|
A 21-year-old man, Zachary Chin Jia Le, has been charged for his role in an alleged hit-and-run after he apparently hit two people along Sims Avenue in Geylang with a car and fled the scene.
He was slapped with seven charges in total. The charges alleged that Chin was driving someone else's car without consent and he did not have a licence. The charge sheets also stated that he had past convictions in June 2022 for driving without a valid licence and driving without due care and attention. The collision occurred around 11:40pm on Saturday along Sims Avenue, towards Sims Avenue East. The impact resulted in a pair of pedestrians being flung into the air and caused them grievous hurt, according to charge sheets. The victims, a 51-year-old man and 32-year-old woman, were taken to hospital and were warded for treatment. Other charges Chin is facing include failing to keep a proper lookout while driving, driving a car without a licence or insurance, failing to stop after a traffic accident and driving off with another person's car. The traffic police identified Chin through police cameras and video footage from a witness and arrested him on Sunday. In court, there was no indication if Chin would plead guilty. The case was adjourned to April. Rental car According to reporters, the car involved in the alleged hit-and-run is a rental vehicle from OZ Car Rental. The person in charge of the car rental company was contacted by the police at midnight following the accident. The renter's contact details were handed to the police. It was reported that the car was found abandoned in Geylang. Shin Min also reported that the car was rented out in December 2023, and the lease was due to expire on Friday, a day before the alleged hit-and-run. It was reported that it is not known if the person who rented the car and the driver are the same person. For driving without a valid licence, he could be jailed for up to four years, fined up to S$10,000, or both for this offence as a repeat offender. Man, 45, dies after his motorcycle hit lorry that apparently didn't comply with red light in Tuas3/26/2024 A 45-year-old man died after the motorcycle he was riding crashed into a lorry in Tuas.
The motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries. The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force told reporters that they were alerted to the accident at the junction of Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim and Tuas West Road at about 7:30am on March 25. The motorcyclist was conveyed unconscious to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where he later died, the police said. A 25-year-old man, who was the lorry driver, was arrested for dangerous driving causing death, the police added. A video shared to the SG Road Vigilante Facebook group showed a lorry travelling forward and apparently not complying with the traffic light that was showing red and not in its favour at that time. The lorry then stopped suddenly in the middle of the traffic junction. A motorcycle then crashed into the lorry and the rider was flung into the air due to the impact. The motorcyclist and the shattered motorcycle landed on what appeared to be a grass patch beside the road. SINGAPORE - A Singaporean man has been charged over bomb threats he sent to two Taiwanese politicians via Facebook messenger.
Loo Peng Seng, 53, was on March 26 handed four charges of communicating false information of a harmful thing. He had allegedly sent the threats to Mr Lo Chih-chiang and Mr Han Kuo-yu, who are members of the Kuomintang party. Loo allegedly sent four messages to them over three days in 2024 that contained references to the presence of a bomb, despite knowing them to be false. According to court documents, he allegedly sent a message to Mr Lo on Feb 28 which stated: “I will go to use the bombs to blow you up to pieces.” He is said to have sent another message to him on March 1 stating: “Mr Lo Chih Chiang, I am going to bomb your home. And I have a lot of bombs to bomb the Legislative Yuan building”. The building houses the legislative organ of Taiwan. He purportedly also sent a message to Mr Han on Feb 28, writing: “Han Guo Yu, I am going to bring a lot of bombs to put in your car or home.” He sent another message to him on Feb 29 that stated: “Han Guo Yu, I am going to make sure I will also blow you up your family members with car bombs.” The police were alerted and Loo was arrested on March 4. In a statement on March 25, the police said a member of the public had seen a post on Facebook by a public figure based overseas who indicated that he had received bomb threats from someone claiming to be from Singapore. Officers from Bedok Police Division established Loo’s identity and arrested him within 12 hours of the report. Loo was remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for medical examination. He will return to court on April 9. For each charge Loo faces, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined up to $50,000, or both. In a previous case, a 30-year-old Australian man was sentenced to six months’ jail in December over a fake bomb threat that caused a Scoot flight to make a U-turn back to Singapore in October 2023. It happened just months after a series of bomb threats in August that year at 18 locations in Singapore, including the Environment Building that houses the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and other government agencies. The police found no items of security concern at any of the locations. SINGAPORE - A man was hauled to court on March 26 and accused of infringing the copyright of works owned by organisations including Disney, Netflix and the Football Association Premier League.
