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  A 38-year-old Indian national has been sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment for stealing over $5,000 worth of items from various stores at Changi Airport and Jewel during a transit stop. Bhansali Hemant Mahendrakumar, a businessman, committed the thefts on May 28, 2025, while waiting for a connecting flight. Mahendrakumar arrived in Singapore from New Delhi, India, at approximately 5:15 p.m. on May 28. He had an eight-hour layover before his scheduled flight to Qingdao, China, at 1:45 a.m. on May 29. During this transit period, he embarked on a stealing spree across three airport terminals and the Jewel complex. Court documents detailed that he stole items from at least 12 different stores, accumulating stolen goods with a total value of $5,136. His largest single theft occurred at a Guardian personal care store located within the departure transit hall of Terminal 3, wh...

  A 41-year-old man described as the "key player" in a large-scale operation providing unauthorized short-term accommodation has been fined a massive S$1.14 million by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Koh Guohui, Robin was sentenced on Monday, September 15, 2025, concluding a case that involved six Singaporean men and 31 private residential properties. Koh was the central figure in a scheme that operated between July 2019 and November 2021. He recruited four other men—Lim En Xiang, Pandy, 33; Chew Lam Yong, 61; Low Ah Tee, 81; and Chua Lian Beng, 71—to join his operation in exchange for a monthly salary. A sixth man, Chow Yan Kit, Ryan, 34, was also implicated in the scheme. In total, all six men were fined a combined S$1.27 million, with the other five sentenced between August 2024 and March 2025. The operation was sophisticated in its execution. Koh utilized a company registered as SG Auto Car Pte Ltd (later ...

  A 56-year-old Singaporean man has been sentenced to nine weeks in jail for committing two separate thefts, one involving durians and another involving religious amulets. Sew Swee Chai pleaded guilty to two counts of theft on Monday, September 15, 2025. The first incident occurred on the night of September 6, 2024. Sew was loitering outside a closed fruit stall located at Block 276, Bukit Batok East Avenue 4. Knowing the stall sold durians and experiencing a craving for the fruit, he decided to steal some. In an attempt to avoid detection, he spent several minutes checking the stall's exterior and then unplugged several electrical cords, believing this would disable the closed-circuit television cameras monitoring the premises. However, his plan failed because the CCTV system was connected to a different power source. Under the false assumption that the cameras were off, Sew entered the stall and, after five minutes, selected nine ...

  A Singaporean man arrested in Malaysia for allegedly masterminding a scheme to traffic drug-laced electronic vaporisers to South Korea has been identified as a former engineering student from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Ivan Tan Zhi Xuan, 31, is facing serious charges in Malaysia that could carry the death penalty. The alleged international operation was first detected by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS). The agency identified Tan as the suspected ringleader of a criminal group that was attempting to recruit students in South Korea to establish a distribution network for vapes laced with etomidate and cocaine in Seoul. The syndicate's ambitious plan was to smuggle an estimated 20,000 vapes each month, an amount significant enough to feed the addiction of approximately two million people. Acting on a tip-off from the NIS, Malaysian law enforcement agencies moved in on June 19. Tan was arr...

  An American man has been charged in a Singapore court with multiple drug-related offenses, including the possession of a vaporizer device containing a Class A controlled drug. Harting Chitty Harold Ivan, a 35-year-old United States citizen, was handed six charges on Monday, September 15, 2025, all relating to incidents on or around April 16 of this year at a unit in Marina One Residences. According to charge sheets, the Central Narcotics Bureau conducted an operation at the condominium at approximately 5:50 p.m. on April 16. During this operation, Ivan was allegedly found in possession of one vaporizer device containing a viscous substance. Subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed that the substance contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis plants that produces intoxicating effects. At the same time, officers discovered chocolate bars in his possession. Portions of these chocolate bars were ana...

  A 28-year-old Indonesian permanent resident, Hans Pratignyo, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges after a horrific incident in Woodlands that forced his pregnant girlfriend to make a desperate escape from a second-floor window. The case, heard in court on September 15, 2025, involved charges of wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, and voluntarily causing hurt. The victim, a 25-year-old Indonesian woman, was five months pregnant with Hans's child when she arrived in Singapore on November 14, 2024, to stay in his rented room. The situation escalated dramatically on the night of December 1, 2024, when Hans began preparing for what appeared to be a dangerous scenario. He closed all windows and curtains in his room, unplugged the air conditioning unit, and went to a supermarket to purchase charcoal and several lighters. After returning with these items, he barricaded the room door by moving a refrigerator behind it, effectively tr...

