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In October 2022, Seah Jie Kai Sylesnar, 19 at the time, fatally attacked his 47-year-old father near their home at Block 653, Yishun Avenue 4. The attack occurred after years of abuse and a heated argument where Seah's father mocked and provoked him, triggering the young man’s violent response. According to court documents, Seah’s father had a history of alcohol abuse and was physically and verbally abusive toward his wife and children. Over the years, Seah endured his father’s taunts, canings, and emotional abuse, which eventually culminated in the deadly confrontation. The father’s frequent threats and past gang involvement heightened Seah's fear that his father would one day kill him. On the evening of October 10, Seah's father provoked him by calling him a slur and asking if he dared to use a knife. Enraged and terrified, Seah grabbed two knives and confronted his father near the lift at their block, slashing him repeatedly. Despite attempting to stop the fight and expr...

The Singapore Police arrested two men, aged 25 and 26, for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment cases.  The first case, reported on September 24, involved a residential unit at Bedok Reservoir Road where red paint was splashed on the door, and a debtor’s note was left. The 26-year-old suspect was arrested on September 27 and linked to another harassment case at Bedok North Avenue 3.  In the second case, reported on September 27 at Sims Drive, a 25-year-old suspect was arrested after splashing brown paint and leaving a debtor's note.  Both men face charges under the Moneylenders Act 2008, with first-time offenders potentially facing fines, imprisonment, and caning.  The Police urge the public to avoid involvement with loansharks and report any suspected activity.

  A worker was killed during a lifting operation at a construction site at 8 Sentosa Gateway, where part of the structure collapsed and struck him.  The Ministry of Manpower reported that he was pronounced dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected, and investigations are ongoing.  The contractor, Sunray Woodcraft Construction, has been ordered to halt all lifting activities at the site. The accident occurred at the worksite of the former Maritime Experiential Museum, part of the expansion of Resorts World Sentosa's SEA Aquarium into the Singapore Oceanarium.  Ministry of Manpower emphasized the importance of proper safety protocols for lifting equipment.  This is one of 36 workplace fatalities in 2023, down from 46 in 2022.

  Commuters on Singapore's East-West Line will face continued disruptions as train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista, initially set to resume on Monday, have been delayed to Tuesday, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT.  The delay is due to the discovery of 12 new cracks along the westbound tracks during stress testing. Engineers will replace the affected rail segments, followed by further testing to ensure safety before full passenger services resume.  Free bus services and shuttle trains continue to operate along affected sections.

  A 54-year-old woman from China, Chen Yueying, was sentenced to six months in jail and fined S$4,000 for overstaying in Singapore for nearly 19 years.  Chen had initially been issued a special pass in November 2005 to remain as a prosecution witness in a police case, but she failed to report for repatriation and stayed in Singapore illegally.  This was her second immigration offence, having previously been jailed and fined in 2005.  The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) stressed the seriousness of overstaying and urged employers and landlords to ensure that foreign employees or tenants have valid legal status.  Chen will serve an additional eight weeks in jail as she is unable to pay the fine.

  Summary : Malaysian authorities have announced that vehicles from Singapore without Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) tags will still be allowed entry into Malaysia beyond the Oct 1 deadline, with the enforcement of the VEP system to be phased in. The Road Transport Department (JPJ) stated that drivers will be issued reminders at land borders to register and install their RFID tags promptly. Warnings will be given to drivers upon exiting Malaysia if they haven't installed their VEP tags. Despite concerns among Singaporean drivers about possible penalties after Oct 1, JPJ reassured that vehicles can enter as usual, though the system will eventually be enforced. Malaysia has expanded RFID tag installation capacity to meet demand, including opening centres in Woodlands and Johor Bahru. Since May, over 60,000 Singapore-registered vehicles have activated their VEP RFID tags. The VEP system, first introduced in 2019, requires foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia to have RFID tags, wi...

  A full-time national serviceman (NSF) from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was found unconscious and unresponsive at Pasir Laba Camp on Friday evening.  The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed that the NSF was evacuated to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital by the SAF Ambulance Service but was pronounced dead despite resuscitation efforts.  MINDEF and SPF clarified that the incident is not training-related, and preliminary investigations do not suggest foul play.  The case has been classified as an unnatural death, with investigations ongoing. MINDEF and the SAF expressed their condolences to the serviceman's family and are providing support during this time of grief. Rest in Peace.

