The Judiciary Police (PJ) said in a statement this week that it had recently noticed remarks written on an online photo of five people including Public Security Police (PSP) officers and outsourced cleaners from the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) wearing protective clothing, claiming that the people in the photo had been infected with the COVID-19 virus.
According to the statement, the photo was uploaded recently on a social media app with the remarks, and the Judiciary Police later confirmed that the message was untrue. The statement underlined that the message’s content is suspected to have breached Article 26 of the Civil Protection Framework Law No. 11/2020. The Judiciary Police are investigating the incident, pointing out that anyone who disseminates false information faces criminal charges, according to the statement.
The Judiciary Police urged the public not to fabricate or circulate false information with the intention of creating panic or unease, during a public emergency in particular. Offenders could be held criminally liable for their actions and be sentenced to a prison term of up to three years. Residents should stay abreast of official information and not believe hearsay, the statement said.
Meanwhile, an online message that has been circulating online again claiming that staff from the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre wearing white protective clothing would ring the doorbell and offer to disinfect residents’ flats is fake, the Judiciary Police (PJ) said in a statement last night.
According to the PJ statement, the police suspect that the bogus message is being sent by criminals planning to impersonate the centre’s disinfection staff so that they can enter residents’ flats to steal their valuables.
The statement said that the police have not received any cases concerning the message but reminded the public that if they face a similar situation, they should not open the door to let strangers in.
The statement also urged residents not to forward such messages, in order to avoid creating unnecessary rumours or panic. In case that strangers ring their doorbell, residents should notify the building management office staff and family members immediately. The statement also urged residents not to disclose their personal information to strangers.
According to the statement, if residents come across strangers claiming to be staff members of the centre requesting to enter their home, they should immediately call their building management office or the centre’s enquiry hotline on 2870 0800.
Residents should also call the police at once for help if they are confronted with such a situation.
The message above the photo provided by the Judiciary Police on Wednesday urges the public “not to create, spread and believe in rumours, so as not to be held criminally responsible for them”.
