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  Singapore authorities have arrested two Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in loan shark harassment. Li Zhihong, 41, and Liu Xuetao, 42, were charged with targeting a debtor living in a Housing Board flat at Towner Road on Jan 25. According to police reports, the duo placed a bicycle lock on the main gate of the flat and wrote a debtor’s note in blue permanent ink on the adjacent wall. The police acted swiftly, using footage from police cameras to identify and apprehend the suspects the very next day. Brought Back to the Crime Scene As part of investigations, on Jan 31 at about 11 am, police escorted the handcuffed suspects back to the void deck of Block 105 Towner Road. The bespectacled Li was then taken up to the flat where the incident occurred. Standing beside the wall where the debtor note remained visible, he was seen speaking to the officers in Mandarin. Liu, also shackled, was present during the re-enactment. This process is often done to strengthen the evide...

  Police have arrested a 70-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of criminal intimidation at Block 5 Saint George’s Lane. The incident occurred on Jan 26, 2025, around 4:05 pm, when a distressed caller reported that an elderly man was aggressively knocking on her gate and attempting to damage her door. Authorities responded promptly, deploying officers from the Central Police Division to investigate. With the help of CCTV footage from police cameras, they were able to locate and arrest the suspect within four hours of receiving the report. A hammer, which was allegedly used during the confrontation, was seized as case evidence. Credit: SPF (Hammer used at crime scene) Debt Dispute Leads to Threats and Property Damage According to preliminary investigations, the suspect claimed that the woman owed him money and had been avoiding his calls. Frustrated, he allegedly showed up at her residence, demanding repayment. The situation quickly escalated as he purportedly used ...

  Borneo Devastated by Deadly Floods and Landslides At least five people have died, and thousands have been displaced as heavy rainfall continues to pummel Malaysia’s Borneo states, Sabah and Sarawak. Torrential rains over the past few days have triggered severe flooding and landslides, submerging towns, washing away homes, and leaving residents stranded. According to meteorological data, some areas have received over 700mm of rain, with Bintulu in Sarawak experiencing close to 800mm in just 48 hours. The Malaysian Meteorological Department has warned that the rainfall is expected to continue until Jan 31, prolonging the disaster. Thousands Forced to Flee as Water Levels Rise By the morning of Jan 30, more than 5,000 residents had been evacuated from their homes, with officials calling it one of the worst flood events in recent years. Emergency response teams are working around the clock to assist stranded victims, but the relentless rain is making rescue operations difficult. Vide...

  A violent altercation outside a Kuala Lumpur nightclub escalated into chaos when two vehicles plowed into a group of men in the early hours of Jan 29, 2025. The incident, which was caught on video and went viral on social media, resulted in at least two injuries and four arrests. Disturbing Video Captures the Incident Footage circulating online shows a white Toyota Hilux and a silver Toyota Vios emerging from an underground parking lot near the nightclub. Despite a crowd gathered at the exit, both cars accelerated, forcing people to leap out of the way. Moments later, the vehicles disappeared from view but returned after making a U-turn onto the main road. Without slowing down, the cars drove directly into the group of men, sending bystanders into panic. Loud screams and shouts filled the air as people scrambled to escape. Police Investigations Underway A 24-year-old man who witnessed the shocking event reported it to the police. Brickfields District Police Chief ACP Ku Masharima...

  A 45-year-old Singaporean woman, Amyra Laila Ho, has been fined RM1,000 (S$307) by the Magistrate Court in Johor Bahru after pleading guilty to making a false police report. She had claimed she was nearly abducted at a shopping mall in Johor, a story that later turned out to be untrue. The Alleged Incident On Jan 22, Ho filed a report at Larkin police station, stating that an abduction attempt had occurred on Jan 10 at around 1 PM at a shopping mall in Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad. According to her claims, she was approached by a man and a woman promoting Chinese tea. After declining their offer, the woman allegedly insisted she smell the tea leaves, which she said made her feel dizzy and unable to move. Ho further alleged that the man grabbed her right arm and falsely claimed to be her husband, while the woman took her handbag containing RM400. Her story quickly spread online, sparking concern among social media users, with some believing that tourists in Johor were at risk. Influ...

