SINGAPORE — An 18-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man are under investigation over two separate incidents of allegedly taking part in public assemblies last month, the police said on Wednesday (April 1).

In its statement, the police said that neither the man nor the teenager had applied for the necessary police permit before carrying out their activities. The statement did not indicate the relationship between the man and teenager, if any. Both are Singaporean.

The police had first received a report about a Facebook post containing photos of the teenager holding placards with the words "Planet over profit", "School strike 4 climate" and "ExxonMobil kills kittens & puppies” in front of Harbourfront Tower One on March 13. Several of the words on the placards were capitalised.

While investigating the 18-year-old's case, the police established that the man had been involved in a separate incident on March 22, where he had been photographed holding a placard that read "SG is better than oil @fridays4futuresg" in front of Toa Payoh Central Community Club and Toa Payoh Neighbourhood Police Centre. Again, some words on the placard were capitalised.

A photo of the man holding the placard was also circulated on social media, the police said.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, they added. Electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones have been seized in relation to the case.

The police reminded the public that organising or taking part in a public assembly without a police permit in Singapore is illegal, and is an offence under the Public Order Act.

“The Speakers’ Corner is the proper avenue for Singaporeans to express their views on issues that concern them, and to allow Singaporeans to conduct public assemblies without the need for a permit, subject to certain conditions being met.”