  Train services on the East-West Line between Jurong East and Buona Vista will remain suspended until Monday (Sep 30), prolonging a disruption that began on Wednesday morning. This extended suspension is due to extensive damage to the tracks and trackside equipment caused by a faulty train. In the meantime, free regular and bridging bus services will continue to operate for commuters affected by the disruption. Initially, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and rail operator SMRT considered running a temporary shuttle train service between the affected stations. However, on Thursday night, both agencies announced that they had decided against this option. While it was technically feasible to run a shuttle train, doing so would have slowed down the repair work on the adjacent damaged rail. Authorities emphasized that it was more efficient to focus on expediting full restoration of service, rather than risking further delays by running a 20-minute shuttle between Jurong East and Buon...

Muhammad Sajid Saleem, 22, was brought back to the crime scene near Verdun Road on Friday (Sep 27) by police in connection with the murder of 25-year-old Dhinessh Vasie. Sajid is accused of causing Dhinessh's death during a group fight that occurred early Sunday morning and now faces a capital charge. Five others involved in the incident have been charged with rioting. Sajid, along with three other suspects, was escorted by officers to retrace their steps at the scene, which included areas near a coffee shop and the Novotel Singapore hotel on Kitchener Road where bloodstains were found. All suspects remain in remand for further investigations and are expected to return to court next week. Murder carries the death penalty in Singapore, while rioting with a deadly weapon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and caning. However, women—two of the accused—are exempt from caning. 

  SINGAPORE: Train services on the East-West Line (EWL) between Boon Lay and Queenstown MRT stations were halted in both directions on Wednesday (Sep 25) after a train fault caused damage to the tracks. This disruption is expected to last through the day, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The incident occurred at around 9am when an eastbound train near Clementi station developed a fault. As the train was being withdrawn, a power trip was detected at 9.25am, stalling train operations between the two stations. LTA explained that the fault caused damage to the tracks, including the running rails and the third rail that supplies power to the trains. Cause of the Fault The train involved was one of SMRT's first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains, which has been in service for over 35 years. According to SMRT, a defective axle box on the train dropped, causing the wheels of the undercarriage to come off the track and strike equipment, including a live rail a...

  SINGAPORE: On Tuesday (Sep 24), former Transport Minister S Iswaran pleaded guilty to four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code and one charge of obstructing justice, relating to his involvement in receiving over S$400,000 in valuable items. This marked a dramatic turn after months of asserting he would fight the charges in court. The charges involve a range of valuable gifts, including tickets to the Singapore F1 Grand Prix, theatre shows, whisky, and international flights. These gifts, exceeding S$400,000 in value, were provided by property tycoon Ong Beng Seng and construction firm boss Lum Kok Seng. While both businessmen have not been charged, their involvement is central to the case. One of the key charges Iswaran admitted to was accepting complimentary tickets to the 2022 Singapore F1 Grand Prix, including 10 Green Room tickets worth S$48,150 and 32 general admission tickets valued at S$41,216. These gifts were linked to Ong, the majority shareholder of Singapore GP...

  SINGAPORE: A fire broke out in a ninth-floor flat at 692A Choa Chu Kang Crescent on Tuesday morning (Sep 24), resulting in one fatality and the evacuation of 150 residents. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to the fire at approximately 5:25am. The blaze affected both the living room and a bedroom in the flat. Firefighters forced entry into the unit and found one person in the bedroom, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The rest of the unit sustained significant heat and smoke damage. The fire was extinguished using a water jet and compressed air foam backpacks. As a precaution, police and SCDF evacuated about 150 people from the block. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

  E-commerce platform Qoo10 has been directed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to halt all payment services from Monday (Sep 23), following delays in processing payments to merchants on its platform. While Qoo10 can continue operating its e-commerce platform, customers are currently unable to make purchases due to the suspension of its payment gateway. The suspension follows a series of complaints from merchants between April and August regarding late payments. Despite efforts to address some of these issues, significant delays remained unresolved. In early September, Qoo10 informed MAS that more vendors would face payment delays, prompting MAS to intervene. Qoo10 has been unable to provide sufficient assurance that it can meet its ongoing payment obligations, leading MAS to suspend services covered under the Payment Services Act, including merchant acquisition, account issuance, and domestic and cross-border money transfers. While the platform is allowed to settle outs...

