Lee death hoax boy gets stern warning

A Singaporean boy behind a hoax that triggered premature reports about the death of Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew has been let off with a "stern warning" in lieu of charges, police said on Tuesday.

A screenshot of a "statement" that appeared to be from the website of the Prime Minister's Office announcing Lee's death was widely circulated via social media and mobile messaging services on March 18, five days before Lee died in hospital after a long illness.

A number of international media organizations issued news alerts based on the fake statement that were later retracted.