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  Traffic congestion began soon after midnight on July 1, 2025, as the Malaysian authorities started full enforcement of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) requirement for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor Bahru via the Causeway. The implementation marks the end of a grace period and enforces a rule first introduced in October 2024. At the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, 55 Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers were stationed along the exit road to Johor Bahru. They immediately began stopping and fining Singapore-registered private vehicles found without a valid VEP tag. The fine for each violation is RM300 (approximately S$91), which must be settled before the driver can leave the country. The first motorist to be fined was 19-year-old Singaporean student Safir Farhan, who was heading to Johor Bahru for supper with his family. Although he had already registered for the VEP, he had yet to receive the RFID tag in the mail. He was...

  Chu Sau Ben, 59, former CEO and executive chairman of Libra Group Limited and its subsidiaries, was sentenced on June 30, 2025, to five weeks in jail for his role in a fraudulent scheme involving the issuance of fake employment passes. Chu, who led Libra Group, Libra Engineering, and Libra Building Construction from 1997 until 2020, pleaded guilty to one charge under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Two additional charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. Libra Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, provided mechanical and electrical engineering services including the installation of air-conditioning, electrical, and plumbing systems. However, in 2018, the company began facing financial troubles. Desperate to attract investment and expand operations overseas, Chu sought external funding. In 2019, Chu was introduced to Wang Jie, a director at Hai Sin International, a firm that specialized in assisting foreign nationals with investment and immigration opport...

  A 30-year-old Operationally Ready National Serviceman (NSman) collapsed and died outside Maju Camp on the evening of June 30, 2025, shortly after completing a National Service Fitness Improvement Training (NS FIT) session. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the NSman had participated in the scheduled NS FIT session, which ran from 6:50 PM to 8:00 PM at the Maju Fitness Conditioning Centre (FCC). After completing the session, the NSman informed the on-site fitness instructors that he was feeling well and had no issues. Based on this self-report, he was cleared to leave the premises. He officially booked out of Maju Camp at 8:11 PM. Tragically, shortly after exiting the camp gates, the NSman collapsed. A passer-by who witnessed the fall quickly contacted emergency services. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted at 8:16 PM, and an ambulance was dispatched to the scene. It arrived at 8:25 PM. Upon arrival, paramedics began immediate ...

  On June 30, 2025, Singaporean man Kavind Raj Kannan, 25, was sentenced to two years and three months in jail and three strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to a rioting charge linked to a fatal assault that occurred outside the Concorde Hotel along Orchard Road. The attack took place in the early morning hours of August 20, 2023, and ultimately led to the death of 29-year-old Mohammad Isrrat Mohd Ismail. Court documents revealed that Kavind was part of a group of 11 men, collectively referred to as the “rioting group.” Among them were members of a secret society, including Asvain Pachan Pillai Sukumaran, then 30, Sridharan Elangovan, then 30, and Manojkumar Velayanatham, then 32. Although Kavind was not affiliated with the gang, he actively participated in the assault. The confrontation began when the rioting group, including Kavind, visited Club Rumours located inside the Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall. At around 4:50am on August 20, 2023, the victim, Mr Isrrat, and his f...

  Singaporean citizens will be receiving one-off SG60 vouchers as part of a national celebration marking Singapore’s 60th year of independence in 2025. These vouchers, distinct from CDC vouchers which are issued per household, are targeted at individuals and come under the SG60 Package announced during Budget 2025 by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Starting from 10:00am on July 1, 2025, seniors aged 60 and above will be eligible to claim SG60 vouchers worth $800. Adults aged between 21 and 59 will be able to claim their vouchers valued at $600 from 10:00am on July 22, 2025. The vouchers can be claimed online via the official portal at go.gov.sg/sg60v and will be distributed to approximately three million Singaporean adults. The entire scheme is expected to cost the Government around $2.02 billion. According to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the SG60 vouchers are intended to recognise the contributions of all Singaporeans in the country’s nation-building journey. Each eligible Singa...