A mezzanine floor and storage racks collapsed inside a warehouse unit at Toa Payoh Industrial Park on Tuesday, Jan 28, trapping four people under piles of rugs. Among them were two children. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the incident at approximately 5:50 PM. Firefighters from Bishan Fire Station, along with specialist rescuers from the SCDF’s Special Response Unit and Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, were deployed to the scene. Dramatic Rescue Mission by SCDF Upon arrival, SCDF personnel were informed that one of the four trapped individuals had managed to free himself and call for help. He informed rescuers that three others remained trapped beneath the collapsed storage racks and rugs. Given the scale of the collapse—covering an area of about 20 meters by 10 meters—SCDF deployed search dogs to locate the missing victims. Firefighters and rescuers meticulously worked their way through piles of heavy rugs, cutting through storage racks to reach the trappe...

  Veteran Singaporean actor Laurence Pang, 78, has revealed details of a love scam that cost him S$35,000. The scam involved doctored photos of local celebrity Vanessa Ho, used by a Filipino fraudster named "Mika" to lure him into a fake online business investment. Pang, known for roles in popular television dramas like Tanglin and Sunny Side Up , shared his experience on a Filipino public service programme, Raffy Tulfo In Action , on Jan 17, 2025. He recounted how he met “Mika” on a dating platform and was convinced to invest nearly 1.5 million pesos in what turned out to be a fraudulent scheme. How Scammers Exploited Vanessa Ho’s Images The scammer doctored images of Vanessa Ho, a well-known local celebrity and Star Search 2019 finalist, to impersonate “Mika.” The altered photos were traced back to Ho’s Instagram posts, including one taken at a Japanese restaurant and another from a mattress promotional campaign. On her Instagram account, Ho addressed the situation, explai...

  On Jan 21, 2025, a technical issue in the IT system of the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) resulted in the accidental disclosure of sensitive information belonging to 3,320 individuals. The data included names and NRIC numbers of those registered for the March 2024 Real Estate Salesperson and April 2024 Real Estate Agency examinations. The breach, discovered on Jan 22 at 11:21 AM, was caused by a system glitch that inadvertently sent the information to 18 unintended recipients. These recipients included property agents, former agents, and past examination candidates. Fortunately, no contact details such as phone numbers or email addresses were exposed. Immediate Response and Containment CEA acted swiftly to address the breach. All unintended recipients were contacted and instructed to delete the emails and the contained data. The agency confirmed that the data was not forwarded or misused. The affected system function was immediately disabled, and recovery measures were impleme...

  Singaporean Found Nearly a Year After Taiwan Earthquake The remains of a Singaporean man, missing since Taiwan's devastating earthquake on Apr 3, 2024, have been identified. The 7.2-magnitude quake struck Hualien County, causing landslides, road blockages, and widespread destruction. Among the missing were a Singaporean man and his partner, last seen near the Shakadang Trail shortly before the quake. Discovery of Remains On Jan 11, 2025, a local man discovered what appeared to be human remains beneath a landslide area along the Shakadang Trail, a site heavily impacted by the earthquake. Forensic analysis later confirmed the remains as belonging to the Singaporean man. DNA from the bone was matched to a sample provided by his son, who had traveled to Taiwan after the disaster to assist in search efforts. This discovery provides some closure to the family after nearly a year of uncertainty. However, the man’s partner remains missing, with authorities believing both were swept away ...

  Earlier this morning at around 5:05 AM, firefighters from Punggol, Sengkang, and Tampines Fire Stations responded to a fire on the seventh floor of  224A, Sumang Lane . Upon arrival, black smoke was seen billowing from a unit, and the fire was found to have engulfed a bedroom. Using a water jet, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) managed to extinguish the fire promptly. Four occupants of the affected unit had evacuated before SCDF’s arrival, while about 60 residents from neighboring units were evacuated as a precautionary measure by both police officers and firefighters. One person was assessed for smoke inhalation by SCDF paramedics and subsequently conveyed to Singapore General Hospital for further treatment. Preliminary Findings and Fire Cause Initial investigations suggest that the fire was of electrical origin, originating in the bedroom. Electrical fires are a recurring concern in residential settings and often stem from improper use or maintenance of electrical ...

