Man charged over AI-generated image of crocodile that led to search operations at Pandan Reservoir

The man allegedly deleted the AI-generated images of the crocodile and the log history on an AI app from his mobile phone.

Ye Lin leaves the State Courts on Sep 29, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: A 30-year-old man was charged on Tuesday (Sep 29) over an AI-generated image of a crocodile at Pandan Reservoir that prompted authorities to search for the reptile and suspend water activities there.

Ye Lin, a Myanmar national, was handed two charges — one count of communicating a false message and one count of obstructing the course of justice.

Speaking through an interpreter, he told the court that he intends to plead guilty, and will not be engaging a lawyer.

At about 3pm on Aug 20, Ye Lin allegedly sent an AI-generated image depicting a crocodile at the reservoir to a person named in court documents as Min Min Oo.

The documents did not state their relationship, but the police said in a news release on Monday that Ye Lin had sent the image to his colleague.

The next day, Ye Lin allegedly deleted the AI-generated images and the log history on the Gemini AI app from his mobile phone. This is the basis of the obstructing the course of justice charge.

National water agency PUB had received information on Aug 20 that a crocodile had been sighted at Pandan Reservoir. PUB informed the National Parks Board and both agencies conducted search and capture operations in the area.

The Singapore Rowing Association and Singapore Canoe Federation were also told to suspend all water activities in the reservoir.

On Aug 21, PUB said that the photo of the crocodile had been found to be fake and that a police report was lodged.

Water activities at the reservoir were subsequently resumed.

The police warned on Monday that they will not hesitate to take action against anyone who communicates falsehoods.

"Apart from causing fear and inconvenience to members of the public, such falsehoods also result in public resources being unnecessarily deployed to deal with these incidents," they said.

Ye Lin will return to court on Nov 10.

For communicating a false message, he could be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$10,000 (US$7,800), or both.

The offence of obstructing the course of justice carries a jail term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.

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据称，该男子从手机上的人工智能应用程序中删除了人工智能生成的鳄鱼图像和日志记录。

叶琳于2026年9月29日离开国家法院。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：一名30岁男子于周二（9月29日）被控利用人工智能技术在班丹蓄水池生成鳄鱼图像，该图像引发当局搜寻鳄鱼并暂停该水域的水上活动。

缅甸公民叶林被控两项罪名——一项是传播虚假信息，一项是妨碍司法公正。

他通过翻译告诉法庭，他打算认罪，并且不会聘请律师。

据称，8 月 20 日下午 3 点左右，叶琳向法庭文件中名为 Min Min Oo 的人发送了一张人工智能生成的图像，图像中描绘了水库里的鳄鱼。

文件并未说明他们之间的关系，但警方周一在一份新闻稿中表示，叶林将这张照片发送给了他的同事。

第二天，叶林据称从手机上删除了Gemini AI应用程序生成的AI图像和日志记录。这构成妨碍司法公正罪的依据。

国家水务局（PUB）于8月20日接到线报，称有人在班丹水库发现鳄鱼。PUB随即通知国家公园局，两部门在该地区展开了搜寻和捕捉行动。

新加坡赛艇协会和新加坡皮划艇协会也被要求暂停水库内的所有水上活动。

8月21日，公用事业局表示，鳄鱼照片已被证实为伪造，并已向警方报案。

水库的水上活动随后恢复。

警方周一警告称，对于任何散布虚假信息的人，他们将毫不犹豫地采取行动。

他们表示：“除了给公众造成恐慌和不便之外，此类虚假信息还会导致公共资源被不必要地用于处理这些事件。”

叶琳将于11月10日再次出庭。

他因散布虚假信息，可能被判处最高三年监禁，罚款最高可达 10,000 新元（7,800 美元），或两者并罚。

妨碍司法公正罪最高可判处七年监禁、罚款或两者并罚。

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