The Singaporean government has issued a Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Correction Direction against the Plan B podcast show.
This move came in response to a series of podcast episodes (#614, #615, and #616) aired on Spotify, featuring an interview with James Raj Arokiasamy, also known as “The Messiah.”
The Correction Direction aims to address false claims made during these episodes, shedding light on the facts surrounding James Raj’s legal history and allegations.
Here is the full story:
Background on “The Messiah” – James Raj Arokiasamy:
James Raj Arokiasamy, widely recognized by his online alias, “The Messiah,” gained notoriety as a hacker who claimed affiliation with the hacktivist group “Anonymous.”
His activities included a series of hacking incidents in late 2013, which drew significant attention. However, his history with the law extends beyond hacking allegations.
Brushes with the Law:
According to the gov.sg website here are the facts.
- In 2011, James Raj was arrested on drug-related charges. While on bail, he absconded from Singapore and sought refuge in Malaysia.
- During his time as a fugitive in Malaysia, James Raj was involved in computer misuse activities between March and November 2013.
- On November 4, 2013, he was arrested in Malaysia for drug offenses and subsequently repatriated to Singapore.
- In 2015, James Raj received a sentence of 4 years and 8 months’ imprisonment for offenses committed under the then-Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act (“CMCA”) and the Misuse of Drugs Act (“MDA”). During his imprisonment, he spent a total of 3 years incarcerated, of which 2 years were under remand due to his refusal to cooperate with investigations.
- After his release, James Raj was involved in an altercation in 2021, which resulted in a stern warning for causing harm.
The Correction Direction was issued by the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Law in response to false claims made during the podcast episodes and related Instagram content.
These falsehoods include:
- Falsehood #1: Authorities did not press charges against James Raj due to fear of retaliation.
- Fact: He received a stern warning for an altercation; charges were not avoided due to fear of retaliation.
- Falsehood #2: James Raj was isolated in remand.
- Fact: He was housed with other inmates, had family visits, and met with lawyers; isolation was rare.
- Falsehood #3: James Raj was arrested for protesting Internet censorship.
- Fact: He was initially wanted for drug offenses, not Internet censorship protests.
- Falsehood #4: A plea deal was offered to hide hacking abilities.
- Fact: He faced 161 charges, 40 proceeded, standard practice, not a cover-up.
- Falsehood #5: James Raj hacked into Singapore Land Authority’s systems.
- Fact: No evidence of SLA breach; he scanned, didn’t hack.
- Falsehood #6: Claims of hacking into MINDEF systems.
- Fact: MINDEF confirms no breach by James Raj.
“It has come to our attention that a member of public, James Raj Arokiasamy had claimed to have hacked into MINDEF on a podcast by Plan B which aired on 6 Sep. This is untrue. MINDEF’s systems were neither hacked nor compromised as claimed”.
POFMA Correction Direction:
The Correction Direction requires Plan B to insert a notice with a link to the Government’s clarification in each original post. The public is advised against speculating and spreading unverified rumors, as the government takes a strong stance against the deliberate communication of malicious falsehoods.
In summary, the POFMA Correction Direction seeks to address the dissemination of false information regarding James Raj Arokiasamy’s legal history and allegations, ensuring accurate information reaches the public.
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