a “hiatus” announced after confiscating all running equipment.
Police Actions
Senior officers swooped into TOC chief editor Terry Xu’s home. Desktop, laptops, phones—gone, all in a single morning sweep. The police cited the offence of criminal defamation and seized relevant electronic gear.
What’s Next?
Mr Xu was summoned for questioning at the Cantonment Complex that same day. As of 10 pm, the TOC website remained live, but officials say a return date is “not yet confirmed,” pending ongoing investigations.
TOC’s History Snapshot
Founded in 2006, TOC evolved into a volunteer-driven platform. In 2011, it was listed as a political organization but got de‑gazetted in 2018 due to the single‑person run.
Community Reaction
A freelance journalist, Ms Kirsten Han, called out the police questions and highlighted the seriousness of the criminal defamation charge. The entire drama unfolded on social media, with TOC’s Facebook page documenting the event in real time.
Bottom Line
Singapore’s legal system is taking a hard look at online criticism. Whether the whistle‑blowing tone ends in a freedom‑of‑speech triumph or a new precedent for defamation remains to be seen. Stay tuned!