  Three individuals in their 20s were arrested in the early hours of June 29, 2025, following a police chase that ended with a car collision involving a lorry. The events unfolded along Syed Alwi Road near Jalan Besar in Singapore. At approximately 5:45am, police officers were conducting patrols along Syed Alwi Road heading towards Jalan Besar when they came across a car that was parked in a suspicious and haphazard manner. Upon initiating a check, the vehicle’s driver, a 25-year-old man, attempted to flee the scene. The man, who was already wanted by the police for traffic-related offences, led officers on a chase before eventually being subdued and arrested. He remained conscious and was subsequently transported to a hospital for medical evaluation. He was arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences, and further investigations into his outstanding traffic matters are ongoing. While police officers were in the process of arresting the man, a 25-year-old woman who had been a pas...

  Singapore’s self-driving public transport vision is taking a major leap forward, with autonomous shuttles set to be deployed in Punggol by the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2025. This announcement was made on June 27, 2025, by Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow during a working visit to Guangzhou, China. The initiative is part of a larger strategy to enhance Singapore’s public transport system through the integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) over the next five years. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is currently working with potential AV makers and public transport operators, including foreign firms like Waymo from the United States, to bring this plan to life. Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling, who was also part of the visit, confirmed that the initial deployment will cover specific routes in Punggol. These routes are being selected based on residents’ feedback. Some residents in Punggol West have expressed a need for better access to amenities i...

  On June 26, 2025, a hit-and-run incident involving three vehicles occurred at the junction of Tanjong Pagar Road and Cook Street, resulting in two individuals being hospitalized and a driver fleeing the scene. The accident, which took place at approximately 6:30pm, involved two private vehicles and a blue taxi. According to eyewitness accounts, the accident unfolded when the driver of a white car collided with two other vehicles at the busy intersection. After the crash, the driver was seen hastily grabbing a bag from his vehicle before fleeing the scene on foot. Notably, the driver failed to engage the handbrake before exiting the car, which caused the unattended vehicle to roll backward and collide into a nearby blue taxi. This secondary collision was also witnessed by bystanders. One witness, a pedestrian who observed the incident at close range, described the scene as chaotic. The abandoned white car was seen slowly reversing into the taxi after its driver had already left. T...

  ***Update: NUS clarified Jarrett Tee was not a NUS. On June 27, 2025, 30-year-old Jarrett Tee Lee Kiat was sentenced to five years and eight months’ jail and handed a 10-year driving ban after pleading guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death. The incident took place on February 24, 2024, along the East Coast Parkway (ECP) expressway, during which Tee’s reckless actions led to the death of 18-year-old pillion rider Leann Lim Jia Le. Tee, then a full-time student at the National University of Singapore and a part-time chef and social media influencer, was driving a rented Mercedes-Benz. On the night of February 23, 2024, he contacted a friend, Vincent Loh, to go driving. Loh later picked up two 16-year-old girls and met Tee in Sembawang for supper. Later, Loh also picked up Ms Lim and her 16-year-old boyfriend. Tee began engaging in "blocking and braking" games with Loh’s vehicle. He repeatedly swerved into Loh’s lane and braked suddenly to force the car to slo...

On June 26, 2025, Ashton Jude Joseph, a 34-year-old Singaporean and then-Captain in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), was sentenced to five weeks’ imprisonment for physically assaulting a Grab driver following a dispute over vomit found in the vehicle. Joseph pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt to 46-year-old driver Lee Chee Wei. His legal representative stated in court that he intends to file an appeal against the sentence. The incident occurred in the early hours of August 31, 2024, following a night of drinking. Court documents revealed that Joseph had consumed six to seven pints of beer while at a bar near Serangoon Road with friends starting around 7pm on August 30. At approximately 3am, a ride was booked through Grab to take Joseph home, and Mr Lee was the assigned driver. During the journey, Mr Lee observed that Joseph was clearly intoxicated. While en route, Joseph requested a plastic bag to vomit into, which Mr Lee provided. Although the driver offered to ...