  On January 20, 2025, at approximately 11 PM, a 58-year-old Singaporean man was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint for attempting to smuggle a significant quantity of drugs into Singapore. The individual arrived in a Singapore-registered car and was directed by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers to undergo enhanced checks. During the inspection, ICA officers uncovered 15 black bundles hidden in the vehicle. Ten bundles were concealed beneath the driver’s seat, while five were found beneath the front passenger seat. Suspecting that the bundles contained controlled substances, the officers immediately placed the man under arrest and referred the case to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for further investigation. Subsequent testing of the confiscated bundles revealed a shocking haul of illegal drugs, including approximately: 5,653g of heroin 14g of ‘Ice’ (methamphetamine) 11g of ‘Ecstasy’ 2,000 Erimin-5 tablets The estimated street value of the drugs exceeds SGD 628...

  A senior staff nurse at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Muhammad Hazrul Sani, was sentenced to one week in jail on January 24 for violating patient privacy under the Computer Misuse Act. Hazrul, 34, accessed a patient’s records through the hospital's system after noticing her Instagram post about an appointment with her psychiatrist. Hazrul, who had worked at IMH since 2013, admitted to being attracted to the 29-year-old woman and wanting to get to know her. On October 25, 2022, he contacted her on Instagram, mentioning that he recognized the location in her photo as IMH. The next day, he messaged her again, addressing her by her real name—information he retrieved from the hospital's patient system. Although the woman had not disclosed her real name on Instagram, Hazrul admitted to checking her records but claimed he did not read her file. Despite feeling uncomfortable, the woman initially responded cordially to avoid offending him. Over the next six days, Hazrul sent m...

  Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced the arrest of 11 individuals on January 24 for allegedly providing false employment information to inflate the foreign worker quotas for eight construction companies. The suspects were apprehended during raids conducted at 37 locations by MOM officers earlier this week. Among those arrested are five Singaporean directors of the implicated construction firms, aged between 42 and 57. Additionally, four other Singaporeans and two permanent residents are accused of abetting these directors in submitting false declarations of employment. The ministry revealed that the suspects allegedly made fraudulent Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions on behalf of Singaporeans and permanent residents who were not genuinely employed by the companies. This scheme was reportedly executed to manipulate foreign worker quotas, which are calculated based on the number of local employees registered with the company. The CPF contributions, a key factor...

  A disturbing incident involving loan sharks has surfaced, linking cross-border syndicates between Singapore and Malaysia. A Malaysian man’s financial struggles escalated into tragedy, leaving his family devastated and targeted even after his death. The 27-year-old man, He Wenjie, was working in Singapore when he faced mounting financial difficulties. According to his family, he borrowed money from loan sharks to cover his daily expenses. His father discovered the issue after a Facebook post by Mr. He revealed his struggles. The man owed $500 to loan sharks, but his family claimed he was also deceived by scammers posing as creditors. Initially, Mr. He’s father refrained from intervening, trusting his son to handle the situation. However, events took a grim turn on December 19 when the father began receiving threatening calls from loan sharks and was unable to reach his son. On December 20, one loan shark ominously warned that Mr. He would “jump off a building soon.” Attempts to lo...

  The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has revoked the licence of GU+MMI Smart Kids, a pre-school in Seletar Hills Estate, following an investigation into child mismanagement incidents that surfaced in February 2024. The licence revocation took effect on January 2, 2025, marking a significant step in ensuring the safety and well-being of children in Singapore’s early education sector. The controversy first came to light when reports emerged of two children being mistreated by their teachers. The incidents included allegations of corporal punishment, such as hitting, pinching, and locking the children in a dark room. Parents revealed that these traumatic experiences caused their children to develop a fear of school and frequent meltdowns. ECDA launched an immediate investigation upon receiving reports from a parent and the pre-school itself. The probe involved an unannounced visit to the school, interviews with staff and parents, a review of CCTV footage, and verification o...

  A 68-year-old man was sentenced to 19½ years in jail on January 24 for the rape of a domestic worker in 2020. The incident occurred while the man’s family was overseas, and parts of his actions were captured by CCTV cameras installed in the home. The footage revealed his movements and positioning during the assault, while the victim appeared unresponsive. The victim, a 35-year-old domestic worker employed by one of the man’s daughters, was assaulted late on January 5, 2020, after he invited her to watch television and offered her wine and “supplement injections.” Prosecutors argued that the injections caused the victim to feel giddy and weak, leaving her unable to resist his actions. The court found the man guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of outrage of modesty. However, he was acquitted of a charge of sexual assault by penetration due to insufficient evidence. He had denied all the allegations during the trial, representing himself in court. The man’s actions appeared...

