SINGAPORE: In the first such prosecution, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has fined a man S$12,000 for posting e-vaporiser-related content on his social media accounts.
Krish Khalifa, 26, who goes by the online moniker Rapperboya, was fined an additional $2,000 for the possession of vapes on multiple occasions between 2023 and 2024.
On Wednesday (Dec 17), Khalifa pleaded guilty to five vape-related charges – two of possession and three for promoting the use of tobacco imitation products.
He also pleaded guilty to other offences including relinquishing his bank accounts to launder scam proceeds, and committing a rash act. He was jailed for these offences.
In a statement on Dec 17, HSA said it began investigating Khalifa after receiving complaints from members of the public about TikTok videos he posted which showed him vaping.
According to court documents, Khalifa made a post on TikTok on July 20, 2024, showing him holding onto an e-vaporiser while sleeping.
“(He) admitted that he uploaded the post, knowing that it depicted him holding onto the e-vaporiser while sleeping, as a response to a comment in one of his previous videos where he spoke about being caught for a vape-related offence.
“He did so as he thought it would be funny,” said HSA prosecutor Vishnu Aditya Naidu.
On Sept 10, 2024, Khalifa uploaded a music video on his TikTok account, which showed him using a vape at various points. He admitted that the vape belonged to him.
Investigations revealed that Khalifa had posted a total of nine videos and photographs of him holding or using e-vaporisers in public places and at home on his social media channels, said HSA.
“These posts on the social media accounts are essentially advertisements published by the accused, depicting (him) using (and) encouraging the use of imitation tobacco products,” said the prosecutor.
Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA), content encouraging the use of e-vaporisers can constitute an advertisement for a prohibited tobacco product.
A check by The Straits Times revealed that Khalifa has since deactivated his TikTok account.
HSA said it has intensified surveillance and enforcement action against the advertising of e-vaporisers on digital platforms.
From Jan 1 to Nov 30, 38 people were fined for posting photos or videos of e-vaporisers on social media.
Norman Chong, Director of HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch, said: “The promotion of e-vaporisers on social media platforms may normalise the use of these banned products and influence the public, especially youths, to experiment with vaping.
“HSA takes a zero-tolerance approach and will continue active surveillance and take firm enforcement action against those who promote e-vaporisers.”
For promoting the use of tobacco products and imitation tobacco products, an offender can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.
For subsequent offences, a person can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to a year, or both. - The Straits Times/ANN
