A 37-year-old man was charged on Wednesday (May 13) after allegedly making 1,035 silent phone calls to police hotline numbers within a span of one week.
Foo Jia Hong, a Singaporean, is facing multiple charges including obstructing a public servant in the execution of duties and using another person’s personal information to commit an offence.
Court documents stated that the calls were made between April 21 and April 28 this year to neighbourhood police centre landlines in Yishun, Bedok, Geylang and Ang Mo Kio North.
The Yishun Neighbourhood Police Centre reportedly received the highest volume of calls, with 425 recorded during the period.
Authorities said the repeated calls disrupted the work of 19 police team leaders who were managing operations at the affected stations.
Foo is also accused of using a SIM card registered under another individual’s details to carry out the calls, allegedly taking steps to conceal his identity.
Police said he remained silent during the calls and used a foreign number in an apparent attempt to avoid detection.
He was arrested on May 11 after officers from the Woodlands Police Division identified him.
Investigators said the authorities take a serious view of such acts, which can obstruct emergency and police operations.
If convicted, Foo faces up to six months’ jail or a fine of up to S$2,500, or both, for obstructing a public servant, and up to three years’ jail or a fine of up to S$10,000 for misuse of identity information.
