POLICE REPORTS FILED AGAINST M RAVI AND IRIS KOH FOR BREACHES OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ACT
The Assistant Returning Officer has lodged Police reports against Ms Iris Koh (Koh) and Mr M Ravi (Ravi) for potential offences committed under the Presidential Elections Act (PrEA) during the cooling-off period for the Presidential Election 2023.
Potential Offences under the PrEA by Koh and Ravi
2 The cooling-off period for the Presidential Election 2023 started from Coolingoff Day (31 August 2023), 12am, and ended with the close of polling on Polling Day (1 September 2023), 8pm. To give voters time to reflect on their choice for President, campaigning activity and election advertising1 are not allowed during the cooling-off period of a Presidential Election. Publishing of election advertising during the coolingoff period is an offence under Section 42C of the PrEA.
3 The Elections Department (ELD) had issued reminders on the prohibition on campaigning activity and election advertising during the cooling-off period, including a press release issued the day before Cooling-off Day (30 August 2023). The press release was also reported in the local media.
4 Despite these reminders, Koh and Ravi repeatedly published online election advertising during the cooling-off period, with content that can reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or prejudice the electoral success of a candidate or to otherwise enhance or prejudice the standing of a candidate.
a) On Cooling-off Day (31 August 2023), Koh published two duplicate videos on TikTok with such content.
b) On the same day, Ravi published Koh’s video on Facebook, as well as three videos on Facebook with such content.
c) On Polling Day (1 September 2023), Ravi published a fifth video and another post on Facebook, both with such content.
5 The Assistant Returning Officer had issued Corrective Directions to TikTok and Meta on 31 August and 1 September 2023, to disable access in Singapore to the two videos by Koh, and the five videos and one post by Ravi. TikTok and Meta had complied with the Corrective Directions.
6 The Assistant Returning Officer has lodged Police reports against Koh and Ravi for potential offences committed under the PrEA. The Police may conduct investigations to establish whether offences have been committed.
1 This includes publishing any online election advertising, which refers to any information or material
online that can reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or prejudice the success of a
candidate at an election.
ISSUED BY
ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
2 October 2023