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  Singapore Customs successfully disrupted an attempt to distribute duty-unpaid cigarettes, arresting three individuals and seizing 3,600 cartons of contraband cigarettes in operations conducted on March 1, 2025. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded in this case amounted to approximately $389,944. Officers also seized two vans used in the smuggling operation and $19,000 in suspected illegal proceeds. As part of efforts to combat illicit activities involving duty-unpaid goods, Customs officers conducted an operation at a car park along Upper Serangoon Road, where they observed two men approaching two parked vans. Upon inspecting the vehicles, officers found that each van contained 1,800 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. The two men, both Malaysian nationals aged 36 and 45, were immediately arrested. Following this operation, a follow-up raid was conducted at a residence in Segar Road, where a 37-year-old Singaporean man was arrested. A search of the premises led t...

  A 42-year-old woman was sentenced to four weeks’ jail on March 6 for abusing her domestic helper on multiple occasions in 2023. The offender, Norwahidah Johari, is a Malaysian citizen and a Singapore permanent resident. The victim, 33-year-old Indonesian national Putri Rizki Amelia, was employed by Norwahidah’s husband on March 13, 2023. However, just five months later, Norwahidah began physically and verbally abusing her. The helper was made to sleep in the kitchen from her second day of employment and was repeatedly insulted, with the employer calling her “poor” and “filthy.” The first act of abuse occurred on August 9, 2023, when Norwahidah threw a basket filled with torn waste paper at Ms. Putri’s face. Over time, her aggression escalated—she swung a shoe at the victim, poured an entire bottle of soya sauce over her head, and threw a bowl of flour at her. One incident happened late at night on September 28, 2023, when Norwahidah confronted Ms. Putri over a bottle of soya sauc...

  A 44-year-old man has been charged in Singapore for illegally importing 154 replica guns without the necessary permit. The accused, Ng Jie Sheng, appeared in the State Courts on March 6 and stated his intention to plead guilty, though he plans to engage legal counsel before his next court hearing on March 27. According to the charge sheet, Ng is accused of bringing in 84 sets of toy rifles, 70 sets of toy pistols, and 10 sets of toy bullet launchers, along with four boxes of rubber bullets and accessories, between March 14 and May 11, 2023. The case came to light when authorities received a tip-off about replica guns being sold on an e-commerce platform on May 11, 2023. Following investigations, the police identified the seller and raided a residence along Race Course Lane on May 26, where they seized the imported items. Under Singapore’s strict gun control laws, the import of replica firearms requires police approval. The authorities have made it clear that any toy or replica gu...

  Singapore has witnessed a surge in vehicle fires, with the latest incident occurring on the morning of March 6 in Tampines. This marks the third reported car fire in just five days. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received an alert about a burning car on Tampines Street 31 at approximately 7:20 a.m. Firefighters promptly responded, using a hose reel and a compressed air foam backpack to extinguish the flames. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. A video circulating captures the dramatic scene, showing a car on the right lane engulfed in flames. Three firefighters can be seen working to douse the fire while retrieving additional equipment from their emergency vehicle, which was parked nearby. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. This incident follows two other recent vehicle fires. On March 2, a man lost his life when his car crashed on Nicoll Highway and burst into flames. Dashcam footage revealed that the vehicle was speeding before striking a road div...

  A 26-year-old homeless man, unable to work in Singapore due to his student pass status, was sentenced to 8½ years in jail, 12 strokes of the cane, and a $1,000 fine after attacking a 64-year-old woman with a razor blade during a failed robbery on March 4. The assailant, Indian National Shamsher Singh, was convicted of causing grievous hurt while attempting to commit robbery. He also pleaded guilty to separate charges of theft and assaulting a teenage boy. The attack occurred on November 10, 2022, at around 8:30 p.m. The victim, a retail assistant, was returning home from work when she got off bus service 31 near the Singapore Association for the Deaf. Struggling to walk up the stairs of an overhead bridge, she used the lift instead. Singh, who had been sitting at the bus stop, spotted the woman and decided to target her. He took out an unused disposable razor, unwrapped it, and discreetly held it between his fingers. When the victim exited the lift, he followed her onto the bridg...

