LAKOPINEWS.COM

  Six men in Singapore, aged between 22 and 41, have been charged in court over various offenses related to child sexual exploitation. The charges include engaging in commercial sex with minors and possessing child abuse material. Kok Chuan Yuan, 37, faces two charges for allegedly engaging in commercial sex with a 12-year-old girl in November 2024. Court documents reveal that he had promised the victim $50 for sexual services before kissing her body and touching her over her clothing. Police investigations indicate that he had initially befriended the girl online before committing the acts. Aloysius Lim Jia En, 25, is facing eight charges for the sexual penetration of a minor under 16. Authorities state that he had contacted the girl online and paid her for sexual services on multiple occasions. The offenses reportedly took place in a residential flat between November and December 2023. George Lee Ji Qiang, 22, has been charged with possessing child abuse material and obscene film...

On 22 May 2025, Ruzdiman Salhan Mohamed Salim, a 44-year-old former route inspector with the National Environment Agency (NEA), was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail for soliciting and receiving bribes totaling S$2,420 from employees of a cleaning service provider. The court also ordered him to pay a penalty equivalent to the amount he had unlawfully obtained. Ruzdiman's role at NEA involved inspecting routes cleaned by service providers contracted to maintain public cleanliness. These inspections were critical, as any lapses could result in default points, leading to financial penalties for the service providers. Between 2017 and 2022, Ruzdiman was responsible for inspecting areas managed by YS Yong Services. Initially, Ruzdiman was diligent in his duties, issuing over 50 default points monthly. However, from 2019 onwards, he began to neglect his responsibilities, often asking YS Yong staff to send him photographs of cleaned areas instead of conducting physical inspections. This ...

  Three men were arrested in a major enforcement operation for allegedly evading more than S$936,000 in duties and Goods and Services Tax (GST) involving contraband cigarettes. The joint operation was conducted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs on 17 May 2025, targeting illegal cigarette activities at multiple locations across Singapore. The suspects, aged between 26 and 35, were detained at Tuas Checkpoint, Jalan Kayu, and Bukit Batok. Investigations revealed that they were allegedly part of a coordinated effort to smuggle cigarettes into the country without paying the required taxes. Officers seized a total of 8,186 cartons and 60 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. These were found concealed in modified compartments of vehicles and hidden storage areas. The unpaid duties and GST for the recovered cigarettes amounted to more than S$936,000. At Tuas Checkpoint, one of the suspects was caught driving a Malaysia-registered lorry carrying a cargo...

  In a dramatic turn of events, Eleanor Lee, daughter of veteran actress Quan Yi Fong, has been cleared of accusations that she verbally abused her former assistant. The saga that captured widespread online attention took a sharp turn on 20 May 2024, when the former assistant publicly admitted to doctoring the audio recording that sparked the controversy. The incident began when an audio clip allegedly capturing Eleanor shouting at and mistreating her assistant circulated on social media platforms. The clip gained traction quickly, leading to intense scrutiny and backlash directed at the actress. While many netizens expressed outrage, others urged caution until more facts surfaced. On 20 May, the former assistant known as Xiao Pang took to social media with a lengthy statement, revealing that the viral audio was selectively edited. She admitted to removing parts of the conversation to mislead the public into believing that Eleanor was abusive. According to her statement, the edited...

  On 21 May 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a significant post-election Cabinet reshuffle, introducing key leadership changes aimed at strengthening Singapore’s governance as the country enters a new phase of national development. The changes involve the reassignment of high-profile ministers, consolidation of leadership roles, and reaffirmation of strategic national priorities. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong has taken on the role of Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, replacing Heng Swee Keat, who stepped down from Cabinet while remaining a Member of Parliament. This appointment underscores a continued emphasis on economic stability and adaptability amid global uncertainties. Gan also retains his portfolio as Minister for Trade and Industry, ensuring policy consistency. Another major shift sees Education Minister Chan Chun Sing leaving the Cabinet. He has been succeeded by Ong Ye Kung, who was formerly the Minister for Health. Ong’s reassignment to the Mi...

