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Singapore Brings First Criminal POFMA Case Since 2019 Over TikTok Videos

Prosecutors say a 2025 TikTok post breached earlier warnings, triggering charges tied to earlier videos.

Overview

  • Jay Ish'haq Rajoo, 59, was charged on Mar 11 with six counts — three under POFMA, two of defamation, and one for attempting to promote racial ill will — and is due back in court on Apr 8.
  • In an Aug 26, 2025 video, he alleged the government uses money and resources to nurture only Chinese leaders, a claim authorities say is false and which promoted ill will between races; a POFMA order followed in September 2025.
  • Two videos from July and August 2023 claimed votes can be traced to penalise voters and that low- and middle-income CPF members repaying HDB loans had not met retirement sums, statements officials say are false.
  • A separate 2023 video allegedly defamed Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong by linking his nomination of Attorney-General Lucien Wong to nepotism and conflict of interest.
  • Police and the POFMA Office say 24-month conditional warnings issued in 2024 over the 2023 posts were breached by the 2025 video, enabling prosecution, with cited maximum penalties of up to S$50,000 and five years’ jail for POFMA offences.