Man charged with posting offensive religious remarks
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SINGAPORE – A man accused of posting offensive remarks about Islam on Facebook has been charged with one count of creating and uploading a post with the deliberate intention of wounding Muslims’ religious feelings.
Kho Kwang Po had allegedly posted screenshots of his Facebook posts containing the offensive remarks on April 21, 2021, but left Singapore in 2022 amid police investigations.
Kho was charged after he returned to the Republic in October 2024.
The 85-year-old Singaporean, who appeared in court on Feb 26, is expected to plead guilty on April 9.
In a statement on Feb 25, the police said that Kho is said to have initially posted offensive remarks about Islam in 2016.
He is accused of reposting screenshots of such posts in April 2021. Officers received reports about them in late June that year.
Police added that he left Singapore in January 2022, and returned more than two years later.
Checks by The Straits Times showed that a doctor with the same name made the headlines in 2021
The doctor’s name could no longer be found on the Singapore Medical Council’s database of registered healthcare professionals when ST searched it on Feb 26.
A police spokesperson said: “(We take) a serious view of acts that can damage racial and religious harmony in Singapore.
“Any person who makes remarks or acts in a manner which can cause ill-will and hostility between the different races or religious groups in Singapore will be dealt with firmly.”
If convicted of committing the offence, Kho can be jailed for up to three years and fined.
Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times’ court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts.