  Actress Eleanor Lee has issued a strong public statement denying recent allegations made against her by her former assistant, Xiao Pang. The controversy arose after an audio clip surfaced online, supposedly capturing Eleanor verbally abusing her assistant. The audio quickly went viral on social media platforms, leading to a wave of public backlash. On 20 May 2024, Eleanor took to her personal Douyin (Chinese TikTok) account to clarify the situation. In a nearly 10-minute video, she accused her former assistant of deliberately recording, editing, and leaking a fake audio clip to damage her reputation and emotionally manipulate the public. Eleanor explained that the assistant in question was dismissed in 2021 after showing repeated signs of erratic behaviour, including outbursts, passive-aggressive attitudes, and failing to maintain professionalism on set. According to Eleanor, the assistant had been given multiple chances to improve and was offered psychological support, which she...

  A 27-year-old Singaporean man, Marc Justine Landrio Chandramohan, manipulated a 16-year-old girl into a "sugar daddy" arrangement before blackmailing her for money and sexual favors. After she tried to back out, he threatened fake legal action, coercing her into compliance. Chandramohan also secretly filmed two other women during intimate acts and participated in a bank scam, allowing fraudulent transactions worth over S$304,000. On May 21, he pleaded guilty to seven charges, including extortion and distributing obscene material. Nine additional charges will be considered at his sentencing on June 2. Prosecutors labeled him a "predator of young and naive victims," highlighting his calculated exploitation. The case underscores the dangers of online grooming and financial scams.

  On May 21, 2025, a 35-year-old police officer, S Vikneshvaran s/o Subramaniam, was charged in the State Courts of Singapore for allegedly forging police statements and documents related to cases he investigated between 2021 and 2023. The charges stem from irregularities discovered during a supervisory check in January 2023, which revealed issues concerning case exhibits and document management. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) had placed Vikneshvaran under enhanced supervision in October 2022 due to concerns about his work performance. The subsequent review uncovered that he had allegedly forged nine documents, comprising seven police statements and two acknowledgment slips, across seven cases. These cases included five ongoing criminal investigations and two concluded cases that did not result in prosecution. In the five ongoing cases, Vikneshvaran is accused of conducting verbal interviews with individuals, either in person or over the phone, and then recording these as offic...

  On May 19, 2025, Lev Panfilov, a 29-year-old Singapore permanent resident originally from Russia, was sentenced to 11 years and 6 months in jail and 12 strokes of the cane for raping a woman he had met through the dating app Tinder. The sentence was handed down after he was found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of outrage of modesty. Panfilov, who had previously worked as a scriptwriter and actor with the local YouTube comedy channel Wah!Banana, committed the offences on January 12, 2021. The victim, then a 30-year-old woman with experience in acting and modelling, had been seeking guidance on branching into comedy scriptwriting when she connected with Panfilov on Tinder. Their initial conversations led to a meeting at a restaurant in Robertson Quay, where the woman brought her laptop and began working on a script with him. As the restaurant was closing, Panfilov suggested they continue working at his flat. They travelled se...

  ***Update: Bus service for new Punggol Coast Bus Interchange is  34 and 117. The upcoming launch of the Punggol Coast Bus Interchange on June 29, 2025, marks a significant milestone in Singapore's public transportation landscape. As the nation's 15th integrated transport hub (ITH), this new facility is poised to enhance connectivity and convenience for residents and commuters in the Punggol region. Strategically situated within the Punggol Digital District, the interchange is designed to seamlessly connect with the Punggol Coast MRT station, which commenced operations on December 10, 2024. This integration facilitates smoother transitions between bus and rail services, thereby improving the overall commuting experience. The Punggol Coast Bus Interchange is equipped with modern amenities to cater to the needs of commuters. Features include air-conditioned waiting areas, real-time bus arrival information displays, and barrier-free access for individuals with mobility challe...