A 22-year-old man will be charged with murder following a fatal fight at a coffee shop in the Farrer Park area on Sunday (Sep 22), which left a 25-year-old man dead. The altercation occurred at Verdun Road, with blood splatters found near Kim San Leng Eating House and outside the Novotel Singapore hotel on Kitchener Road. Police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were alerted to the scene around 4.05am. Two men, aged 24 and 25, were found unconscious and taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The 25-year-old man later succumbed to his injuries, while the other remains injured. Alongside the 22-year-old murder suspect, five others—three men and two women aged 20 to 24—will be charged with rioting armed with a deadly weapon. The offence of murder carries the death penalty, while rioting armed with a deadly weapon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and caning. Police investigations are ongoing.

  A 25-year-old man died following a fight at a coffee shop on Verdun Road in the Farrer Park area early Sunday morning (Sep 22). Police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force were alerted at around 4:05am, responding to the incident near Kim San Leng Eating House. Two men, aged 24 and 25, were found unconscious and taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The 25-year-old later succumbed to his injuries, while the 24-year-old sustained non-fatal injuries. Blood stains were found at the scene, including a pool of blood about 50 meters from the coffee shop, with police cordons set up in various areas, including near the Novotel Singapore hotel on Kitchener Road. Investigations are ongoing.

  Malone Lam, a 20-year-old Singaporean residing in Miami and Los Angeles, and Jeandiel Serrano, 21, from Los Angeles, were arrested by the FBI on Wednesday night for their alleged involvement in a cryptocurrency theft and laundering scheme. Lam, known online as “Anne Hathaway” and “$$$”, and Serrano, who goes by “VersaceGod” and “@SkidStar”, appeared in court on Thursday. The duo, along with other conspirators, allegedly gained fraudulent access to cryptocurrency accounts, stealing funds and laundering them through a complex system of exchanges, mixers, peel chains, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to obscure their identities. Peel chains involve a series of small transactions used to launder large sums of cryptocurrency. The stolen funds were reportedly spent on international travel, luxury items, and rentals in Los Angeles and Miami. Investigations into the scam are still ongoing.

  A 34-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of outrage of modesty that occurred on 2 September 2024 at a residential block along Jurong West Avenue 1. The man allegedly molested a 27-year-old woman and fled the scene, changing his attire to avoid detection. However, through swift action and with the help of CCTV and police cameras, officers from Jurong Police Division identified and arrested the suspect within two hours. He will be charged on 19 September 2024 under Section 354(1) of the Penal Code 1871, which carries penalties of up to three years' imprisonment, a fine, caning, or a combination of these punishments. The police reaffirm their zero-tolerance policy towards such offences and assure that offenders will be dealt with sternly.

  A Singaporean man, Benny Kee Soon Chuan, 31, has been charged with drug trafficking after being deported from Thailand. Kee is accused of conspiring with Low En Quan Justin to traffic at least 2kg of methamphetamine in December 2020. The drugs were allegedly intended for delivery to "Senthil Kumar" at a shop in Orchard Towers. Low, who was involved in collecting the parcel, received 22-and-a-half years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane for attempting to traffic a smaller quantity of meth. Kee is also linked to another drug trafficking case from November 2022, where a 29-year-old man was sentenced to eight years in prison with seven strokes of the cane. After being at large for several years, Kee was arrested by Thai authorities in Samut Prakan province and deported to Singapore on Sep 19, 2024. Kee was reportedly living in luxury in Thailand, where authorities seized assets worth 15 million baht (US$453,000), including Rolex watches, gold chains, and cash. He will return...

  On 16 September 2024, a 31-year-old man was arrested after injuring a Traffic Police officer, driving dangerously, and evading capture along Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway. The man was spotted speeding, and after failing to comply with a stop order, he led police on a dangerous chase, eventually crashing into a pole at Punggol Central and fleeing on foot. The officers managed to detain him, but not before the suspect bit one of the officers. Despite his injury, the officer, with reinforcements, subdued the man. A search revealed drug paraphernalia, and investigations are ongoing into suspected drug-related offences. The man was also found to have previously handed over his Singpass credentials in February 2024 for cash, though attempts to use them were unsuccessful. He faces multiple charges, including: Voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant (up to seven years in prison, a fine, or caning), Dangerous driving (up to 12 months in prison or a $5,000 fine), Driving without...

A 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stealing a taxi at a hotel on Jalan Rajah on September 13, 2024. The taxi driver had left his vehicle unlocked with the engine running for five minutes, only to return and find it missing. Police officers from Tanglin and Ang Mo Kio swiftly tracked the man down and arrested him within seven hours. The stolen taxi was recovered on the same day. The man faces charges for motor vehicle theft, which could result in up to seven years in jail and a fine. Police advise vehicle owners to lock their cars, remove valuables, and park in well-lit areas to prevent theft.