Ge Xin’s alleged offences were linked to shows such as Raya and the Last Dragon, and the broadcasts of Premier League football matches, including one between Liverpool and Manchester City. He is said to have offered for sale streaming devices that could allow users to unlawfully gain access to such copyrighted works. The 36-year-old Singaporean, who is a director and shareholder of multiple firms, was handed 24 charges under the Copyright Act. A search with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) reveals that Ge has stakes in firms including MT Gadget+, Modern Tech and Gepower Technology. Twelve of his charges are linked to MT Gadget+ while the other 12 are said to involve another firm called Grandnew. On March 26, the two companies were also charged with offences under the Copyright Act. The Acra search did not disclose Ge’s role in Grandnew. At the time of the alleged offences, the firms were located at Sim Lim Square shopping mall in Rochor Canal Road. Among other things, Ge was an officer at MT Gadget+ when he allegedly offered for sale a device known as M18, installed with a computer program called Cloud TV. Customers could use it to gain access to multiple broadcasted Premier League matches. Similarly, Ge is said to have offered for sale a device known as a Global AI TV Media Player installed with a computer program called 3FNF VOD when he was an officer at Grandnew. Court documents stated that customers could use it to gain access to a Netflix show called The Adam Project. Ge’s alleged offences came to light after Criminal Investigation Department officers conducted raids at several shops at Sim Lim Square on Oct 4, 2022. In a statement on March 26, the police said that officers seized more than 400 sets of illegal streaming devices from two shops which he operated at the time. The pre-trial conferences for Ge and the two firms will be held on May 8. For each charge under the Copyright Act, an offender can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $100,000. A company can be fined up to $200,000 for each charge. Lum Kok Seng, the man named in latest charges against Iswaran, was interviewed by CPIB several times3/26/2024 SINGAPORE – Mr Lum Kok Seng, the man named in former transport minister S. Iswaran’s latest eight charges, attended several interviews with the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) regarding Iswaran’s graft probe.
Mr Lum, 75, a Singaporean, is managing director of Lum Chang – a property management, interior design and construction firm. Lum Chang was responding to queries from the Singapore Exchange (SGX), late on March 25. SGX had asked the company earlier that day whether Mr Lum was contacted by CPIB to assist in investigations and whether any charges were filed against him, or if any restrictions were imposed by CPIB. Lum Chang said Mr Lum had informed the company’s board that he attended several interviews with CPIB in relation to its investigations into Iswaran, adding that no charges have been filed against Mr Lum, and no restriction has been imposed on him by CPIB. The statement added: “The board and the nominating committee have assessed the above and have determined that Mr Lum continues to be suitable to carry out his duties and responsibilities as managing director of the company, unless there are subsequent developments which require the board and the nominating committee to make a reassessment.” Lum Chang added that its board will give updates on any developments on this matter. Shares of Lum Chang sank on news of the CPIB interviews on March 26, falling as much as 10.3 per cent to 26 cents in the morning. It recouped most of its losses to trade down 1.7 per cent at 28.5 cents as of 2.24pm. On March 25, Iswaran was handed eight new charges that allege he had obtained, as a public servant, valuable items worth nearly $19,000 from Mr Lum. Iswaran is said to have obtained items such as a Brompton bicycle, golf clubs and bottles of whisky from Mr Lum between November 2021 and November 2022. Iswaran, who was appointed transport minister in May 2021 and resigned from the post in January 2024, allegedly knew that Mr Lum was linked to a Land Transport Authority (LTA) contract for works at Tanah Merah MRT station through the latter’s company, Lum Chang Building Contractors (LCBC). LCBC is Lum Chang’s construction arm. The $325 million contract involving Tanah Merah MRT station was awarded to LCBC by LTA in October 2016 and the works are slated to be completed in 2025. Iswaran now faces a total of 35 charges, 32 of which are under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which makes it an offence for a public servant to accept gifts from someone involved with him in an official capacity. His remaining charges comprise two for corruption and one for obstructing the course of justice. