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                 The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and PUB announced on 1 August 2025 that safety checks and repair works at Tanjong Katong Road South have been completed following a sinkhole incident. In collaboration with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), the area was declared safe for public use after rigorous underground assessments, including radar, seismic, and void checks. Liquefied stabilised soil was used to reinforce the ground.  The segment from East Coast Parkway to Mountbatten Road will reopen on Saturday, 2 August 2025 at 12pm, and the opposite direction will open on Monday, 4 August at 5am. Bus services 36 and 48 will return to normal routing accordingly. Though traffic flow will resume, motorists should note that utility repairs and upgrades in the area will continue. The agencies thanked the public for their patience during the closure.

  On 29 July 2025, five female foreign nationals aged 21 to 48 were arrested in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 4 for suspected drug trafficking. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) acted swiftly after receiving intelligence from the Hong Kong Police’s Narcotics Bureau. Two of the suspects were spotted exchanging luggage, which led to a search uncovering approximately 26.9 kilograms of cocaine and 10 grams of cannabis hidden inside stuffed toys. Senior Assistant Commissioner Sng Chern Hong stated that Singapore remains vigilant and will not tolerate the misuse of its transport hubs. The case is a strong example of cross-border enforcement collaboration and reinforces Singapore’s zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking. Under Singapore law, trafficking over 30g of cocaine carries the mandatory death penalty. Investigations into the suspects’ involvement and the possibility of a larger syndicate are ongoing.

  A 49-year-old man, Koh Lee Hwa, is currently on trial in Singapore for allegedly raping a woman who had hired him to repair electrical fixtures in her flat. The trial, which began earlier in the week, entered its third day on July 31, where Koh took the stand and denied all accusations of non-consensual activity. He claimed the sexual encounter was initiated by the woman and that the act was consensual, further asserting that the duration of the act slightly over 10 minutes was “too short” for it to have been rape. Koh made this comparison referencing his usual intimacy with his wife. The alleged offences reportedly took place between 11.40am and 12.40pm on August 23, 2021. Koh, a Singapore permanent resident, faces multiple charges: one count of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and two counts of outrage of modesty. The identity and age of the alleged victim have been redacted from court documents. According to prosecution, Koh had been hired by the woman since 2...

  A disturbing case has emerged from Teck Whye, Singapore, where a 55-year-old man, Abu Talib Johari , has been charged in connection with the death of a woman after an alleged assault. The incident, which reportedly occurred between 6pm and 7pm on 29 June 2025 , took place in an HDB flat at Block 9 Teck Whye Lane . Talib was formally charged on 4 July 2025 with one count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Madam Rupiah Buang , 59. According to court documents, the alleged act of violence involved Talib kicking Madam Rupiah in the face, which subsequently led to a fatal head injury . The nature of their relationship was not disclosed in the charge sheet. Following the charge, Talib was remanded at the Changi Prison Complex Medical Centre for a medical evaluation. During a court hearing on 1 August , it was revealed that authorities had received a psychiatric report on Talib from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) . The police prosecutor in the case requested a six-week adj...

  Ng Kah Siang, a 37-year-old former engineer at Integrated Health Information Systems (IHiS), was sentenced on 31 July 2025 to five months and two weeks in jail for accepting and attempting to solicit bribes. IHiS, which operates under the Ministry of Health (MOH) and is now rebranded as Synapxe, manages IT systems for Singapore’s public healthcare institutions. In March 2022, Ng received a fully sponsored trip to Paris worth over $18,000 from two senior telecommunications executives—Chiang Chee Seng, then a senior sales director at Nera Telecommunications, and Peng Ming, then an account director at Huawei International. The bribe was offered in exchange for Ng’s influence in awarding a lucrative IHiS contract. Ng has since voluntarily returned the amount to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Court documents reveal that Ng was overseeing multi-year term deals for IT products and services, with previous contracts averaging $22 million in annual procurement value. Up...

