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  An intoxicated motorist, Yoong Kok Kai, aged 44, had his jail term significantly increased from three-and-a-half years to five years on December 5, following a successful appeal by the prosecution. The severe sentence was handed down by High Court Judge Aidan Xu and relates to an accident at the Tuas Checkpoint on the morning of March 24, 2023, that left an auxiliary police officer in a vegetative state. The sentence of five years is notably higher than the four-year term that the prosecution had initially sought in its appeal against the original jail term handed down to Yoong by the district judge on March 17. Furthermore, Justice Xu imposed the maximum fine of $10,000, which had been inadvertently omitted by the lower court judge during the initial sentencing. The 10-year driving disqualification period imposed by the lower court remained unchanged. Justice Xu delivered brief remarks, noting the extreme danger of the incident. He stated that Yoong “drove so dangerously that he...

  A migrant worker, Islam Mohammad Khabirul, a 34-year-old shipyard worker from Bangladesh, has failed in his appeal to the High Court against his conviction for making a fraudulent claim for work injury compensation. Khabirul was sentenced to 13 weeks’ jail after being found guilty on three charges: one for making the fraudulent claim and two for submitting false statements to a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigation officer. High Court judge Vincent Hoong dismissed Khabirul’s appeal on December 3. Khabirul, who was employed by a company called Vigour Technologies and worked on a vessel named Heerema Sleipnir at Sembcorp Marine Tuas Boulevard Yard, had maintained that his employer and co-workers conspired to implicate him, with the employer masterminding the conspiracy to cover up a genuine accident and avoid regulatory scrutiny regarding the accident. Justice Hoong rejected this argument, stating that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to prove that Khabirul had been...

  Flash floods impacted several areas in the west of Singapore on the afternoon of December 4, following a period of intense thundery showers that affected many parts of the island. The national water agency, PUB, detailed the affected locations in a Facebook post, attributing the flash floods to the intense rain temporarily overwhelming the capacity of the surrounding drains and canals. The areas confirmed by PUB to have experienced flash floods include: Pandan Road Boon Lay Avenue (specifically the stretch between Jalan Boon Lay and Boon Lay Drive) The junction of Boon Lay Way and Corporation Road Pesawat Drive (before Jurong Port Road) The National Environment Agency had previously forecast heavy rain across numerous areas of the island, expected between 2:40 PM and 3:45 PM. However, the actual rainfall recorded in the affected western region was exceptionally heavy. PUB reported that the heaviest rainfall measured 113.4mm, which was recorded in western Singapore during a period...

  A Taiwanese woman, Lin Mei, aged 43, was sentenced to 10 months’ jail on December 3, for masterminding the wrongful confinement of a female debtor in an effort to recover a loan of approximately $25,000. Lin pleaded guilty to one count of the offense. Her accomplice in the crime, Chinese national Wu Zhibing, aged 36, who was Lin’s housemate at the time, was previously sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for his role. The victim, a 49-year-old Singaporean woman, endured a harrowing ordeal that lasted around five hours. The wrongful confinement left her with marks on her limbs that took two months to fade, as well as facial bruises that took two weeks to clear. The court heard that the victim and Lin were acquainted through illegal gambling activities. Deputy Public Prosecutor Darren Sim detailed the events leading up to the crime. On February 27, 2024, Lin’s housemate, Wu, informed her that he intended to return to his home country as his work permit had expired. Court documen...

  The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on Monday, December 1, 2025, that it will cease the Work Permit scheme for foreign performing artistes due to widespread abuse by syndicates. Consequently, the Ministry will stop accepting new applications to hire foreign workers under the Performing Artiste Work Permit scheme from June 1, 2026. The scheme, originally introduced in 2008, was intended to allow licensed public entertainment outlets, such as bars, hotels, and nightclubs, to hire foreign performing artistes of any nationality for short-term engagements lasting up to six months. However, recent enforcement operations carried out by the Ministry of Manpower in collaboration with the police uncovered substantial manipulation of the system. These operations revealed syndicates utilizing non-operating public entertainment outlets to fraudulently hire foreign performing artistes under the scheme. These foreign workers were subsequently released to work illegally at various other pub...

  Thirteen men, aged between 21 and 39, were arrested on November 28 and November 29 for their suspected involvement with illegal secret societies. The arrests followed a large-scale, two-day operation led by the Secret Societies Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department, supported by five police divisions. The enforcement blitz involved checking close to 100 people across approximately 40 public entertainment, nightlife, and food and beverage outlets island-wide. The police announced the arrests on December 3. Individuals found guilty of being members of an illegal secret society face penalties including up to three years’ jail, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The police emphasized that firm action will continue to be taken against those associated with secret societies. They further advised the public to avoid such activities and to immediately report any unlawful actions to the police, particularly as regular enforcement operations are stepped up during the year-end fest...

