NSP lodges police report over 'Katonggate' break-in
The National Solidarity Party (NSP) have filed a police report after claiming that four strangers entered their office premises located Katong without permission on Tuesday (Aug 25) night.
The beleaguered opposition party, which has been rocked in recent weeks by the loss of potential candidates, said in a Facebook post that the quartet were seen taking photographs and videos of their plans for the upcoming general election.
When approached by an "eyewitness", the unknown persons claimed they were from the media.
NSP labelled the incident Katonggate, likening it to the 1970s' US Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, a Republican, after five burglars who were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee's offices at the Watergate complex were linked back to Nixon's presidential re-election committee.
According to a comment made by the NSP's official Facebook account, "sensitive information" had been left on a whiteboard following a party meeting on Monday.
While nothing was stolen or damaged, the party said it had filed a police report and made CCTV footage, showing the four intruders, available to authorities for investigation.
The NSP has been beset by problems in the lead-up to the upcoming polls on Sept 11.
Acting secretary-general Hazel Poa resigned from the party after its central executive council (CEC) made a u-turn on a decision to allow the Workers' Party face the People's Action Party unchallenged in the contest for MacPherson SMC.
Mr Steve Chia, who has been earmarked to lead NSP's bid for MacPherson, later announced that he would not be running in the SMC after receiving abuse online, highlighting a profile of himself created by online trolls meant to smear his reputation.
Party president Sebastian Teo was also discredited in a similar manner, forcing him to make an attempt to clear the air on social media.
CEC member Mohamed Fazli Talip then announced his resignation after Mr Chia's withdrawal from MacPherson.
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