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  A 17-year-old was the youngest among 13 individuals arrested in a week-long police operation targeting illegal SIM card distribution. The crackdown, conducted between February 18 and 24, focused on individuals who registered and provided post-paid SIM cards to criminals in exchange for cash or gambling credits. The suspects, 11 men and two women aged between 17 and 33, were allegedly involved in supplying SIM cards to syndicates that use them for illegal activities such as scams, unlicensed moneylending, and vice operations. Another five individuals, two men and three women aged between 20 and 30, are assisting with investigations. Preliminary findings suggest that each suspect handed over between 10 and 30 SIM cards after being lured by offers of cash or gambling credits. These illegally obtained cards allow criminals to communicate without being easily traced, making it harder for authorities to track illicit operations. Singapore recently tightened regulations on SIM card frau...

  A resident of Marine Parade was shocked when a section of her ceiling broke off and crashed onto the floor of her HDB flat at Block 52 Marine Terrace Haven. The incident occurred around midnight on February 16 while the family was asleep, and fortunately, no one was injured. The resident, who moved into the unit in June 2023, shared images of the damage, expressing her disbelief at the incident. The block, built in 1974, has stood for over 51 years. According to HDB, spalling concrete is a common issue in older buildings, particularly in areas with high humidity, such as kitchens and bathrooms. This deterioration occurs due to carbonation, which causes steel reinforcements inside the concrete to corrode. As the steel expands, the surrounding concrete cracks and eventually breaks off. While spalling concrete can be prevented with regular maintenance, the responsibility typically falls on the occupant. However, after the resident reported the incident, HDB assured her that repairs ...

  A 29-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated rape, sexual exploitation of a child, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of his 11-year-old stepdaughter. The man, who cannot be named due to a gag order protecting the victim’s identity, committed the offenses between November and December 2022. Nine additional charges, including performing sexual acts of self-gratification in the victim’s presence, were taken into consideration during sentencing. The man married the victim’s mother in 2019, and they moved into a one-bedroom flat with her three children from a previous marriage. The victim and her two older brothers shared the living room with the couple, with the victim sleeping on a sofa beside her mother and stepfather. The abuse began when the man, frustrated after being interrupted by the victim during an intimate moment with her mother, decided to watch porn and pleasure himself in the ...

A young girl was taken to the hospital after her foot became trapped in an escalator at a shopping mall in Buangkok on February 22. A video of the incident, shared on social media, shows a woman crouching beside the distressed child, attempting to comfort her as she cries out in pain. Another woman can be heard on a phone call with emergency responders, clarifying that she is not the girl’s mother. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed receiving a call for assistance at approximately 6.50 pm. The incident occurred at 70 Compassvale Bow, the location of Sengkang Grand Mall. The child’s left foot had become wedged in the side of the escalator. Rescuers used specialized equipment to release her before transporting her to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital for treatment. The severity of her injuries remains unclear, but the incident has sparked discussions about escalator safety, particularly concerning children. Escalator accidents are not uncommon, and experts stress the imp...

  In Singapore, Montfort Secondary School has taken disciplinary action against students involved in a bullying incident where a boy was tripped and kicked by his schoolmates. A video of the incident was posted on Facebook on February 22, 2025, and quickly went viral, garnering over 10,000 shares before it was removed by the following night. In the footage, a group of students was seen approaching the victim from behind. One student tripped him, causing him to fall, while another kicked him twice. As the boy stood up and walked away, another student came from behind and tripped him again. The incident raised concerns about bullying in schools and sparked online discussions. Montfort Secondary School’s vice-principal, Mr. Wilson Tay, confirmed that the school was aware of the incident and had taken appropriate disciplinary action against those involved. While he did not specify the exact measures taken, he stated that the students had been counseled and their parents were engaged in...

