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Police arrest woman, 58, for providing sexual services after raid at Chinatown 'massage parlour'3/22/2024 A shop advertised as a massage parlour in Chinatown was found to house less-than-innocent interactions between its workers and clients, after it was raided by the police on Mar. 20, 2024.
One woman was subsequently arrested on suspicion of providing sexual services. Located on floor where women seen soliciting men for sexual services The store is located on the third floor of People's Park Centre, reporters reported. This floor was previously reported to have women in revealing low-cut outfits trying to solicit services from male passersby. The cost of engaging such illicit services was supposedly between S$50 and S$150. Police reportedly forced entry into the parlour after being blocked by staff Witnesses at the scene told reporters that when the authorities arrived and tried to enter the shop, they were blocked by one of the workers. When the police broke in, the masseuses and customers present found themselves trapped with no escape. They were apprehended by the police. The interior of the store comprised of a massage bed hidden by a curtain, with tissue paper and towels strewn about it. The floor by the entrance was also reportedly covered in broken glass, which was believed to have resulted from the police's forced entry into the premises. 58-year-old masseuse arrested A 58-year-old worker in the store was questioned, handcuffed, and later escorted away by police. She was observed to have heavy makeup on her face and looked uneasy. She was also seen trying to dodge the reporter's camera. In addition, the owner of the parlour is under investigation for operating a massage establishment without a licence. Landlord reportedly surprised Meanwhile, a woman who claimed to be the landlord rushed to the scene and cried out when she caught sight of the shattered glass door. The woman told reporters that she did not expect the store to become a prostitution den as the tenant told her that they only wanted to rent the property for a hairdressing business. "They only said it was meant for scalp treatments. I didn't expect it to turn out like this," she said. The police arrested a 19-year-old woman for her suspected involvement in a case of cheating.
On Mar. 8, 2024, at about 1:05am, the police received a report where a 26-year-old male victim was cheated of S$200, the police said in a news release. Through follow-up investigations, the police established the identity of the woman and arrested her on Mar. 18. A total of S$190 was recovered from her. Preliminary investigations revealed that the woman had used a fictitious online persona and allegedly offered sexual services to the victim. The victim had befriended the woman online. The woman later used a second fictitious online persona to pose as the first persona’s “brother” and asked the victim to transfer S$200 to “him”. If the victim failed to do so, the "brother" would expose the victim’s conversation to the police. The woman was to be charged in court on Mar. 19 with cheating. The offence carries an imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine. A Trans-Cab taxi ended up on a footpath in Choa Chu Kang after it reportedly smashed through a gantry barrier in a car park and collided with a tree on the night of Mar. 17 (Sunday).
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed with Mothership that the accident happened along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 at about 8:55pm. Car 'moved forward on its own': Driver The accident took place at a stretch of road near Keat Hong Market in Choa Chu Kang, reporters reported. The taxi driver told reporters that he was giving a female friend a lift at the time. He claimed that he was trying to exit the nearby car park when he lost control of the vehicle. According to him, the car park gantry barrier wouldn't open, so he stopped the vehicle to speak to an operator. Reporters said that the driver claimed that the car moved forward on its own, without him stepping on the accelerator. "It smashed through the barrier and shot onto the main road. I tried braking but it wasn't enough to stop the car," the driver said. The collision The frantic driver made a left turn at this point. The car then mounted the kerb on to a grass patch before it collided with a tree. In the aftermath of the accident, reporters noticed that the front of the taxi was badly damaged from the collision, with the airbags deployed. Police officers were also deployed to the scene. The driver said his hand was injured in the accident but he and his passenger were otherwise unharmed. He also denied consuming alcohol prior to the incident. In response to reporters enquiries, SCDF confirmed that two persons were assessed for minor injuries but they declined to be sent to the hospital. Reporters has also reached out to Trans-Cab for comment. S’pore still ‘attractive’ to Chinese travellers, says STB, noting embassy’s concern over gambling3/22/2024 SINGAPORE – Singapore remains an “attractive destination” for leisure and business travellers from China, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in a statement on March 22. This is in response to queries from reporters on a circular by China’s embassy here reminding its citizens to steer clear of gambling.
