Key facts
- A 30-year-old man, Ye Lin, has been charged in Singapore.
- He is accused of creating an AI-generated image of a crocodile at Pandan Reservoir.
- The fake image caused authorities to suspend water activities and conduct a search.
- Ye Lin faces charges of communicating a false message and obstructing the course of justice.
- He allegedly deleted the AI-generated images and app log history from his phone.
- Ye Lin intends to plead guilty and will next appear in court on November 10.
A 30-year-old Myanmar national, Ye Lin, has been charged in Singapore with communicating a false message and obstructing justice for creating and disseminating an AI-generated image of a crocodile at Pandan Reservoir. The fabricated image led authorities to suspend water activities and conduct a search for the non-existent reptile.
Ye Lin allegedly sent the AI-generated image to a colleague on August 20, prompting the national water agency PUB to receive a report of a crocodile sighting. In response, water activities at the reservoir were suspended for two days, and PUB, along with the National Parks Board (NParks), launched search-and-capture operations. The Singapore Rowing Association and Singapore Canoe Federation were also instructed to halt all water activities.
On August 21, PUB confirmed that the photograph was fake and filed a police report. Search operations ceased, and water activities resumed on August 22. The police stated that they will take action against individuals who communicate falsehoods, emphasizing that such actions cause public fear, inconvenience, and the unnecessary deployment of resources.
Ye Lin faces two charges: one count of communicating a false message, which carries a jail term of up to three years, a fine of up to S$10,000 (US$7,800), or both; and one count of obstructing the course of justice, which carries a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both. He indicated his intention to plead guilty and will not be engaging a lawyer. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 10.