A 26-year-old Indian-origin man, Kokulananthan Mohan, was arrested by the Singaporean authorities on 21 December, following a fake bomb scare at St Joseph’s Church in the Bukit Timah area, according to Channel News Asia. The security scare caused concern among worshippers and the general public and led to the cancellation of Sunday mass services.
According to the news reports, a suspicious item was found in the church premises and the police were alerted. Upon arrival, the officers found an object designed to resemble an explosive device made up of cardboard tubes, pebbles, tapes and wires. Subsequent examination confirmed that the item was fake and contained no explosives, posing no actual threat.
The statement released by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) suggests that the accused, who had been volunteering at the church, was allegedly responsible for placing the item. Authorities said that he was found holding onto the object when the officers came and presented it to them as something he had supposedly found.
Kokulananthan was produced in court on Monday, where he was charged with making a false threat of a terrorist act, an offence treated seriously under Singapore law due to the potential risks it posed. The court remanded that he must undergo a psychiatric assessment for three weeks as part of ongoing proceedings, following which his next court appearance will be held on January 12, 2026.
The accused has been charged under Regulation 8(2)(a) of the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations. Upon conviction, he could face up to 10 years in prison, or a fine of up to SGD 500,000 (approximately USD 386,757) or both.
The Singaporean Police also highlighted that there is no indication of an actual terror plot or religiously motivated attack, adding that the act was allegedly carried out by the individual alone.