  A 44-year-old man has been arrested for drink driving and driving while disqualified after a traffic accident in the early hours of September 13. The incident occurred at the junction of Nicoll Highway and Sims Way around 1:45 a.m. The crash happened after the driver sped away from Traffic Police officers who had signaled for him to stop during a patrol on Beach Road. The vehicle subsequently crashed into a traffic light pole, mounting the pedestrian walkway. Footage shows the car with severe front-end damage and the traffic pole leaning at an angle with a signal head on the ground. The conscious driver was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and arrested thereafter.

  The Ministry of Defence has warned the public about a scam involving fake bulk orders from individuals impersonating Singapore Armed Forces personnel. Mindef has lodged police reports after identifying seven such cases and confirms none are linked to actual SAF members. The warning follows several incidents targeting small businesses. A bakery on Desker Road was left with a $2,000 order uncollected after a man claiming to be from Bedok Camp disappeared. A Tiong Bahru hawker stall faced a similar fate with a large biryani order, and a florist was tricked into preparing a $3,820 flower order that was never picked up. Police note that such scams have caused over $52,000 in losses since May and urge businesses to verify buyers independently and avoid advance payments.

  A targeted police operation in two central Singapore neighborhoods has resulted in the arrest of seven individuals for a diverse range of criminal offenses. The enforcement operations were conducted on September 11, 2025, in the areas of Rochor Canal Road and Little India, known for their vibrant nightlife and public entertainment outlets. The operation was led by the Central Police Division and received support from the Secret Societies Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department. In a proactive effort to suppress gang-related activities, officers conducted checks on close to one hundred individuals across eighteen different public entertainment outlets located in these areas. The arrests covered a wide spectrum of offenses. Four men, between the ages of 24 and 44, were taken into custody on suspicion of being members of unlawful societies. In a separate incident, a 22-year-old man was arrested for two serious charges: voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from ...

  A formal complaint against a taxi driver has gone viral on social media, sparking a significant online debate about passenger-driver interactions and the court of public opinion. The post, addressed directly to a large taxi company's customer service, details a series of allegations against one of their drivers. The complainant alleges that upon arrival at the pick-up point, the driver appeared visibly disgruntled and impatient, specifically mumbling complaints about the size of the passengers' luggage, which was deemed unprofessional. The most serious accusation claims that before the last passenger had fully boarded the vehicle, the driver abruptly drove off with the passenger door still open. This action allegedly resulted in a minor ankle injury to the complainant's spouse as they were attempting to board the taxi. When confronted about this behavior, the driver is described as having responded with hostility, refusing to take responsibility, and instead arguing with ...

  Police have arrested a 31-year-old man for an attempted armed robbery in Geylang. The incident occurred on September 11 at approximately 10:33 a.m. along Lorong 8. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly attempted to rob a 38-year-old victim of his mobile phone while brandishing a penknife. The victim managed to flee without surrendering any valuables. Using footage from police cameras and CCTV, officers from the Bedok Police Division identified and arrested the suspect within seven hours of the report. The man will be charged in court on September 13 with attempted armed robbery, which carries a mandatory prison sentence of 2-7 years and caning of at least 12 strokes.

  The Singapore Flyer has reopened after a two-day closure to fix a technical issue. Rides resumed on September 13, with operating hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The attraction was shut down on September 10 as a precautionary measure after the issue was found during a routine maintenance check. The Building and Construction Authority later stated the problem involved one of the wheel's spoke cables. The Flyer's management confirmed that all comprehensive inspections and repair works have been completed in close collaboration with authorities. The team is now contacting guests with affected bookings to help them reschedule their visits. Customers are advised to check the Flyer's website and social media for further updates.

  The first individual to be charged with a trafficking offense involving etomidate since its classification as a controlled drug was taken back to the scene of his arrest as part of the ongoing investigation. The event occurred on Friday, September 12, 2025, and marks a significant moment in the enforcement of Singapore's strengthened drug laws. Derek Khor Boon Chun, a 40-year-old Singaporean, was transported to Block 631 on Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 at approximately 4:00 p.m. He arrived in an unmarked grey van, dressed in a white polo shirt, blue shorts, and clear slippers. His hands and feet were secured in black restraints, and he was accompanied by a team of seven auxiliary police officers and officers from the Health Sciences Authority. The group proceeded to take him into a lift to the sixth floor, where he was escorted along the corridor and to a staircase area. After spending some time at these locations, the group returned to the ground floor, and Khor was driven away at 4:20 p...

