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Taxi Crashes Into Historic Temple in Marne Road

A 72-year-old taxi driver is assisting police with investigations following a crash involving his cab into the Far Kor Sun Monkey God Temple on Marne Road. The incident occurred on January 16, 2025, at around 2:50 PM. A 49-year-old female pedestrian was injured in the accident and was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, conscious, by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The taxi, believed to belong to the SMRT fleet, reportedly skidded before crashing into the temple. Videos circulating on TikTok captured the aftermath, showing onlookers gathered at the scene. One video, shared by a user, speculated whether it was part of a movie shoot before realizing it was an accident. The crash caused significant damage to the Far Kor Sun Monkey God Temple, which has been operating since 1959. The temple’s president, Mr. Heng Thiam Swee, described the damage as severe, affecting a metal gate, pillars, and concrete blocks. Inside, lanterns, food packets, and even a horse statue were seen sca...

27-Year-Old Arrested for Loanshark Harassment in Admiralty Drive

A 27-year-old man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a loanshark harassment case reported along Admiralty Drive on January 12, 2025. The incident involved two residential units where the main doors and gates were vandalized with red paint. Additionally, a debtor’s note was left at the scene. Through meticulous follow-up investigations and the use of Police camera footage, officers from Woodlands Police Division quickly identified the suspect. He was apprehended the following day, January 13, 2025. During the arrest, officers seized a debtor’s note and two cans of paint as evidence. Credit: Singapore Police Force The suspect is scheduled to be charged in court on January 15, 2025, under the Moneylenders Act 2008. First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment face a fine ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, imprisonment for up to five years, and up to six strokes of the cane. The Police emphasized their zero-tolerance stance against loanshark harassment, statin...

Singapore Faces Second Monsoon Surge in January

Singapore is set for another weekend of non-stop downpours from January 17 to 19 as a second monsoon surge descends. Following a recent surge that ended on January 13, this new weather event is expected to bring strong winds, cooler conditions, and heavy rainfall, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS). Coastal areas are at a heightened risk of flash flooding this time, as tides are forecast to peak at 3.2m on January 17 and 3.1m on January 18. During seasonal high tides, areas like East Coast Park often experience flooding even without heavy rain. The last surge saw tides of up to 2.9m, with significant disruptions caused by the deluge. The northeast monsoon season, spanning December to January, typically sees two to four monsoon surges annually. These surges are driven by bursts of cold air from Central Asia, which travel across the South China Sea, picking up moisture and forming dense rain clouds as they approach the tropics. This process results in widesprea...

Fatal Woodlands Accident: Motorcyclist Dies, Driver Under Investigation

A motorcyclist lost his life following a tragic accident at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 10 and Woodlands Avenue 7 on January 14. The 40-year-old man succumbed to injuries sustained in a collision involving a van. Authorities were alerted to the accident around 1:15 PM. Emergency responders from the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived on the scene and transported the unconscious motorcyclist to Woodlands Health for urgent medical treatment. Despite their efforts, the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the hospital. A video circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the crash. In the footage, a red motorcycle can be seen lying on its side near a white van. A helmet rests on the ground nearby, surrounded by police officers conducting their investigation. The 49-year-old van driver involved in the incident is assisting police with inquiries as investigations continue. The authorities are working to determine the events that led to the fatal collision. The accident has...

Man Jailed for Attacking Grandmother Despite Protection Order

Jeremy Su Zhiwei, 33, was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail on January 16 after pleading guilty to assaulting his 84-year-old grandmother and violating a personal protection order (PPO). The PPO, implemented in 2022, prohibited him from using violence against her due to a history of physical altercations. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Cheah Wenjie revealed that Su’s past behavior required interventions from the police and social services. Between 2021 and 2023, he was admitted multiple times to the Institute of Mental Health for aggressive behavior towards his grandmother, including incidents of choking and pinching her. The latest incident occurred on November 22, 2024, when Su went to his grandmother's home and demanded money. She refused, as he would not explain the purpose of his demand. An argument ensued, and she eventually went to bed. Still dissatisfied, Su began kicking the bed frame, waking his grandmother. He then grabbed her by the neck, choking her. When she attempted t...