Six coffee shops in Toa Payoh, Balestier, Punggol, Geylang, and Little India were issued a one-day suspension on February 21 due to hygiene lapses related to toilet cleanliness. The affected establishments—Al Mubin Restaurant, 27A Coffee Shop, 7 Stars, Teck Wah, Teck Seng, and 1002 Food Court—had accumulated 12 demerit points within a 12-month period, triggering their suspension under Singapore Food Agency (SFA) regulations. Al Mubin Restaurant and Teck Seng were fined $1,100 for three violations, including failing to maintain sanitary fittings and keep toilets in good condition. 27A Coffee Shop, 7 Stars, and Teck Wah were each fined $1,300 for similar offences, while 1002 Food Court was fined $1,200 for failing to provide toilet paper and soap, among other lapses. SFA enforces a demerit point system, where food establishments accumulating 12 or more points within a year may face suspensions ranging from one to three days. The agency emphasized the importance of hygiene compliance, sta...

A fire involving waste materials broke out at 11 Kranji Crescent on February 19, 2025. Firefighters responded swiftly, working tirelessly over the past four days to fully extinguish the flames. The fire was particularly challenging due to deep-seated pockets within waste heaps, requiring continuous effort to eliminate remaining embers. Now that the fire has been fully put out, the firefighting operation is being scaled down. However, as a precaution, a fire engine and crew will stay on-site to monitor the area and ensure no further flare-ups occur. The site will be progressively handed back to the premises owner to facilitate recovery and cleanup operations. The incident highlights the persistence and dedication of emergency responders in handling large-scale fires, particularly in industrial areas where materials can pose a risk of reignition. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of proper waste management to prevent similar incidents in the future.

  A controversy has emerged over hawker centre regulations following a social media post by Noorman Mubarak, who operates a nasi lemak stall at Yishun Park Hawker Centre with his wife, Mrs Noorman. The dispute arose after the National Environment Agency (NEA) issued a warning because Mrs Noorman, the registered stallholder, was not physically present at the stall, despite managing it remotely. This sparked widespread debate, with many expressing concern over her situation as she was heavily pregnant. According to NEA regulations, stallholders are required to personally operate their stalls to prevent subletting. NEA stated that allowing subletting could drive up rental costs, making it harder for individuals to enter the industry and ultimately raising food prices. Stallholders who are unable to be present have the option to appoint a joint operator or a nominee. Additionally, NEA offers temporary rental rebates to those who need to close their stalls temporarily due to unforeseen ...

  A 28-year-old Australian man, El Sayed Aladdin, was sentenced to eight months and two weeks in jail on February 21 after pleading guilty to verbally abusing immigration officers and attempting to leave Singapore using a passport that did not belong to him. He was also fined S$6,500 (US$4,860), with a default sentence of 20 days' imprisonment if he fails to pay. The incident began on December 14, 2024, when Aladdin was stopped at Changi Airport during routine security checks. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers discovered prohibited items in his baggage, including knuckle dusters and flick knives. When informed that the matter would be referred to the police for further investigation, Aladdin reacted aggressively, hurling derogatory and insulting remarks at the ICA officers. Authorities took a serious view of his behavior, and his passport was confiscated to prevent him from leaving Singapore while investigations were ongoing. Attempted Escape at Woodlands Checkpo...

  A state coroner has issued a stark warning about the dangers of unregulated carpooling services, such as those offered on Telegram, following the death of a 21-year-old passenger in a road accident. On December 31, 2023, Michael Ong Wee Siong was travelling in a van along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) towards Tuas when the vehicle collided with a lorry and flipped over. Mr Ong, who was seated in the front passenger seat, suffered fatal neck injuries and likely succumbed to them before emergency responders could extricate him from the wreckage. The driver of the van was only 18 years old at the time and did not hold a Class 3 Driving Licence or even a Provisional Driving Licence. According to the coroner’s report, the driver had no authorisation to use the van from its registered owner and was unlikely to have had significant driving experience. Investigations revealed that the driver had been offering rides through a Telegram carpooling chat, where unlicensed drivers ferry pass...