Singapore Charges Indian-Origin Man for False Terror Threat at Church with Fake Device

An Indian-origin Singaporean, Kokulananthan Mohan, was charged on Monday for making a false terrorist threat after a suspicious object was discovered at St Joseph’s Church in the Upper Bukit Timah area, an upscale residential region in Singapore. The incident, which occurred on Sunday morning, forced church officials to cancel all services for the day.

According to police reports, the 26-year-old allegedly placed three cardboard rolls filled with pebbles and featuring protruding red wires, secured with black and yellow tape, inside the church premises at around 7:11 a.m. Authorities stated that the item was designed to look like an improvised explosive device and was intended to induce fear or panic.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) clarified that preliminary investigations suggest Kokulananthan acted alone. There is no evidence that the incident was motivated by religion or actual terrorism. Officials emphasized that the act was staged to create a false impression of danger, rather than to cause real harm.

Also Read: Four College Students Arrested for Blocking School Van, Threatening Class 12 Student

Kokulananthan was remanded for three weeks for psychiatric evaluation, with a return court date set for January 12. During the hearing, he explained that some of his prior hospital admissions were alcohol-related and attributed his recent behavior to lack of sleep due to working night shifts. The judge noted that these factors could be discussed further during the psychiatric assessment.

If convicted, Kokulananthan faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to SGD 500,000 (approximately USD 386,757), or both. Authorities continue to investigate the motives behind the incident, and police stress that public safety measures remain a priority to prevent similar cases in the future.

Also Read: Jalandhar Schools Evacuated Over Bomb Threat Emails