S'porean woman, 45, fined S$307 in JB for making false report about being almost kidnapped at KSL City Mall

A 45-year-old Singaporean woman in Malaysia was fined RM1,000 (S$307) on Jan. 28 for filing a false police report after she claimed she was almost kidnapped at KSL City Mall in Taman Abad, a popular shopping mall in Johor Bahru.

Amyra Laila Ho, who also goes by the online moniker Venus Ho, pleaded guilty to a charge of providing false information to a police officer, The Star reported.

The false report was lodged at Larkin police station at about 1:02am on Jan. 22.

Ho was charged at the Magistrate Court, with photos of her in court taken by Malaysia news wire Bernama.

She could have been jailed six months and fined up to RM2,000 (S$614), it was reported.

She did not have a lawyer and has reportedly paid the fine.

In lieu of her fine, she could have received a three-week jail term.

What she claimed

On Jan. 14, Ho shared on her Instagram account with over 8,800 followers, a video of her saying a man had tried to sell her tea, held her right arm, and claimed he was her husband.

She was at that time approached by a man and a woman at the mall on Jan. 10, she added.

The couple were apparently promoting tea.

She alleged that she was forced to inhale the tea, which caused her to feel dizzy and lose consciousness, Johor police told the media on Jan. 27.

However, no abduction occurred, the police confirmed, based on surveillance footage.

“No movement involving the victim was detected at the location,” the police reportedly said.

Video deleted

Ho also claimed she alerted passers-by at the mall after rebuffing the man.

She also alleged that the woman who was with the man took her handbag containing RM400 (S$123).

Ho claimed the two individuals then pushed her before fleeing.

She added that she was hospitalised and sustained a head injury.

Her video has since been removed.

She subsequently alleged that her doctor had told her that she was not the first to have experienced such an incident.

On Jan. 26, Ho claimed she had misused the word “kidnap” in her video and had not wanted to cause panic, The Star reported.

But she stuck to her claims that a group apparently forced victims to inhale certain substances before robbing them.

In response, Johor police warned of strict action against individuals who spread rumours or distort facts to create public anxiety.

Top photos via Venus Ho Facebook & Google Maps