A 61-year-old Singaporean man, Tan Keng Hwee, was charged in court on Saturday, 27 September, with one count of deliberately intending to wound the racial feelings of a person.
Tan is accused of sending a piece of pork accompanied by an offensive note to Al-Istiqamah Mosque, located at Serangoon North Avenue 2, sometime before Wednesday.
Court documents state the envelope was placed in a location visible to a Malay man, heightening the potential impact of the act.
Tan was arrested on 25 September and has since been remanded. The court granted permission for him to be taken out for further investigations. He is scheduled to return to court on 3 October.
If convicted under Section 298 of the Penal Code, he faces up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Police investigation and preliminary findings
According to a police statement released on 27 September, authorities were alerted to a suspicious parcel at Al-Istiqamah Mosque on 24 September at approximately 5.20pm.
The Singapore Police Force confirmed that the package contained a piece of pork, a substance considered haram in Islam.
While the police did not name the mosque in their official statement, Al-Istiqamah Mosque was identified in earlier media coverage of the incident.
Police officers from the Bedok Police Division and the Criminal Investigation Department were able to determine the suspect’s identity through ground enquiries and surveillance footage obtained from police cameras.
According to media reports, preliminary investigations suggest the man may be involved in multiple similar incidents at other mosques across Singapore. The authorities have not yet confirmed how many other cases are under investigation.
Evacuation and public response
As a precautionary measure, Al-Istiqamah Mosque was evacuated on 24 September following the discovery of the suspicious package.
One individual was assessed by Singapore Civil Defence Force officers for breathlessness and taken to Sengkang General Hospital. The person has since been discharged.
No hazardous substances were detected at the mosque, according to SCDF and police reports.
Home Affairs Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, K. Shanmugam, visited the mosque on 25 September and addressed the media.
He described the act as inflammatory, stating:
“Whatever the motive, this is playing with fire. We are treating this matter very seriously. We will deal firmly with anyone found responsible.”
He further warned that such incidents could erode social trust and deepen divisions between racial and religious communities in Singapore.
Wider condemnation and national security concerns
The incident has drawn condemnation from various religious leaders and government bodies.
In its public statement, the Singapore Police Force emphasised:
“The police take a very serious view of acts that threaten Singapore’s racial and religious harmony.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance on actions that attempt to undermine the country’s multiracial fabric.
Religious organisations, including those representing other faiths, have also expressed solidarity with the affected Muslim community and urged calm in the wake of the events.
Authorities are continuing investigations into possible links between the suspect and other similar offences at different locations.
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