A 32-year-old man, who allegedly leaked information about Covid-19 measures for sport and physical activities to a WhatsApp chat group, has been arrested under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

The police received a report about the leak on May 18.

The leak pertained to information about the suspension of sport, physical activity classes and programmes catering to children and youth aged 18 years and below from May 19 until June 13.

This information became made known to some members of the public before it was officially released by Sport Singapore, the police said in a news release on May 30.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is a public servant and an authorised recipient of the safe management measures for sport and physical activities.

The police said he had allegedly shared the information via WhatsApp on May 16 with members of a private WhatsApp chat group who were not authorised to receive the classified information.

The information was further disseminated by other members from the chat group, resulting in the wider circulation of the classified information before it was officially released.

At least six people have been charged under the OSA for unauthorised or wrongful communication of information so far since the start of the pandemic.

Those found guilty of wrongful communication of information under the OSA face a fine of up to S$2,000 and up to two years’ jail.

The police said unauthorised recipients should delete and not further circulate any confidential information received.

Or else, they may also be liable under the Official Secrets Act.