  A 26-year-old man was sentenced to seven months in jail for molesting his neighbor after breaking into her condominium unit in the early hours of the morning. The offender, Erakkodan Abinraj, pleaded guilty to one charge of molestation, while an additional charge of housebreaking was taken into consideration for sentencing. Erakkodan, an Indian national, had been living next door to the victim for about a year along with five colleagues. He was familiar with the victim, as they had encountered each other multiple times before. The incident occurred on September 22, 2024, at around 4:50 a.m. Erakkodan entered his neighbor’s unit through the kitchen balcony, which was connected to his own apartment. Using the flashlight on his mobile phone for visibility in the dark, he wandered around the residence before making his way into the master bedroom. At the time, the 36-year-old victim was asleep in bed with her husband, while their child was in another room. Erakkodan approached the vi...

  A dramatic accident was caught on camera at the junction of Punggol Central and Edgefield Plains, where a cyclist, believed to be a student in physical education (PE) attire, was knocked down by a silver car. The footage, which was widely shared on social media, shows the cyclist riding against the red light before being hit by the car, which seemingly did not have time to react due to the cyclist appearing from a blind spot. As the impact occurred, the cyclist was thrown over the vehicle, flipping in the air before landing on the road. However, in a surprising turn of events, the rider quickly stood up, picked up the bicycle, and rode off within seconds. The extent of any injuries remains unclear as neither the driver nor the cyclist has been reported to have sought medical attention. This incident highlights the dangers of road users ignoring traffic signals. Running a red light is a serious offense that not only endangers the cyclist but also poses a significant risk to motori...

  A driver managed to escape without injury after a car caught fire in Jurong West on the morning of March 5. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received an alert about the fire at approximately 7:20 AM, which involved the engine compartment of the vehicle. Firefighters quickly responded to the scene and extinguished the fire using a hose reel. There were no reported injuries, and investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire. A video circulating on social media captured the aftermath, showing an SCDF Light Fire Attack Vehicle, commonly known as a Red Rhino, parked at the roadside while firefighters worked to put out the flames. The footage has raised concerns among netizens as this incident is part of a growing trend of vehicle fires in recent months. Vehicular fires, while not an everyday occurrence, have been reported with increasing frequency. Several factors can contribute to car fires, including mechanical failures, electrical faults, fuel leaks, and ov...

  The police have determined that the gathering of premium taxi drivers at Changi Airport on February 13 did not constitute an offence, according to Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam. Meanwhile, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat revealed that a ground manager from private transport operator Woodlands Transport Service, whose actions contributed to the cabbies' dissatisfaction, has been removed from his role. The gathering was described as a "pre-planned dialogue" meant to address concerns regarding a new minibus service at the airport. Mr Shanmugam stated that police inquiries found no evidence of a strike or protest, and there were no law-and-order issues arising from the event. As a result, the police will not be conducting further investigations. Transport Minister Mr Chee provided additional context on the situation. Since 2008, Changi Airport Group (CAG) has been engaging Woodlands Transport to manage its ground transport concierge service, which allows passe...

  A 42-year-old man was sentenced to 14 years, three months, and eight weeks in jail, along with 12 strokes of the cane, for raping and assaulting his wife in November 2020. This case marks the first conviction for marital rape in Singapore since the repeal of marital immunity on January 1, 2020. The man, a foreigner working in Singapore, initially claimed trial but pleaded guilty after two days of court proceedings, during which his wife testified. The couple, who have three children, were living separately at the time of the incident. The wife resided in a flat provided by her employer, while the man lived elsewhere. Their children were not in Singapore. On November 8, 2020, the man asked to meet his wife to give her a gift. Despite her initial refusal, he showed up at her flat’s void deck, leading to a heated argument. The altercation escalated, with the man slapping and kicking his wife in the lift and lobby. When her supervisor intervened, the woman reluctantly agreed to res...