SINGAPORE — The founder of alternative news site Wake Up, Singapore (WUSG) and a woman who fabricated a story about a miscarriage at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) were both fined after pleading guilty to defamation charges. The woman, 28-year-old Ma Su Nandar Htwe, who falsely claimed she suffered a miscarriage at the hospital, was fined $10,000, while WUSG founder Ariffin Iskandar Sha Ali Akbar, 27, was fined $8,000 for publishing the false story.

The fabricated account sent by Ma Su to WUSG via Instagram was published without waiting for confirmation from KKH. Both pleaded guilty to a count of defamation each, with the court noting that their actions harmed public trust in the healthcare system during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Fabricated Story

On March 21, 2022, Ma Su, a Singapore permanent resident originally from Myanmar, sent a message to WUSG’s Instagram account, falsely claiming that she had experienced a miscarriage at KKH. According to her made-up account, she was around 20 weeks pregnant and tested positive for Covid-19. She described being turned away from multiple hospitals before seeking treatment at KKH. Her story included claims that she was left unattended while experiencing heavy bleeding, and that her baby was improperly handled by the hospital.

She further alleged that her placenta was not fully removed, requiring her to undergo surgery later. In reality, however, she was discharged from KKH in good health and gave birth to a healthy baby in July 2022. The court documents revealed that Ma Su invented the story out of boredom, aiming to stir up “drama.”

Publication and Repercussions

Upon receiving Ma Su’s message, Ariffin requested supporting documents, to which she provided a medical receipt from KKH. Without waiting for a formal response from the hospital, Ariffin published the story on WUSG’s website and social media platforms on March 23, 2022. The post, titled “The baby is probably dead,” was picked up by other news outlets, amplifying the false narrative.

KKH immediately conducted an internal investigation and found significant discrepancies between the woman’s account and hospital records. When KKH representatives tried to contact Ma Su, she initially avoided their calls and claimed to have legal advice instructing her not to discuss the case.

On March 25, KKH lodged a police report. Ariffin subsequently learned about the police involvement from media reports, leading him to contact Ma Su, who admitted that her entire story was fabricated. Ariffin then took down the false story from WUSG’s platforms and issued a public apology to KKH.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Sim argued that both Ma Su and Ariffin’s actions had undermined public confidence in Singapore’s healthcare system, especially during the challenging period of the pandemic when healthcare workers were under immense pressure.

District Judge Shawn Ho noted that the publication of false claims about a miscarriage at KKH damaged trust in the hospital, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense. The judge also pointed out that both individuals acted irresponsibly in a time of heightened public concern due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Ma Su was fined $10,000, while Ariffin received an $8,000 fine. Both could face jail time of up to two years if they fail to pay their fines.

In response to the case, the Ministry of Health issued a correction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), ensuring that the false information was publicly retracted.