  A female driver for the TADA ride-hailing platform, Sarah Lim, has lodged a police report following an aggressive confrontation with two male passengers. Ms. Lim documented the alleged incident, which she reported occurred on November 30 at approximately 2:58 AM, specifically at the Studio M Hotel. She shared a video clip of the exchange in Facebook. The almost three-and-a-half-minute video recording captures the height of the confrontation. In the footage, a male passenger can be heard repeatedly questioning Ms. Lim about whether the TADA platform mandates regulations concerning passengers occupying the front seat. Throughout the exchange, the passenger directly accuses Ms. Lim of having a "problem" and repeatedly labels her as "racist." In her accompanying caption to the video, Ms. Lim explained the origin of the dispute. She stated that she had a personal preference for passengers to sit in the back when there were available seats and had asked one of the male ...

  A car erupted in flames on the SLE-CTE on December 2, 2025, reportedly occurring between 5:50 PM and 6:05 PM. Eyewitnesses also reported hearing "pockets of explosions" emanating from the vehicle. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded promptly, with firefighters arriving within minutes to quickly put out the intense fire. Authorities confirmed that no injuries resulted from the incident.

  A Swedish national, Alkallas Karam, aged 23, who was in Singapore on an exchange program, was recently sentenced to four weeks in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal trespass. The charges stemmed from an incident where he unlawfully entered the restricted premises of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2025 held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 4. The events began when Alkallas expressed to his friends on October 3 that the tickets for the annual event were prohibitively expensive. Despite this, he decided to attempt to gain unauthorized entry the following day. At approximately 7 PM on October 4, Alkallas arrived at Gate 1 of the Circuit Park area. He encountered a male volunteer, identified in court documents as B1, who was tasked with scanning entry tickets. Alkallas initially approached B1, claiming his ticket was with a friend, and B1 instructed him to wait. About 30 minutes later, Alkallas approached the volunteer again, reiterating that his fri...

  A 39-year-old Singaporean man, Teo Kok Meng, was sentenced on Monday, December 1, 2025, to four weeks' jail after pleading guilty to one count of obstructing justice. The charge stemmed from his attempt to shift blame onto a friend following a fatal traffic accident in 2022. The Fatal Accident The incident occurred on September 27, 2022: Pre-Accident: Teo, his girlfriend, and a colleague, Tan Kah Kiat Jacky, 35, had consumed alcohol and food at a coffeeshop in Bukit Batok before driving away. Collision: While Teo was driving along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1, his car collided with a power-assisted bicycle ridden by 28-year-old delivery rider Samuel Seet Wei Jie, who emerged from a slip road. Mr. Seet, who was newly married and performing food deliveries to supplement his income, was flung onto the road and later died in the hospital. Drink Driving: Following the accident, all three occupants of Teo's car (Teo, his girlfriend, and later Tan) failed preliminary breathalyser tests. O...

  A single father of three was sentenced to seven weeks' imprisonment and a $16,000 fine on December 1, 2025, for his involvement in the illegal distribution and sale of vapes. The Offender and His Role The convicted man, Shaun Phua Ming Hui, 32, a single father, pleaded guilty to 10 vaping-related offences, with 35 other charges taken into consideration for sentencing. Initial Role (April 2023): Phua was initially introduced to the job by a friend, where he delivered vapes twice a week. He earned between $100 and $150 daily for 10 to 15 parcels at $10 each. Expanded Role (March 2024): Seeking extra income, Phua agreed to manage the sales end of the operation. An unnamed associate created two Telegram group accounts, “Abigail vape shop” and “Ashley Tang,” on Phua's phone. Phua managed customer orders and coordination, earning an additional $50 a week, which he admitted brought his total criminal earnings to about $500 per month. Arrest and Sentencing Phua was apprehended by the...

  On December 1, 2025, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority reported that its officers at Tuas Checkpoint foiled a significant smuggling attempt on November 17, 2025. The operation involved a 55-year-old Singaporean man driving a Singapore-registered car. Officers directed the vehicle for enhanced checks, leading to the discovery of over 2,800 e-vaporisers and related components. The illegal items were found meticulously concealed within various compartments of the car, indicating a deliberate attempt to evade detection at the border. The prompt intervention by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority prevented a large quantity of prohibited goods from entering the country. The case was promptly referred to the Health Sciences Authority for detailed investigation into the illegal importation. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority emphasized that robust border security is a crucial aspect of its enforcement strategy against e-vaporisers, reiterating its commitment to...

  The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has arrested a 73-year-old Malaysian woman for her suspected involvement as a money mule in at least three cases of the Government Official Impersonation Scam (GOIS), in which scammers posed as officials from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The Scam and Modus Operandi The scam incidents occurred between October 8 and November 24, 2025. Impersonation: The scammers contacted victims, claiming to be officials from the "Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)". The Lie: Victims were falsely informed that their bank accounts were linked to money laundering activities or that their personal information had been compromised. Instruction to Victims: Victims were instructed to surrender their cash and valuables (including gold bars) to the scammers for the purported purpose of investigations. The Handover: Victims complied, meeting unknown individuals at various locations across Singapore to hand over the items. The victims realized they had...