The Chinese embassy in Singapore on March 18 had asked its citizens in the Republic to “stay away” from gambling, adding that cross-border gambling violates Chinese laws and may be tied to other crimes like smuggling and money laundering. In response to media queries, the STB’s Greater China executive director Andrew Phua said the agency was aware of the embassy’s statement, and respected its concerns. Singapore is a trusted and vibrant destination for both leisure and business, and Chinese travellers visit Singapore for many reasons, he added. “In addition to Singapore’s reputation as a family-friendly, bilingual, and safe destination, our diverse range of tourism offerings including our slew of wide-ranging attractions and a robust events calendar makes Singapore an attractive destination choice to Chinese visitors,” said Mr Phua. At a news conference in Beijing on March 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the country’s position on cross-border gambling was clear in that Chinese capital cannot be invested in overseas casinos. He added that Chinese citizens are not allowed to run overseas casinos, while overseas casinos should also not invite Chinese citizens to gamble on their premises. Visa-free entry a draw Mr Phua added that the 30-day mutual visa exemption between Singapore and China will continue to increase Singapore’s attractiveness as a tourist destination to boost arrivals and spending in Singapore’s tourism and other related sectors. The agreement, which kicked in on Feb 9, allows citizens of Singapore and China to visit the other country without a visa, for a stay of up to 30 days. According to STB statistics, Singapore received more than 327,000 visitors from China in February 2024, reaching 96 per cent of 2019’s figures. The figures registered made China the largest source market for visitors to Singapore, Mr Phua said. Singapore registered around 1.44 million visitors in February. Mr Phua said that the STB aims to offer Chinese visitors the opportunity to discover more hidden gems in Singapore through its various branding and public relations initiatives. Singapore houses two casinos within the integrated resorts of Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. When contacted, both declined to comment. The Gambling Regulatory Authority in December 2023 fined Resorts World Sentosa a total of $2.25 million for failing to perform due diligence checks on deposits into patrons’ accounts. SINGAPORE – Cordlife’s former group chief executive Tan Poh Lan and four board members have been arrested for potential breaches of the company’s disclosure obligations in relation to its mishandling of cord blood units.
The listed private cord blood bank has been under scrutiny since the Ministry of Health made public on Nov 30, 2023, that seven of its tanks storing cord blood units were exposed to temperatures above acceptable limits. Cord blood units belonging to at least 2,150 clients were damaged, with 17,050 others potentially affected. It later emerged that Cordlife’s board was alerted to temperature lapses in one of its tanks in February 2023. The four directors who were arrested along with Ms Tan are acting chairman Ho Choon Hou, independent directors Yeo Hwee Tiong and Titus Jim Cheong Tuck Yan, as well as non-independent non-executive director Chow Wai Leong. All five are out on bail. In a bourse filing in the wee hours of March 22, the company said it had received a notice on March 19 from the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) requiring documents and information related to police investigations into an offence under the Securities and Futures Act. It has produced some of the documents listed in the notice. “The company understands that the offence is in connection with potential breaches of the disclosure obligations of the company in relation to the irregular temperatures of a certain cryogenic storage tank of the company, which was first disclosed by the company in its announcement dated Nov 30, 2023,” Cordlife said in the filing. Its chief financial officer Thet Hnin Yi has been asked to assist with investigations. She has not been arrested, the company said. The CAD and MAS also issued a notice on March 19 requiring four directors of the company who are not based in Singapore to attend interviews on April 2 in connection with the investigations. They are independent director Joseph Wong Wai Leung, non-independent non-executive director Zhai Lingyun, non-independent non-executive director Chen Xiao Ling and non-independent non-executive director Yiu Ming Yiu. “The company has received undertakings from all the directors, Ms Tan Poh Lan and Ms Thet Hnin Yi, to inform the board of the ongoing investigations and subsequent developments,” said Cordlife. Ms Tan resigned in October 2023 to “pursue personal interests”, before the case was made known in November that year. The company announced on Feb 19 that it had appointed Mr Yiu Pang Fai as its next group CEO. Ms Tan’s last day as group CEO and executive director was previously announced as March 31. But she and the company later agreed that Feb 19 would be her last day, although she will work with Mr Yiu until March 31 to facilitate the smooth transition of leadership. As for the directors, Cordlife said: “Given that the current board has been overseeing and providing guidance on the ongoing work undertaken by the company to investigate and address the lapses identified by the Ministry of Health in relation to the company’s Singapore operations, the majority of the board is of the view that it would be in the interests of the company for all directors to continue serving on the board.” However, it disclosed that Mr Zhai and Ms Chen disagree, as they hold the view that their fellow directors who have been arrested and released on bail are not suitable to remain on the board. In an earlier bourse filing on March 21, the company said its shareholders had requested the removal and appointment of several directors amid the mishandling of the cord blood units. “The board will continue to consider and assess the suitability of all directors to continue serving on the board, pending the development of the investigations,” said Cordlife. It added that, depending on how the investigation evolves, the board will also consider the possibility of the appointment of new independent directors to serve as additional checks and balances for the company. Cordlife said the group’s operations will continue as usual. The company’s share price was down 2.2 per cent to 22 cents as at 9.19am on March 22. Trading in the counter resumed on March 22, after being halted from the afternoon of March 14. What would you pack in your luggage on your travels?