Aussie Tourist Jailed for Plane Crash Threats at Changi Airport

An Australian tourist, Moncrieff Marli Curtis Philip, 36, was sentenced to eight weeks’ jail on January 15 for threatening to crash his flight at Changi Airport. The incident stemmed from frustrations over disrupted holiday plans. Moncrieff had planned a trip to Phuket from Perth with a stopover in Singapore, investing significant resources in the vacation. However, he was denied entry in Phuket due to missing visa pages in his passport. After being sent back to Singapore, he was denied entry again for the same reason. At Changi Airport, immigration officers assisted Moncrieff in retrieving his anxiety and depression medication from his luggage and escorted him to a holding room to await repatriation. Around 5:40 AM on November 20, 2024, while boarding Jetstar flight JQ96 to Perth, Moncrieff expressed his anger, saying, “I want the aircraft to crash and kill everyone.” A flight attendant overheard the remark and informed her managers, leading to Moncrieff’s removal from the fligh...

Public Urination Cases on the Rise: Two Men Charged at MRT Stations

Public urination at MRT stations has become an unusual trend recently, with two more Singaporean men charged for separate incidents, adding to a case reported just a day earlier. Zhou Hongwei, 57, was charged on January 15 for urinating in front of the passenger service centre at Potong Pasir MRT station on January 13 at 7:30 PM. Zhou reportedly admitted to the act, acknowledging its potential to annoy the public. Appearing in court without legal representation, he expressed a desire to plead guilty. District Judge Paul Quan reminded Zhou to avoid reoffending, setting February 26 as the date for Zhou's formal plea. In another case, Soo Fook Khan, 53, was charged for urinating on the platform of Tanah Merah MRT station on January 8 at 12:30 PM. Soo has been remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for evaluation, and his case will resume on January 28. Apart from the public urination charge, Soo faces a separate charge under the Moneylenders Act. He allegedly acted on behalf of ...

SCDF Officer Jailed for Negligence in NSF Firefighter's Tragic Death

In a tragic case that marked Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) first firefighter fatality, Warrant Officer 2 (WO2) Muhammad Kamil Mohamed Yasin, 39, was sentenced to six months' jail on January 15 for causing grievous hurt by a rash act. The incident occurred during a fire at Block 91 Henderson Road on December 8, 2022, when Kamil left 19-year-old national serviceman (NSF) Sgt Edward H. Go alone to fight the blaze. Despite knowing SCDF’s protocol requiring firefighters to operate in pairs, Kamil left the flat, citing dizziness from heat exhaustion. Before departing, he gave Sgt Go a thumbs-up but did not verbally inform him or colleagues that the NSF was left alone. Kamil chose to rest at a nearby staircase landing instead of the designated rest area, avoiding detection. The fire remained uncontrolled, and another officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Hassan, who took over as ground commander, assumed the firefighters had exited the flat. However, when more personnel arrived, Sgt Go w...

South Korea's President Yoon Arrested After Martial Law Fallout

South Korean authorities arrested suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol on January 15 over charges of insurrection related to his controversial martial law declaration on December 3. Yoon, who called the investigation illegal, surrendered to avoid violence after police forces stormed his residence. Yoon's arrest marks the first for a sitting South Korean president. Following his martial law declaration, which shocked the nation and disrupted its political and economic stability, parliament impeached Yoon on December 14. The Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to uphold his impeachment. Surrounded by tight security, Yoon was taken from his residence in Seoul's affluent district to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The office now has 48 hours to decide whether to seek a warrant for extended detention. Yoon’s lawyers argue that the arrest warrant is invalid, citing jurisdictional errors. Yoon’s martial law declaration, based on unproven a...