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. According to Lum Chang’s 2023 annual report, Mr Lum is a director of LCBC, among other subsdiaries. The report states that Mr Lum has around 50 years of industry experience and led the expansion of the company’s property development activities in Singapore, Malaysia and Britain. According to the Prime Minister’s Office website, Mr Lum was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2010 in his capacity as patron of Ayer Rajah-West Coast Citizens’ Consultative Committee. Ayer Rajah is part of West Coast GRC, where Iswaran served as MP from 1997 till his resignation in January 2024. The Public Service Medal may be awarded to any person who has rendered commendable public service in Singapore, or for his achievement in fields such as business, sports and the sciences. A 58-year-old woman claimed she was attacked by a group of three to four youths riding a personal mobility device (PMD) when she was walking along the road at Sengkang in the early hours of the morning.
According to Shin Min Daily News, the incident occurred around 5:30am on Mar. 22, 2024, near Block 400C Fernvale Lane. Attacked out of nowhere Speaking to reporters, the victim, a kitchen assistant surnamed Chen, said she was on her way to take a bus to work when she heard noises coming from behind her. When she turned back, she claimed she saw three to four youths riding on one PMD on the road. As she was also walking on the road, worried that they would collide with her, she crossed the road. She didn't expect the group to follow her. "One of them hit me on the left buttock with a rod-like object. I was in pain and jumped in shock," she said. Youths laughed after attack According to Chen, the youths laughed after assaulting her. She told reporters that she threatened to call the police, but it failed to scare them. "After hitting me, they crossed to the other side of the road. When I took out my phone, they ran away before I took photos of them," she said. Heeding the advice of her husband, Chen called the police. Likely injured tailbone Chen said that she still planned to work that day, but her back pain got worse and worse. By 10am, she could take the pain no longer and went to see the doctor. The doctor gave her painkillers, ointments, and three days of sick leave. "The doctor said I may have injured my tailbone, so in addition to the pain in my hip muscles, my upper back also started to feel sore, especially in my shoulders and neck," Chen said. The police told reporters that the case is under investigation. A fire broke out at a hawker stall in Newton Food Centre on March 24 night, resulting in two people being conveyed to hospital.
The fire, which occurred at about 9:30pm, was caused when food that was being cooked in the stall was left unattended, a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman told reporters what early investigations suggested. The two people taken to the Singapore General Hospital were believed to have been suffering from smoke inhalation. A video circulated online and in chat apps showed the hawker centre filled with thick smoke as patrons milled around, unsure if they should leave or stay. Some diners were also seen taking their food with them in hopes of moving to an area that was not affected by the smoke. Others continued dining or were filming. SCDF vehicles and personnel were seen arriving at the scene. SCDF said it was alerted to a fire at 500 Clemenceau Avenue North at about 9.30pm, which involved the kitchen exhaust duct in the stall. SINGAPORE - One person was taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a flat in Admiralty on March 24.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at Block 483 Admiralty Link at about 7pm. The fire erupted inside a bedroom in the fifth-floor unit, SCDF added. Firefighters extinguished the blaze with a water jet and two compressed air foam backpacks. SCDF said a person was assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital. It added that its preliminary investigation shows the fire was caused by an electrical issue in the bedroom. A member of the public told reporters that at least 30 residents were evacuated from the block. To prevent electrical fires, the SCDF urged the public not to overload electrical outlets with appliances and to always switch them off when they are not in use. The public should not leave batteries or devices to charge unattended for an extended period of time or overnight. They should also check the condition of wires regularly, and replace or repair frayed or cracked wires immediately. SCDF also advised the public not to run wires under carpets or mats, and to keep them away from hot surfaces. The public should use appliances and electrical plugs with the Safety Mark. Visit www.consumerproductsafety.gov.sg for more information. According to annual figures released by the SCDF in February, there were more fires in 2023 with 1,954 cases, a nearly 10 per cent increase from 1,799 cases in 2022. The top two causes were electrical fires and unattended cooking, with 597 and 456 cases respectively. SINGAPORE – A motorist who was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident in Geylang, which left two pedestrians injured on March 23, is said to have driven a car without a licence that day.
