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| Singaporean influencer fined by Malaysia court for false abduction claim | |
| (12 days later) | |
| Johor Bahru lies on Malaysia's end of a one-kilometre border crossing to Singapore and is popular among budget shoppers | Johor Bahru lies on Malaysia's end of a one-kilometre border crossing to Singapore and is popular among budget shoppers |
| A Malaysian court has fined a Singaporean influencer for falsely claiming that she was nearly kidnapped at a mall near the border with Singapore. | A Malaysian court has fined a Singaporean influencer for falsely claiming that she was nearly kidnapped at a mall near the border with Singapore. |
| A post by beauty influencer Amyra Laila Ho went viral after she claimed that a couple tried to abduct her after forcing her to sniff tea leaves that left her feeling dizzy and numb. | A post by beauty influencer Amyra Laila Ho went viral after she claimed that a couple tried to abduct her after forcing her to sniff tea leaves that left her feeling dizzy and numb. |
| However, police said their investigations disproved her claim, which went viral and sparked discussions about security in Johor Bahru. | However, police said their investigations disproved her claim, which went viral and sparked discussions about security in Johor Bahru. |
| Johor Bahru lies at one end of a causeway linking the southern tip of Malaysia to Singapore. It's one of the world's busiest border crossings, with about 300,000 commuters passing through daily. | Johor Bahru lies at one end of a causeway linking the southern tip of Malaysia to Singapore. It's one of the world's busiest border crossings, with about 300,000 commuters passing through daily. |
| Ho pleaded guilty to providing false information to a police officer and was fined 1,000 ringgit ($228; £183), which she immediately paid, Singaporean and Malaysian media said. | Ho pleaded guilty to providing false information to a police officer and was fined 1,000 ringgit ($228; £183), which she immediately paid, Singaporean and Malaysian media said. |
| Ho's post where she detailed the alleged abduction attempt also appears to have been taken down from her Instagram account, which is under the name Venus Ho. | Ho's post where she detailed the alleged abduction attempt also appears to have been taken down from her Instagram account, which is under the name Venus Ho. |
| She had claimed that the abduction attempt happened after she refused to buy tea leaves from the couple. | She had claimed that the abduction attempt happened after she refused to buy tea leaves from the couple. |
| She added that they then tried to abduct her. The man held her arm and pretended to be her husband while the woman took her bag containing 400 ringgit. | She added that they then tried to abduct her. The man held her arm and pretended to be her husband while the woman took her bag containing 400 ringgit. |
| She said her alleged attackers fled and pushed her to the floor when passersby started noticing what was happening. | She said her alleged attackers fled and pushed her to the floor when passersby started noticing what was happening. |
| "Based on CCTV recordings and technical evidence, no movement involving the victim was detected at the location," M Kumar, police chief for Johor state, which includes the city of Johor Bahru, told reporters. | "Based on CCTV recordings and technical evidence, no movement involving the victim was detected at the location," M Kumar, police chief for Johor state, which includes the city of Johor Bahru, told reporters. |
| Malaysian police said that after Ho posted about the alleged abduction attempt, "social media influencers also commented on the issue, framing it as a threat to the safety of tourists visiting Johor". | Malaysian police said that after Ho posted about the alleged abduction attempt, "social media influencers also commented on the issue, framing it as a threat to the safety of tourists visiting Johor". |
| Police added that strict action would be taken against "anyone who deliberately spreads rumours or manipulates facts to cause public anxiety, particularly concerning safety issues". | Police added that strict action would be taken against "anyone who deliberately spreads rumours or manipulates facts to cause public anxiety, particularly concerning safety issues". |
| Singapore and Malaysia recently designated Johor Bahru as a special economic zone, where they hope to attract more investments. | Singapore and Malaysia recently designated Johor Bahru as a special economic zone, where they hope to attract more investments. |