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Tampines Mall "fatal stabbing" (2019)

On 27 August 2019, a video recording of an alleged fatal stabbing at Tampines Mall surfaced on the social media platform, Twitter.

Details of online hoax

 
A screengrab from the video posted by Dr Elmi Zulkarnain Osman. On 28 August 2019, he updated that the video was fake news.[1]

At 11.19 pm on 27 August 2019, Twitter user Dr Elmi Zulkarnain Osman (@elmizulkarnain) posted a 20-second video with the following caption: 

"Alledged fatal stabbing at Tampines Mall. Video circulated via whatsapp without much details given. #Singapore #CrimeScene #TampinesMall"[2]

The video showed a pool of blood and a group of people that had congregated around the crime scene. The victim was being attended to close by. The full video can be viewed here.

The Twitter user claimed that the video originated from WhatsApp with little details provided. From the hashtags and caption, it was alleged that the stabbing had occurred in Tampines Mall, Singapore.

Confirmation of fake news

The location of the fatal stabbing has been debunked. The incident reportedly occurred at Pluit Village Mall, Jakarta on 25 August 2019.[3][4]

Indonesian news reports

Two Indonesian news sites covered the story about a stabbing incident at Pluit Village Mall in North Jakarta on 25 August 2019. The report by Merdeka.com was published on 26 August 2019[5] while TribunJakarta.com reported the incident on 27 August 2019.[6]


According to Merdeka.com, the stabbing incident resulted from a disagreement between two employees of Banainai Restaurant. The 22-year-old perpetrator, Yogi Dawamul Hidayat, has been arrested by the Indonesian police while the 46-year-old victim has been admitted to a hospital in North Jakarta.[7]


On 27th August 2019, TribunJakarta.com reported that Banainai Restaurant was closed for business following the stabbing incident on Sunday night (25 August 2019).[8]

Video analysis

 
A photograph depicting the Granny standing cut-out and the OVO signboard. Photo from TribunJakarta.

Further analysis of the video reveals evidence supporting the claim that the incident occurred in Jakarta and not Singapore.

Banainai Restaurant's "Granny Mascot"

At certain points in the video [timestamp: 0:00 - 0:10], a standing cut-out of a cartoon "grandma" intermittently appears on the left side of the frame.[9] The grandma is reportedly the mascot for Banainai Cafe, appearing frequently on the brand's Facebook page.[10] According to an Indonesian lifestyle review of the restaurant, Banainai is the combination of the words "Banana" and "Nai Nai" which means grandma in Mandarin.[11]


With no outlets in Singapore, Banainai is a Jakarta-based eatery chain that sells Taiwanese-inspired healthy desserts.[12][13][14]

OVO promotional signboard

At one point in the video [timestamp: 0:04 - 0:05], a signboard promoting "20% cashback" can be seen on the left side of the frame.[15] The signboard is part of a promotional campaign created by OVO, an Indonesian digital payment platform. OVO's official website can be viewed here.

OVO has merchant partners across Jakarta[16] and some of these businesses have received identical signboards. On Instagram, two Indonesian businesses, @inacookies_jnccookies_ladifa and @anycurry, posted pictures of the signboard on 11 August 2019[17] and 29 August 2019 respectively.[18] OVO has not been launched in Singapore.

Mall fixtures and music

 
A collage comparing the escalators and floor tiles in Pluit Village Mall (left) and Tampines Mall (right).

The escalators of the mall are in frame from 0:13 to 0:19.[19] The video depicts single one-directional escalators connecting two floors. Meanwhile, Tampines Mall has bi-directional escalators that come in pairs. Additionally, the floor tiles in the video are glossy while Tampines Mall has matte tiles.


According to an observation by Singaporean news site MustShareNews, the loud atmospheric music in the background of the video is not typical of Tampines Mall. The music in the background of the video differs from that of local malls in Singapore.[20]

Related past incidents

When taken at face-value, Singaporeans might find this story believable. Similar past incidents have happened in Singapore. For example, the violent attacks at Cathay Cineleisure in 2012 and 2013. The two incidents happened about 6 months apart.[21][22] This 2019 fake news incident might seem like a resurgence of violence at Singaporean shopping malls.

Cathay Cineleisure slashing (2013)

On 15 June 2013, an NSF was slashed outside Cathay Cineleisure in Singapore. The NSF, Wilson Siau, revealed to Shin Min Daily News that he was ambushed by a group of youths who had commented on his "arrogant" walking style. Following the incident, two individuals were charged for rioting.[23]

Cathay Cineleisure attack (2012)