  On June 26, 2025, three Singaporean men and one Malaysian man were formally charged in Kuala Lumpur with trafficking cocaine-laced e-vaporiser liquid. The case was brought before Magistrate Amalina Basirah Md Top, but no pleas were recorded from the accused, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. The three Singaporeans charged are Quek Kien Seng, 45, Tristan Chew Jin Zhong, 25, and Ivan Tan Zhi Xuan, 31. They were charged alongside Malaysian citizen Kong Sien Mee, 57. All four face a serious charge under Malaysia’s Dangerous Drugs Act involving 9,420.2 millilitres of liquid containing cocaine. If convicted, the individuals face the death penalty or, alternatively, life imprisonment along with whipping. The arrests were made on June 19, 2025, in the Malaysian state of Selangor. During the raid, authorities intercepted a car carrying ten boxes filled with 4,958 units of liquid vape cartridges suspected to be laced with cocaine. The total estimated street valu...

  On June 24, 2025, a group of four male teenagers was seen behaving unusually at Punggol Town Hall at approximately 1am. The incident, which took place near Waterway Point and Punggol MRT station, was captured in a video by a concerned member of the public. The footage, later circulated online, shows the youths appearing disoriented and unsteady, prompting widespread speculation that the teenagers had consumed a substance known locally as “zombie vapes” or “KPods.” These “KPods” are vape products reportedly laced with etomidate, a substance classified as a poison under Singapore’s Poisons Act. Etomidate is an anaesthetic agent commonly used in medical settings. According to the Health Sciences Authority, its side effects can include nausea, vomiting, involuntary muscle spasms, and even psychosis, which could account for the erratic and zombie-like behavior observed in the video. In the video, one teenager is seen lying on the ground while the other three stagger around in a disori...

  SINGAPORE – A fatal traffic collision between two lorries occurred along the Central Expressway (CTE) towards the Seletar Expressway (SLE) on the afternoon of 25 June 2025, resulting in the death of a 34-year-old man and severe congestion on one of Singapore’s busiest expressways. The police confirmed they were alerted to the crash at approximately 1.55pm. The incident involved two lorries and resulted in two individuals being transported to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The 34-year-old victim, who was a passenger in one of the lorries, sustained critical injuries during the collision and was trapped in the vehicle. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) deployed hydraulic rescue equipment to extricate him. At the time of his rescue, he was found unconscious and was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the same lorry, a 24-year-old male, has been arrested by the authorities for the offence of careless driving causing death. No...

  On 23 June 2025, a major enforcement operation by the Singapore Police Force led to the arrest of a 32-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman for their suspected involvement in the online sale of illegal streaming devices. Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) carried out coordinated raids at multiple locations, including Jalan Damai, Jalan Tenaga, Kaki Bukit Avenue 4, and Kaki Bukit Avenue 6. During the raids, authorities seized over 100 units of illegal streaming devices, commonly used to access copyrighted content from unauthorised online sources. These devices are designed to bypass legal paywalls and restrictions, allowing users to stream pirated television shows, movies, live sports, and other digital media. The total estimated street value of the seized devices exceeds S$32,000. The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies in Singapore to clamp down on copyright infringement and the illegal distribution of digital content. The P...

  On 23 June 2025, Police arrested a 27-year-old man suspected of involvement in a loanshark harassment case that occurred on 31 May 2025 at a residential unit along Yishun Street 21. At about 7.35pm, the exterior wall of the unit was splashed with green paint, and a debtor’s note was left outside the premises. Officers from Woodlands Police Division identified the suspect through Police camera footage and ground investigations. He will be charged in court on 24 June 2025 under the Moneylenders Act 2008. First-time offenders may face a fine of S$5,000 to S$50,000, up to five years' imprisonment, and up to six strokes of the cane. The Police reiterated their zero-tolerance policy towards loanshark harassment and reminded the public to avoid engaging with or assisting illegal moneylenders. Suspicious activity should be reported via ‘999’ or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800-924-5664.