  A construction company driver has been sentenced to jail and disqualified from driving for a significant period after a reversing accident resulted in the death of a pedestrian. Ashokan Santhoshsivam, 24, pleaded guilty on September 12, 2025, to charges of driving without due care and attention and operating a vehicle without the requisite license. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of May 12, 2024. At approximately 2:50 a.m., Ashokan and two companions left their dormitory located at Tech Park Crescent in Tuas and drove to a food stall with the intention of getting supper. Upon finding the stall closed, Ashokan made the decision to drive the group back to their dormitory. Critically, he was operating a lorry while holding only a Class 3 driving license, which is intended for cars. Driving a lorry legally requires a Class 4 driving license, which he did not possess. Upon returning to the dormitory at Tech Park Crescent, Ashokan began to reverse the lorry. During this...

  ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint foiled a smuggling attempt on September 9 after discovering e-vaporisers hidden in a baby stroller. Officers profiled a Singapore-registered car for enhanced checks and, despite the driver declaring he had nothing to declare, conducted a thorough search. In the boot, they found two e-vaporisers concealed in the pocket compartment of a baby stroller. A third device was found in the driver's personal bag. The Singaporean driver was issued a $700 composition fine on the spot for possessing the prohibited items. The ICA emphasized that border security is a critical part of the enforcement strategy against e-vaporisers and remains committed to safeguarding Singapore's borders.

  A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of voyeurism after conducting a five-month spree of secretly recording unsuspecting victims in various locations across Singapore. Javier Lee Kah Chuan admitted to six charges of voyeurism on September 10, 2025, with an additional eight charges to be considered during his sentencing, which is scheduled for October. The offenses occurred between July and November of 2022, targeting victims in both public and private spaces. The locations included Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, a coffee shop in Jurong, a bar on Prinsep Street, and a gym in Farrer Park. The pattern of behavior demonstrated a calculated effort to invade the privacy of individuals during vulnerable moments. A significant portion of the offenses took place while Lee was employed at Body Fit Training (BFT) Farrer Park. According to the prosecution, during September and November of 2022, Lee took voyeuristic videos of three different women showering at the gym on separate...

  The Central Narcotics Bureau has conducted its first major operation targeting a syndicate trafficking in etomidate-laced electronic vaporisers, resulting in eight arrests and the seizure of significant evidence. The anti-drug operation, launched on September 10, 2025, marks a significant escalation in enforcement efforts following the recent classification of etomidate as a Class C controlled drug. The operation began in the early evening in the Telok Blangah Rise area, where CNB officers arrested two men, aged 26 and 28, at the void deck of a residential block. Both suspects were engaged in what appeared to be a transaction and resisted arrest, requiring officers to physically subdue them. A search of the individuals revealed 68 e-vaporiser pods believed to contain etomidate on the 26-year-old man, while the 28-year-old man was found in possession of five similar pods. Preliminary investigations indicated the men were likely conducting a drug transaction immediately before thei...

  In a significant international law enforcement operation, the Singapore Police Force and the Cambodian National Police have jointly disrupted a major criminal syndicate responsible for perpetrating large-scale Government Official Impersonation Scams targeting Singaporean victims. The coordinated operation resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of substantial evidence across both countries. The investigation began in December 2024 after the Singapore Police Force received numerous reports of a sophisticated scam operation. The scheme followed a three-step process where victims were first contacted by individuals pretending to be bank staff. These callers would then transfer the victims to another scammer impersonating a government official, either from the police force or the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The fake official would deceive victims into believing their bank accounts were implicated in criminal investigations and instruct them to transfer their funds to accoun...

  A former inspector with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has been sentenced to a year and ten months in prison for corruptly obtaining sexual favors from foreign nationals in exchange for approving their short-term visit pass applications. Kannan Morice Rajagopal Jayaram, a 55-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced on September 11, 2025, after pleading guilty to multiple charges. The offenses took place between 2022 and 2023 while Kannan was serving as a team leader at the ICA's Visit Pass Unit, a position he had held since 2018. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing a team of approximately ten officers and had the authority to influence the outcome of pass applications. The prosecution detailed how he exploited this position of power to target vulnerable foreign nationals who were dependent on his approval to remain in Singapore. The court heard details of one specific case involving a 26-year-old Indian national referred to as V3. The young man had arrived in Si...

  The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has successfully intercepted two separate attempts to smuggle prohibited tobacco products and electronic vaporisers into Singapore through Changi Airport. The incidents, which both occurred on September 6, 2025, at Terminal 4, are a direct result of the agency's intensified checks at all of Singapore's checkpoints. The first interception took place at 1:45 p.m. ICA officers, during the course of their duties, directed a female traveler from Romania for enhanced checks. This decision was based on their assessment that she was likely carrying a prohibited item. The enhanced inspection confirmed their suspicions. The woman was found to be in possession of a significant quantity of contraband, including nearly 1,200 heat sticks, which are heat-not-burn tobacco products, and two electronic vaporisers. The second case occurred later that same day at 11:55 p.m. Officers profiled a female South Korean national who was a work permit holder in ...