SINGAPORE - The police are investigating a man who is believed to have provided them with false information.

On Tuesday (May 16) at about 11.50pm, the 57-year-old told police that an unknown man had attacked and robbed him of of his cash at Block 621A, Edgefield Walk.

After officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division investigated the case, they detected several inconsistencies and eventually concluded that the man was not telling the truth.

Investigations against the man are ongoing.

Anyone convicted of giving information which he knows to be false to a public servant faces imprisonment of up to a year, a fine of up to $5000, or both.

Said the police in a media release on Wednesday evening: "Police resources could have been put to better use in dealing with real crimes and emergencies than investigating into false reports or false information.

"Those who lodge false police reports or provide false information will be dealt with under the law."