  A tragic accident occurred at the junction of Loyang Way and Loyang Lane on the morning of January 24, 2025, resulting in the death of a motorcyclist and the arrest of a car driver. Authorities were alerted to the collision around 6:40 am, which involved a car and a motorcycle. The 31-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic from the Singapore Civil Defence Force. The driver of the car, a 55-year-old man, was arrested for careless driving causing death. This charge underscores the severe consequences of negligence on the road, especially in busy areas like Loyang, where heavy vehicular activity is common. Videos of the accident's aftermath have surfaced online, showing a devastating scene. A blue police tent was set up near a heavily damaged motorcycle, with debris scattered across the road. The motorcycle bore a foreign license plate, indicating it may have been operated by someone traveling from overseas. In one of the videos, multiple police vehicl...

An elderly passenger, Mr. Othman Ahmad, 65, was injured after a fall on an SMRT bus on January 17. The incident occurred around 7:20 p.m. on bus service 187 near Bukit Batok Central. According to Mr. Othman, the bus "suddenly drove so fast" and braked abruptly, causing him to lose his balance. Despite attempting to grab a pole, he fell and briefly blacked out. Other passengers intervened, asking the driver to stop and assisting Mr. Othman, who sustained a head injury above his right eye. Paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force transported him to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where his wound was stitched. He was discharged the same night with a medical bill of S$154, but later experienced lingering symptoms such as head pain and blurry vision. SMRT’s Statement and Investigation SMRT stated that CCTV footage showed the bus moving off normally without sudden acceleration or braking. Deputy Managing Director of Buses, Vincent Gay, reported that Mr. Othman released his ...

  A 41-year-old man, Augustus Wong Wen Loong, was sentenced to 10 months and two weeks' jail on January 22 for distributing an intimate video and harassing two women. He pleaded guilty to three charges, while three additional charges were considered during sentencing. Details of the Case Wong received an intimate video of one of the women from an unknown source on September 6, 2023. He forwarded it to online personality Kurt Tay, 42, and shared it in a Telegram group with about 70 members. Wong also threatened to release the woman’s address and hurled vulgarities at her in the chat. The second woman, distressed by Wong’s comments about her in another Telegram group with around 220 members, reported him to the police in October 2023. Wong falsely accused her of scamming him and demanded a public apology and a self-inflicted punishment video. Connections to Kurt Tay Kurt Tay, a controversial online figure known for his antics, including wearing a WWE belt and getting breast implants,...

  A 71-year-old man, Mohamed Salleh Samad, was sentenced to six years and eight months in jail for sexually assaulting a woman under the pretext of curing her of "black magic." Salleh admitted to one charge of sexual assault, with another similar charge considered in sentencing. The 46-year-old victim believed she was afflicted with "black magic" after suffering from bloating and stomach pain, which she thought was caused by her ex-husband. Acting on advice from an acquaintance, she sought Salleh's help, who claimed to possess healing abilities. The Fake Rituals The first "ritual" on August 25, 2023, involved the victim showering in a mix of salt and vinegar. When her pain persisted, she invited Salleh for a second session on August 28, 2023. Salleh arrived at her home with the victim's acquaintance. To isolate the victim, Salleh sent the acquaintance to a shop and convinced her husband and children to leave, claiming their presence might disrupt t...

  A 19-year-old boy was sentenced to two years and three months in jail, six strokes of the cane, and a five-year driving ban for his involvement in a motorcycle chase that led to the death of an LTA officer, Zdulfika Ahakasah. The incident occurred on June 4, 2024, along the Seletar Expressway. The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age at the time of one of his charges, pleaded guilty to six offences, including dangerous driving, riding without a valid license, drug possession and consumption, possessing a scheduled weapon, and unlawfully disclosing his SingPass credentials. Events Leading to the Chase The fatal incident began when Mr. Zdulfika spotted the teen riding a motorcycle with no side mirrors and a tinted visor on his helmet. The motorcycle, which belonged to the teen’s cousin, was given to him for repair but was being used without permission. Recognizing the officer’s uniform and aware of his outstanding arrest warrant for absconding from rehabilitation in October...