  On July 30, 2025, Singapore police arrested 28 individuals eight men and 20 women aged 21 to 61 in an extensive anti-vice operation targeting an alleged online vice syndicate. Raids were conducted at multiple locations across the island, including Orchard Road, Jurong West, Pasir Panjang, Tanjong Pagar, and Balestier. Authorities seized more than $610,000 worth of assets, including two luxury vehicles, 18 luxury watches, cash, bank funds, mobile phones, laptops, and vice-related items. Three men, aged 30 to 45, will be charged on August 1 under the Women’s Charter for allegedly facilitating the syndicate’s operations. The rest remain under investigation. Police stated the operation was part of a broader effort to dismantle vice networks operating through digital platforms. The assets seized suggest a profitable illicit operation masked behind digital anonymity. Investigations continue, and authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.

  On July 29, 2025, ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint uncovered an attempt to smuggle 2,400 e-vaporisers and components into Singapore. Acting on intelligence from the Integrated Targeting Centre, officers conducted enhanced checks on a Malaysia-registered lorry which had declared its cargo as Precast Products. Upon inspection, they found the prohibited items hidden in a lidded compartment located on a flat plate above the trailer chassis. The case has been referred to the Health Sciences Authority for further investigation. Importing e-vaporisers into Singapore is illegal and carries stiff penalties. The ICA stated that it remains committed to protecting the nation’s borders from such threats, while continuing to facilitate safe and legitimate trade and travel. This incident underscores the effectiveness of ICA’s intelligence-led targeting and inspection systems, as well as the continuing threat of smuggling attempts through Singapore’s land checkpoints. Investigations are ongoing ...

  A man involved in a tragic six-vehicle crash in Tampines that resulted in the deaths of two people, including a 17-year-old Temasek Junior College student, is set to plead guilty later this year. Muhammad Syafie Ismail, 44, will admit to the charges against him on October 23 , following a pre-trial conference that was held on July 31, 2025 . This marks the first official plea date set since Syafie was initially charged in connection to the accident more than a year ago. His first court appearance took place on April 25, 2024 , shortly after the fatal incident, where he was charged with dangerous driving causing death , dangerous driving causing hurt , dangerous driving , and failing to stop after an accident . Subsequently, in June 2025 , Syafie faced an additional charge of dangerous driving as investigations continued. The deadly crash occurred on April 22, 2024 , in Tampines , a residential town in eastern Singapore. According to court documents, Syafie had allegedly run a re...

  A Singaporean medical trainee working in Melbourne has been arrested and charged over serious allegations involving unauthorised recordings in hospital toilets. The accused, identified as 27-year-old Ryan Cho, was employed at Austin Hospital at the time of the alleged incidents. Reports from Australian media suggest that authorities have uncovered more than 10,000 video and image files on devices seized during the investigation. The visuals were allegedly captured over a four-year span from 2021 to 2025. On June 25, suspicions were raised when a staff member at Austin Hospital reported unusual loitering in the emergency department's staff toilets. The facility had already been under investigation due to repeated toilet blockages and damages, which police now believe were deliberate, intended to divert staff into cubicles where recording devices had been covertly installed. On July 3, a nurse discovered a mesh bag containing a mobile phone in a staff toilet and reported it to hosp...

  Nearly two months after being mired in controversy, China-based Singaporean actress Eleanor Lee has successfully cleared her name in court. The 25-year-old star was previously at the centre of backlash after a voice recording, allegedly of her insulting mainland Chinese people, was leaked online by her former assistant, Xiao Pang. The fallout was severe not only did Lee face widespread public condemnation, there were also rumours that she would be edited out of her new drama, Fu Shan Hai ( Go To The Mountains And Sea ), in which she plays a leading role. Throughout the ordeal, Lee consistently denied the allegations, maintaining her innocence from the start. On May 21, Lee posted a video on social media announcing that she had filed a police report and was fully cooperating with authorities. Since then, she kept a low profile, while speculation about her career and reputation swirled online. Now, a recent update from her team on July 29 has confirmed that Eleanor Lee has legally...

