SINGAPORE’S Infocomm Media Development Authority will get service providers to block the website of a Malaysian rights group that alleged prisons in the republic use unlawful methods for executions, reported The Straits Times yesterday.

Quoting the Communications and Information Ministry, it said the action is being taken after Lawyers for Liberty (LfL) did not comply with a correction direction issued under Singapore’s anti-fake news law over a statement on the group’s website on Wednesday.

“The correction direction issued to LfL requires that the facts be juxtaposed against the falsehoods, so that end users in Singapore can read both versions and draw their own conclusions,” said the ministry.

The report said LfL claimed that Singaporean prison officers are instructed to kick the back of an inmate’s neck with great force to break it if the rope snaps during a hanging, and that the government approves of such “unlawful methods”.

The Home Ministry has refuted the allegations, calling them “untrue, baseless and preposterous”.

LfL, in its response on Wednesday, said it will not comply with the “unlawful and oppressive” correction notice, and asked Singapore to withdraw it.

The group was quoted as saying the statement on its website is based on evidence given by former and current Singaporean prison officers with “impeccable” service records. – Bernama, January 24, 2020.