On March 25, Zachary Chin Jia Le, 21, was handed seven charges for offences, including causing grievous hurt to two pedestrians while driving a car without due care and attention. Details about the pedestrians’ injuries were not disclosed in court documents, which stated that Chin had been previously convicted for traffic offences. In June 2022, he was convicted of one count each of driving without a valid licence and doing so without due care and attention. Court documents did not disclose the outcome of the case. In his current case, Chin is accused of driving a car without a licence and without its unnamed owner’s consent along Sims Avenue towards Sims Avenue East shortly before midnight on March 23. He allegedly failed to keep a proper lookout ahead, causing the car to hit a 51-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman as they were crossing the road. Chin is said to have failed to stop after the accident to help them. Instead, he allegedly drove away. The police said on March 25 that Traffic Police officers established the driver’s identity based on inquiries and video footage from police cameras and a witness. Officers arrested Chin on March 24. Police had earlier told reporters that the two pedestrians were conscious when they were taken to hospital. A video recording of the accident posted on Facebook group SG Road Vigilante shows a car ramming into two pedestrians crossing the road. The pedestrians are flung into the air upon impact before hitting the ground. The footage – captured by another car’s dashboard camera – shows the car slowing down a little before driving off. Chin’s case has been adjourned to April 30. For causing grievous hurt to others by driving a car without due care and attention, an offender can be jailed for up to four years and fined up to $10,000. For driving without a licence, a first-time offender can be jailed for up to three years and fined up to $10,000. A repeat offender can be jailed for up to six years and fined up to $20,000. Iswaran faces 8 new charges over obtaining $19k in items including Brompton bike, golf clubs3/25/2024 SINGAPORE – Former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed eight new charges in court on March 25.
These are under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which makes it an offence for public servants to accept gifts from someone involved with them in an official capacity. When asked by District Judge Brenda Tan, Iswaran – who now faces 35 charges in total – said he pleaded not guilty to the additional charges. On March 25, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a statement that Iswaran had allegedly obtained, as a public servant, valuables with a total value of about $18,956.94 from a Lum Kok Seng. Iswaran had allegedly known him to be involved in business that had a connection with his official function as Minister for Transport. These alleged offences were committed between November 2021 and November 2022. According to charge sheets, the items include bottles of whisky, golf clubs and a Brompton bicycle that cost $7,907.50. The business transacted involved a contract between Lum Chang Building Contractors and the Land Transport Authority for addition and alteration works to Tanah Merah MRT station and existing viaducts. The website of Lum Chang, a property management, interior design and construction firm, lists Mr Lum as its managing director. The firm’s construction arm, Lum Chang Building Contractors, has taken on multibillion-dollar civil, building and infrastructural projects in Singapore, including being the main contractor for Bukit Panjang station along the Downtown Line. An LTA spokesperson said on March 25 that the statutory board has two ongoing projects with Lum Chang Building Contractors, including the one at Tanah Merah station that was awarded in October 2016. The other one is the construction of the North-South Corridor tunnel between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Avenue 9 that was awarded in December 2018. “LTA has not awarded any contract to Lum Chang Building Contractors since 2019,” the spokesperson added. Lum Chang declined to comment when contacted by reporters. Iswaran arrived in court on March 25 at about 8.20am with members from his legal team from Davinder Singh Chambers. Speaking to the media gathered outside the court, he said: “Sorry you all had to get up so early this morning.” As he walked towards the court trailed by members of the media, one of them tripped and fell. Iswaran helped him pick up his belongings. Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng told the court that the purpose of March 25’s hearing was to tender eight additional charges against Iswaran and transmit the new charges to the High Court. Mr Navin Shanmugaraj Thevar, one of Iswaran’s lawyers, questioned why the new charges were tendered only now, and if the prosecution intended to file more charges against his client. Mr Thevar said the prosecution recorded 36 cautioned statements from Iswaran in January 2024 but only handed the former minister 27 charges at his first court hearing on Jan 18. “The eight new charges today were not part of the 36 (cautioned statements),” the defence lawyer added. A cautioned statement sets out a notice for an accused person to provide his defence in response to an offence he is being charged with. Mr Thevar added that the eight new charges related to matters that the CPIB had questioned Iswaran over in July and August 2023. He said: “On March 16, three days before the criminal case disclosure conference (CCDC) at the High Court, CPIB called my client in and he was served eight new charges.” During a CCDC, the prosecution and the defence disclose information about the case to facilitate the trial process. He added: “When Mr Iswaran asked CPIB when the charges would be brought in court, he was told a decision had not been made.” Chief Prosecutor Tan said in response that all charges tendered against Iswaran were based on evidence uncovered by CPIB and they had been reviewed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). He added that the State Courts was not the right forum for such issues and urged the defence to raise them in the High Court instead. Iswaran, 61, was charged at the State Courts on Jan 18 and his case was later transferred to the High Court. A chambers hearing was fixed for April 2 for the prosecution and the defence to exchange information ahead of the trial. Those who have ongoing High Court cases will have to return to the State Courts if additional charges are filed against them. Iswaran initially faced 27 charges, including two for corruption. The corruption charges relate to alleged bribes obtained from billionaire Ong Beng Seng as inducement for advancing the hotel and property tycoon’s business interests in relation to agreements between race promoter Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Mr Ong, who is chairman of Singapore GP, is credited with bringing the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Singapore. Iswaran initially faced 24 counts under Section 165. He is the first reported person to be charged under the section. These charges are for allegedly obtaining, as a minister, items with a total value of more than $200,000 from Mr Ong between November 2015 and December 2021. These items include tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix, football matches and musicals in Britain. Iswaran was also handed a charge of obstructing the course of justice for allegedly making repayment of $5,700 in May 2023 for the cost of a business class flight ticket that he purportedly took in 2022 at Mr Ong’s expense. Iswaran was elected in 1997 as an MP for West Coast GRC, where he served for 26 years. He was promoted to full minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in 2011. He resigned from the People’s Action Party in January and stepped down as transport minister and West Coast GRC MP. Following his court appearance on Jan 18, Iswaran issued a statement declaring his innocence and said he would focus on clearing his name. He was granted $800,000 bail. He was allowed to leave Singapore from Feb 16 to March 4 to help his son settle in at a university in Melbourne. The prosecution imposed several conditions to this application, including additional $500,000 bail and having to provide the investigation officer with his itinerary and his address overseas. Reporters had reported that during his trip, Iswaran was admitted to private hospital Cabrini Malvern for respiratory illness. He was advised by his doctor not to travel for 12 days following his discharge from the hospital in Melbourne on March 5. He returned to Singapore and surrendered his passport to the authorities, the AGC said on March 20. On Feb 5, Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu told Parliament that STB was conducting an audit of the 2022 edition of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, following allegations of corruption against Iswaran. She said that to safeguard Singapore’s interests, the Ministry of Trade and Industry was also reviewing the terms of the deal between STB and Singapore GP to organise the F1 night race here. For each corruption charge, Iswaran can be fined up to $100,000, jailed for up to seven years, or both. He can be fined, jailed for up to two years, or both, for obtaining valuables from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant. For obstructing the course of justice, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined, or both. |
JUSTCLICK & CONNECT
|