  An unauthorised photo post featuring a South Asian woman in traditional attire, captioned “R,” appeared on SMRT’s official X account at 11:08pm on July 27, 2025. Though the post was removed within 10 minutes, it quickly went viral, racking up over 2,000 views and more than 20 reposts. Online forums erupted with speculation, suggesting the account may have been hacked or misused. SMRT confirmed the post was not approved and reported the matter to X while launching an internal investigation. Group Chief Communications Officer Margaret Teo stated that the organisation is taking the issue seriously. Meanwhile, online users reacted with sarcasm, with many joking that SMRT should appoint its social media team to the engineering department. Their reasoning: the digital mishap was fixed in just 10 minutes, far quicker than how long it typically takes to resolve train disruptions. The incident has reignited discussions on social media security and public trust in service communication.

  On July 29, 2025, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, issued a formal apology in response to a serious sinkhole incident that occurred along Tanjong Katong Road South. The sinkhole, which opened up on the evening of July 26, was near an active construction site managed by PUB, the national water agency under her ministry’s oversight. The sinkhole appeared suddenly, causing a car to plunge into the ground while a driver was behind the wheel. Fortunately, the driver was rescued with the help of workers on-site and was conscious when conveyed to the hospital. She was reportedly suffering from muscular pain and remains under recovery. The damaged vehicle was retrieved from the sinkhole using a crane on July 27. Minister Fu described the incident as “serious” and extended her apologies to the injured driver, nearby residents, motorists, and commuters who have been inconvenienced by the road closure. She acknowledged the public anxiety caused by the c...

  On 29 July 2025, the High Court trial of Koh Lee Hwa, a 49-year-old renovation contractor and Singapore permanent resident, began. Koh is facing four serious charges, including one count of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and two counts of outrage of modesty. These charges are in relation to an incident that allegedly occurred between 11:40am and 12:40pm on 23 August 2021. According to court proceedings, the victim, whose identity has been withheld, initially engaged Koh in 2015 to renovate her flat. Over the years, their contact was infrequent and mostly professional. Their last communication before the alleged incident was in 2019. However, on 21 August 2021, the woman contacted Koh via WhatsApp to request his help with a faulty toilet light and a light switch in the kitchen. Koh responded the next day, fixing the kitchen light switch and diagnosing a wiring fault in the main circuit switchboard as the cause of the toilet light failure. He quoted her $430 to f...

  On 29 July 2025, a fire broke out at Block 229 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and SCDF responded around 1:10pm. SCDF arrived to find a unit on the 10th floor completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters used two water jets to extinguish the blaze. Simultaneously, a team conducted forcible entry into a unit directly above, on the 11th floor, where a second fire was successfully put out using one water jet. Two individuals from the 10th floor unit and three others from neighbouring units were assessed for smoke inhalation, one also had burn injuries. All five were taken to Singapore General Hospital. A child from another nearby unit was also sent to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital for smoke inhalation. One firefighter involved in the operation experienced fatigue and was taken to SGH as a precaution. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

  A serious fire incident broke out on 29 July 2025 at Block 229, Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. At around 1:10pm, the Singapore Civil Defence Force responded to a fire in a 10th-floor HDB unit. The blaze was intense when firefighters arrived. Three individuals were treated for smoke inhalation and burns, and conveyed to Singapore General Hospital. While managing the first fire, SCDF discovered a second fire in a unit on the 11th floor. Firefighters forced entry and began suppression efforts. The fire on the 10th floor was brought under control using two water jets, and operations on the 11th floor were ongoing as of 3pm. Investigations into the cause of both fires are still underway. The incident prompted temporary evacuations and drew attention to fire safety in high-rise buildings.

