JOHOR BAHRU: A 45-year-old woman from Singapore, Amyra Laila Ho, has been fined RM1,000 (approximately US$228) for filing a false police report claiming she was nearly kidnapped at KSL City Mall in Johor Bahru.

This incident has sparked public concern and discussions about safety within the region.

Court Appearance and Charges

Ho appeared at the Magistrate Court on January 28, where she pled guilty to the charges under Section 182 of the Penal Code—misleading an officer with false information.

If convicted without a plea, she could have faced a fine of up to RM2,000 or a maximum of six months in prison.

Ho, who has a significant following on Instagram as “Venus Ho,” paid the fine on the same day, avoiding a possible three-week jail sentence.

Incident Details

The controversial event unfolded on January 10 when Ho alleged that a couple promoting tea for the upcoming Chinese New Year had approached her at the mall.

According to her account, the woman coerced her into inhaling the tea, rendering her dizzy and causing her to lose consciousness.

However, thorough investigations, including CCTV footage, revealed that there was no evidence supporting Ho's kidnapping claims.

Police Investigation

Johor Police Chief M Kumar confirmed that no suspicious activity was captured by the surveillance cameras, and the alleged incident did not occur as Ho had described.

He noted that her false claims had inadvertently incited anxiety among locals, stirring fears about safety in Johor Bahru.

Social Media Reaction

On January 14, Ho shared a video on her Instagram, where she documented her account of the alleged incident, attracting significant attention from her followers.

In her video, she claimed the individuals attempted to rob her by force, resulting in injuries severe enough to require a three-day hospital stay.

Attempt to Clarify

After facing backlash, on January 26 Ho attempted to clarify her earlier statements, admitting to misuse of the term “kidnap” and claiming no intention to induce panic.

Despite this, she continued to insinuate that a group exists, exploiting similar tactics to perform robberies under the guise of offering teas.

Public Concern and Safety