On 28 December 2012, a 23-year-old man was attacked outside Cathay Cineleisure in Singapore. The victim's head had been reportedly slammed into the ground. The perpetrator of the violent act was charged with causing grievous hurt.[24][25]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ Osman, Elmi Zulkarnain. “Updates: https://mustsharenews.com/tampines-mall-stabbing/… Tampines Mall Stabbing WhatsApp Video Goes Viral, But Incident Occurred At Pluit Village Mall In Indonesia #FakeNews”. Twitter. August 28, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/elmizulkarnain/status/1166369578093445120
  2. ↑ Osman, Elmi Zulkarnain. “Alledged Fatal Stabbing at Tampines Mall. Video Circulated via Whatsapp without Much Details given. #Singapore #CrimeScene #TampinesMall.” Twitter. August 27, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/elmizulkarnain/status/1166369578093445120
  3. ↑ Ronald. “Berawal Dari Cekcok, Pegawai Restoran Di Mall Pluit Village Tusuk Rekan Kerja.” merdeka.com. August 26, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.merdeka.com/jakarta/berawal-dari-cekcok-pegawai-restoran-di-mall-pluit-village-tusuk-rekan-kerja.html
  4. ↑ Putra, Elga Hikari. “Pasca Insiden Penusukan, Restoran Banainai Di Mall Pluit Village Tak Beroperasi.” TribunJakarta.com. August 27, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://jakarta.tribunnews.com/2019/08/27/pasca-insiden-penusukan-restoran-banainai-di-mall-pluit-village-tak-beroperasi
  5. ↑ Ronald. “Berawal Dari Cekcok, Pegawai Restoran Di Mall Pluit Village Tusuk Rekan Kerja.” merdeka.com. August 26, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.merdeka.com/jakarta/berawal-dari-cekcok-pegawai-restoran-di-mall-pluit-village-tusuk-rekan-kerja.html
  6. ↑ Putra, Elga Hikari. “Pasca Insiden Penusukan, Restoran Banainai Di Mall Pluit Village Tak Beroperasi.” TribunJakarta.com. August 27, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://jakarta.tribunnews.com/2019/08/27/pasca-insiden-penusukan-restoran-banainai-di-mall-pluit-village-tak-beroperasi
  7. ↑ Ronald. “Berawal Dari Cekcok, Pegawai Restoran Di Mall Pluit Village Tusuk Rekan Kerja.” merdeka.com. August 26, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.merdeka.com/jakarta/berawal-dari-cekcok-pegawai-restoran-di-mall-pluit-village-tusuk-rekan-kerja.html
  8. ↑ Putra, Elga Hikari. “Pasca Insiden Penusukan, Restoran Banainai Di Mall Pluit Village Tak Beroperasi.” TribunJakarta.com. August 27, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://jakarta.tribunnews.com/2019/08/27/pasca-insiden-penusukan-restoran-banainai-di-mall-pluit-village-tak-beroperasi
  9. ↑ Osman, Elmi Zulkarnain. “Alledged Fatal Stabbing at Tampines Mall. Video Circulated via Whatsapp without Much Details given. #Singapore #CrimeScene #TampinesMall.” Twitter. August 27, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/elmizulkarnain/status/1166369578093445120
  10. ↑ Banainai Indonesia. Facebook. May 24, 2019. Accessed on 11 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/banainai.id/photos/a.648180455374737/1051832768342835/?type=3&theater
  11. ↑ "BANAINAI CAFE – PANTAI INDAH KAPUK". Food in Love. February 24, 2018. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://foodinloveid.com/2018/02/24/banainai-cafe-pantai-indah-kapuk/
  12. ↑ "BANAINAI CAFE – PANTAI INDAH KAPUK". Food in Love. February 24, 2018. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://foodinloveid.com/2018/02/24/banainai-cafe-pantai-indah-kapuk/
  13. ↑ "Banainai Indonesia". Facebook. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/banainai.id/
  14. ↑ "Banainai". Zomato. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.zomato.com/jakarta/banainai-gandaria/info
  15. ↑ Osman, Elmi Zulkarnain. “Alledged Fatal Stabbing at Tampines Mall. Video Circulated via Whatsapp without Much Details given. #Singapore #CrimeScene #TampinesMall.” Twitter. August 27, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/elmizulkarnain/status/1166369578093445120
  16. ↑ "Deals". OVO. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.ovo.id/deals
  17. ↑ @inacookies_jnccookies_ladifa. “Ovo Cashback Promotion for Cookies.” Instagram. August 11, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1BxHNiB3Up/?igshid=ys57sbmbaqu3.
  18. ↑ @anycurry. “20% Cashback for Any Curry’” Instagram. August 29, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1vX9e8hFrD/?igshid=rial6erv1oq3
  19. ↑ Osman, Elmi Zulkarnain. “Alledged Fatal Stabbing at Tampines Mall. Video Circulated via Whatsapp without Much Details given. #Singapore #CrimeScene #TampinesMall.” Twitter. August 27, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/elmizulkarnain/status/1166369578093445120
  20. ↑ The Must Share News Team. “'Tampines Mall Stabbing' WhatsApp Video Goes Viral, But Incident Occurred At Pluit Village Mall In Indonesia.” Must Share News. August 28, 2019. Accessed September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://mustsharenews.com/tampines-mall-stabbing/
  21. ↑ Oon, Jeffrey. "Orchard Cineleisure slashing attack : Nine suspects arrested, two charged". Yahoo!News. June 16, 2013. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/young-man-seriously-injured-in-slashing-attack-at-orchard-cineleisure-160145498.html
  22. ↑ Yahoo! Newsroom. "22-year-old man charged in Orchard Cineleisure attack". Yahoo!News. December 28, 2012. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/youth-injured-in-slashing-attack-at-orchard-cineleisure-042350925.html
  23. ↑ Oon, Jeffrey. "Orchard Cineleisure slashing attack : Nine suspects arrested, two charged". Yahoo!News. June 16, 2013. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/young-man-seriously-injured-in-slashing-attack-at-orchard-cineleisure-160145498.html
  24. ↑ Yahoo! Newsroom. "22-year-old man charged in Orchard Cineleisure attack". Yahoo!News. December 28, 2012. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/youth-injured-in-slashing-attack-at-orchard-cineleisure-042350925.html
  25. ↑ Oon, Jeffrey. "Orchard Cineleisure slashing attack : Nine suspects arrested, two charged". Yahoo!News. June 16, 2013. Accessed on 11 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/young-man-seriously-injured-in-slashing-attack-at-orchard-cineleisure-160145498.html
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