  On 29 July 2025, the Land Transport Authority announced the impoundment of 12 vehicles involved in illegal private hire services. Among the cases, four drivers were caught operating unlawfully near Punggol Road and Turf Club Avenue. These operations were supported by regular patrols and information from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association. LTA reminded the public that drivers providing illegal services may not hold proper licenses or insurance, putting passengers at risk in the event of accidents. Enforcement efforts are being stepped up to ensure safety and protect the interests of licensed private hire drivers. Passengers using such services may also experience disrupted journeys if the illegal vehicle is stopped during operations. Offenders face penalties including up to $3,000 in fines, imprisonment of up to six months, and possible vehicle forfeiture. The public is strongly advised to use only licensed ride-hailing services and avoid unregulated platforms to en...

  On July 28, 2025, former pre-school teacher Saiidah Kamarudin was sentenced to nine months and two weeks in jail for repeatedly tripping a 20-month-old toddler under her care. The disturbing acts were captured on CCTV, showing Saiidah tripping the child four times in a single incident on November 6, 2023. One of the trips caused the girl to fall face-first, resulting in a nosebleed and visible bruising. Saiidah, 34, who is also a mother of two, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of ill-treating a child. The court heard that the offence occurred just weeks after she tendered her resignation from the unnamed pre-school on October 12, 2023. She was still working there and assigned to a playgroup when the incident took place. According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheah Wenjie, the first trip occurred while Saiidah was cleaning the toddler’s face in the toilet area around 12:30pm. She used her right leg to sweep outward and catch the girl’s left leg. The child stumbled but didn’...

  In an islandwide operation between 17 and 25 July 2025, the Singapore Police arrested 31 individuals and are investigating 13 more for allegedly providing fraudulently registered postpaid SIM cards to criminal syndicates in exchange for cash. The suspects, comprising 21 men and 10 women aged between 16 and 48, were arrested by officers from the Commercial Affairs Department, Criminal Investigation Department, and all seven Police Land Divisions. Nine additional men and four women, aged 16 to 57, are currently assisting with investigations. Preliminary findings revealed that these individuals were offered cash incentives ranging from $10 to $15 for each SIM card they registered under their names. These suspects had each allegedly registered between 31 and 49 SIM cards, which were later handed over to unknown couriers. They were reportedly instructed to sign up for multiple postpaid mobile plans at various retail outlets across the island, using their personal details. Authorities ...

  On 28 July 2025 at about 10am, Minister Goh Pei Ming visited the Mountbatten Road site to assess the traffic conditions following earlier sinkhole repair efforts. He reported that traffic remained smooth during the morning rush, as many parents sent their children to nearby schools and residents headed to work. LTA had deployed Vehicular Messaging Systems, and worked with MOE to notify parents early about traffic diversions. Most commuters adjusted accordingly, with only minor congestion observed along Mountbatten Road. Repair efforts have progressed, with the backfilling of the cavity now complete. Ground compaction is ongoing, and LTA will carry out further safety tests before repaving. These include radar scans and deep drilling probes up to 20 metres to ensure there are no air pockets. The minister acknowledged residents’ concerns about reopening timelines but urged patience, emphasising that safety must come first. He thanked all agencies and residents for their cooperatio...

  On July 27, a black Mazda that had fallen into a sinkhole along Tanjong Katong Road South was successfully hoisted out using a crane. The sinkhole had formed the day before at around 5:50pm, near a PUB construction site. The car’s driver, a woman, had been rescued on July 26 by nearby workers and later sent to hospital with muscular pain. The hoisting process began at 2:05pm and took 10 minutes. The car had a heavily dented front, smashed windscreen, and was covered in scratches. Authorities worked to drain the water and assess the ground before safely lifting the vehicle. LTA, PUB, and BCA continue monitoring the site. Tanjong Katong Road South remains closed, with bus routes 36 and 48 diverted. Residents raised concerns after learning a burst water pipe occurred in the area a day before the collapse. Repair works are ongoing, with hopes to reopen the road by July 28.