  On the morning of 23 June 2025, a 46-year-old Malaysian woman was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint for her alleged involvement in drug smuggling. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers stationed at the checkpoint flagged a Malaysian-registered motorcycle for enhanced inspection based on profiling assessments. The rider was attempting to cross into Singapore from Malaysia. During the inspection, officers discovered two suspicious bundles hidden beneath the motorcycle's front fairing. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) was immediately alerted to the potential drug-related offence. Following a thorough follow-up search, a total of seven bundles were eventually uncovered from the same compartment. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the bundles contained approximately 1,057 grams of cannabis and 973 grams of methamphetamine, commonly known as 'Ice'. The combined estimated street value of the seized drugs exceeds S$142,000. According to authorities, the quan...

  On June 24, 2025 , two Chinese nationals, Feng Yunlong , 38, and Zhang Yongxiang , 52, were each sentenced to 15 months' jail after pleading guilty to one count of housebreaking and theft . Both had one other similar charge taken into consideration during sentencing. The duo were arrested by Singapore Police on December 18, 2024 , in connection with break-ins at two landed properties , one at Greenleaf View in Holland and another at Zehnder Road in Buona Vista . According to the court proceedings, both men arrived in Singapore on December 13, 2024 , under social visit passes . Merely three days after arriving, on the evening of December 16 at around 8.50pm , they were seen loitering near a three-storey semi-detached property at Greenleaf View , scouting for a potential target to commit housebreaking and theft. Deputy Public Prosecutor Teng Yin Hang told the court that after observing that the lights were off in the house, the duo decided to proceed with their plan. Zhang enter...

  A 45-year-old Singaporean man has been sentenced to four years and five months imprisonment for deceiving a 16-year-old girl into sexual relations through false financial promises. The case, which began in early 2022, involved the accused Tan Yan Zhe who first contacted the victim through an online marketplace platform. The teenage victim had posted on a classifieds platform identifying herself as a "17-year-old Chinese girl looking to make friends." Tan responded to this advertisement, initially offering to provide "pocket money" in exchange for companionship. Their communications later moved to Telegram, where Tan progressively increased his monetary offers. Court documents reveal that Tan first proposed S$2,500 monthly, then raised it to S$5,000 when the girl showed no interest. He specifically inquired about her boundaries, offering S$100 for sexual relations or S$150 per hour for platonic meetings, which the teenager rejected as insufficient. The situat...

  On April 5, 2025 , a joyous wedding celebration at JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach was turned into a nightmare when a man stole two money boxes containing red packets worth $48,939 from the couple’s registration table. The offender, Lee Yi Wei , aged 36, was a former part-time banquet server familiar with the venue layout and had planned the theft in advance. The incident occurred around 12.50pm during a wedding lunch held at the hotel’s grand ballroom . According to court proceedings, Lee exploited a moment when the registration table was left unattended , seizing both cash-filled boxes before fleeing the scene. The theft was captured on CCTV, and the wedding organiser quickly notified police at about 1.00pm after discovering the theft. Investigations revealed that Lee, who was also a habitual gambler, had previously worked at the same ballroom and knew where red packet money boxes were typically placed during wedding events. He stashed the stolen boxes in a locker ...

  On June 24, 2025 , a viral social media post sparked public outrage after a disturbing road rage incident was reported by a motorist involving reckless driving and verbal abuse targeted at children . The incident allegedly unfolded while the reporting driver was travelling with three young children in the car . According to the victim's account, the family vehicle was suddenly and dangerously cut off by another driver , who swerved aggressively into their lane without signaling or caution. The manoeuvre was described as abrupt and extremely reckless , putting the lives of the children and all occupants in the car at risk. After managing to avoid a collision, the affected driver reportedly confronted the errant motorist to express concern and anger over the dangerous act particularly given the presence of minors in the car. However, the situation quickly escalated. Instead of apologising or acknowledging the severity of his actions, the aggressive driver allegedly responded with...