According to a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on September 29, the Singapore police have charged a Burmese man. The man is accused of posting an image generated by AI, which showed a saltwater crocodile appearing in a popular reservoir.
Ye Lin is accused of sending false information; he is also charged with obstructing justice for deleting the image and the application used. According to local media reports, Ye Lin told the court that he intends to plead guilty.
Authorities claim that the fake image has sparked public concern. Last month, Singapore's national water agency suspended all activities at Singapore's largest reservoir, Banyan Reservoir, after receiving reports of crocodiles.
The Singapore National Water Agency stated that after receiving a alert about the discovery of an alligator at Ban Dan Reservoir on August 20, agency officials and national park staff launched a search and capture operation in the area. The Singapore Rowing Association and the Singapore Canoe Federation were notified and suspended their related activities.
But the next day, the water authority confirmed that the crocodile image was fake and reported it to the police.
It is reported that the case will be heard again in November. If Ye Lin is found guilty, he may face imprisonment and significant fines.
In Singapore, sending false information can result in a maximum sentence of three years in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 52,000 yuan), or both. Hindering justice can lead to a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, a fine, or both.
The Singapore police stated in their statement that Ye Lin used artificial intelligence to create this crocodile photo and then sent it to his colleagues.
Police added, “The man subsequently deleted the photos and related apps in an attempt to cover up his actions.”
It is currently unclear how the Singapore National Water Agency came to know about this fake photo sent by Ye Lin to colleagues.
In fact, Singapore's official concern about crocodiles is not without reason. Media outlets such as the Lianhe Zhibao and Strait Times have reported that the number of crocodile sightings in Singapore’s waters has increased significantly in recent years. The National Park Authority stated that since January 2025, they have received approximately 30 reports of crocodile sightings. In May 2026, a crocodile about 2 meters long was found near Sentosa Lagoon, causing a suspension of water activities on three beaches. The crocodile was eventually captured and humanely killed. In February of the same year, traces of crocodiles were also found near the Changi Naval Base and in the waters around Sentosa.