  The Singapore Police Force (SPF) arrested a 23-year-old Italian man for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating after he allegedly used a counterfeit watch to acquire three genuine Rolex watches valued at approximately $90,000. The arrest was made swiftly at Changi Airport before the suspect could leave the country. The Cheating Incident The incident was reported on the evening of November 28, 2025: Time and Location: At about 7:30 pm, Police were alerted to a case of suspected cheating at a watch shop located along Bencoolen Street. Method: The man had allegedly engaged in a trade-in transaction with the retailer, exchanging a branded luxury watch for three genuine Rolex watches valued at about $90,000. Discovery: During subsequent authentication checks, the retailer discovered that the branded watch traded in by the man was counterfeit and immediately alerted the police. Swift Arrest and Recovery Officers from the Central Police Division launched immediate follow-up inv...

  The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced on November 28, 2025, that it has successfully intercepted two separate smuggling operations, leading to the seizure of illegal codeine cough syrup and prescription medicines with a combined street value of approximately $41,000. These swift enforcement actions prevented highly addictive controlled substances from reaching the illicit market in Singapore. Case 1: Illegal Cough Syrup in Bleach Bottles The first case involved the deceptive packaging and distribution of illegal cough syrup: Detection: On November 17, 2025, HSA was alerted by a courier company that had observed two suspicious crates at their facility. Concealment: The overseas shipments, intended for two separate addresses in Yishun, were deceptively labelled as a well-known household bleach but actually contained suspected codeine-based cough syrup. Seizure: HSA conducted simultaneous enforcement operations at both Yishun delivery addresses on the same day, seizing over ...

  The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Sunday, November 30, 2025, a significant tightening of screen use guidelines for secondary school students, which will see the use of smartphones and smartwatches prohibited during all school hours starting from January 2026. Enhanced Screen Use Guidelines The new rules expand upon the current guidelines, which only prohibit device use during lesson time: Total Ban Scope: From 2026, the ban will be extended to include all non-lesson time, such as recess, co-curricular activities (CCAs), supplementary, enrichment, and remedial lessons. Device Storage: During all school hours, students' devices must be kept in designated storage areas (e.g., lockers) or school bags. Exceptions: MOE noted that "Where necessary, schools may allow students to use smartphones by exception." Primary School Alignment: These stricter guidelines are already in place for primary school students under the Grow Well SG national health promotion strategy, ...

  An unusual multi-vehicle accident occurred on the East Coast Parkway (ECP) on the afternoon of November 29, 2025, when a large tree branch snapped and fell onto the expressway, affecting multiple cars and causing injuries to three people. Incident and Medical Response The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and police were alerted at approximately 1:35 pm to an accident on the ECP towards the city, just before the Fort Road exit. Vehicles Involved: The accident involved a trailer and five cars. The initial strike by the tall vehicle caused a branch from a rain tree ( Samanea saman ) to snap and fall onto the trailing vehicles. Casualties: A total of five people were assessed for injuries: Three people were conveyed conscious to Raffles Hospital: a 71-year-old male car driver, his 32-year-old male passenger, and another 70-year-old male car driver. Two other persons were assessed for minor injuries but declined to be taken to the hospital. Cause and Clearance The National Parks B...

  A fire broke out at a coffeeshop in Telok Blangah on the morning of November 19, 2025, necessitating a swift response from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the police, leading to the evacuation of approximately 80 persons. Fire and Response Details The SCDF was alerted to the fire at Block 61 Telok Blangah Heights coffeeshop at about 11:10 am. Extent of Damage: Upon the SCDF's arrival, several stalls within the coffeeshop were found to be on fire. Extinguishment: The SCDF utilized three water jets to successfully extinguish the blaze. Evacuation: As a precautionary measure, approximately 80 persons in the vicinity were evacuated by the Police and SCDF personnel. Casualties and Medical Attention The incident resulted in multiple people being assessed for the effects of smoke inhalation: On-Scene Assessment: A total of 10 persons were assessed for smoke inhalation at the scene. Hospital Conveyance: Of the ten assessed, two were conveyed to hospitals for further medical ...

  A viral video surfaced online showing a fire breakout at Koufu food court at 88 Tanglin Halt Rd. No further details was available #sg #sgnews #newssg #lakopinews #singapore #singaporenews #lakopixiwen #news #crime #sgcrime #crimesg #TanglinHalt #Koufu #SingaporeFire #FoodCourt

A fatal road traffic accident occurred on the morning of November 29, 2025, in northern Singapore, resulting in the death of a 39-year-old cyclist. The incident involved a public bus operated by Tower Transit. The Accident and Immediate Aftermath The police were alerted to the accident at approximately 10:55 am along Admiralty Drive towards Sembawang Road. Victim and Outcome: The cyclist, a 39-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The Vehicle: The incident involved bus service 859, operated by Tower Transit. Scene Details: The Chinese-language news outlet Shin Min Daily News quoted a resident who stated the cyclist was trapped under the wheels of the bus after the collision. The bus's windscreen was reported to be cracked, with bloodstains visible on the road. Passengers: More than 20 people were on the bus at the time, but none of them were hurt. Preliminary Cause and Investigation Tower Transit confirmed its ...