Likely not a veritable horde of terrapins in the thousands. That was what Rafique Syed Hariza Ali Hussain, 40, was accused of doing on a flight from Singapore to Tamil Nadu, India on Nov. 7, 2023. Allegedly smuggled 5,160 terrapins on flight \ According to charge sheets seen by reporters, the Indian national and Singapore permanent resident allegedly packed and concealed 5,160 red-eared terrapins into his two personal bags. Rafique then allegedly smuggled them on a flight from Singapore's Changi Airport to India's Coimbatore International Airport in Tamil Nadu. The terrapins, commonly known as red-eared sliders, are considered the most popular turtle in the pet trade, according to the National Parks Board (NParks). "These turtles are often purchased as juveniles and discarded by pet owners once they mature," NParks added. Bags not ventilated The terrapins are subject to Singapore's Wildlife Act, which prohibits the illegal trade of wildlife. Under this Act, it is illegal to sell or export any wildlife — whether dead or alive — without the Director General’s written approval to do so. Rafique was also charged under the Animals and Birds Act for failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the terrapins were not suffering unnecessarily. This was because his bags were not ventilated. Offered bail Rafique was offered bail of S$35,000. He said that either his Singaporean friend, or his own wife or daughter could bail him out. Rafique's next hearing is scheduled for next month. Invasive species Red-eared sliders are not native to Singapore. In fact, they are an invasive species, which means they cause harm to the local ecosystem by threatening the survival of native species. The red-eared slider was introduced to Singapore via the aquarium trade, and those in the wild here are likely released pets. A 46-year-old Singaporean man who left a comment on a Facebook post about the shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was sentenced to four months in jail on Mar. 20, 2024.
Kong Chee Kian commented: [sic] "Pls someone do the same to our PM". He was referring to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the comment left on Jul. 8, 2022. Kong pleaded guilty to a charge of inciting violence electronically. Court proceedings revealed that Kong posted the comment as he did not like the Singapore government and was "looking for someone to blame" for his difficulty finding permanent employment due to health issues. Made the comment on a CNA article On the day of the incident, Kong was surfing the internet on his phone when he read a CNA article posted on its Facebook page about a man being taken into custody after Abe was shot. He replied in the comments, "Pls someone do the same to our PM." An anonymous person made a police report after seeing the comment, and Kong was arrested on the same day. The person had stated that someone had made threats to "our PM" and that they hoped action could be taken. They also said they were "not sure if this is a troll". Made other comments related to PM Lee Kong also left another comment on the same day on a Facebook post by Yahoo Singapore about Abe's death, saying, "Your good friend LHL will join you". In addition, under PM Lee's Facebook post tribute to Abe, Kong left a comment in Mandarin, which was translated in court documents: "If you are going the right way, afraid that people would plot against you but you are not." Kong later clarified that his comment was intended to convey his opinion that PM Lee "was not a good person" and that this would lead to "other people [plotting] against him", CNA reported. Kong also made other online comments related to PM Lee on other occasions. About a month prior, Kong also responded to an Instagram post asking users to comment on what a Tamagotchi toy was, with "wrong answers only". He wrote that the Tamagotchi was the "only weapon" against Singapore's Prime Minister. Serious and ominous: Judge The prosecution sought a jail term of four and a half to six months for Kong. The prosecutor said that anyone who resorts to inciting violence against the head or senior members of the government must not be tolerated despite their dissatisfaction with the government for any reason, ST reported. She added that the failure to tackle such behaviour could lead to the proliferation and normalisation of such offences. Meanwhile, Kong's lawyer asked for a two-month imprisonment term, noting that it was Kong's first offence and he had fully cooperated with the police during investigations. The lawyer added that Kong is remorseful for his conduct and that his family will support him following his imprisonment to ensure that he “remains on the right side of the law”. The district judge described the offence as serious, and it warranted a custodial sentence, CNA reported. “He made a specific threat to assassinate and not just to beat up. All of this makes it much more serious and ominous,” she said. She also said that weaponising social media platforms to incite violence must be dealt with firmly. 3 family members, including 2 kids, hospitalised allegedly after eating at Haidilao in Punggol3/21/2024 Three people from the same family were hospitalised allegedly after they ate food served at the Haidilao hotpot chain outlet located at Northshore Plaza in Punggol on Mar. 10.
Two of those hospitalised were reportedly children. The Singapore Food Agency, Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency told The Straits Times on Mar. 20 they are investigating. A report was lodged with the authorities after the three fell ill and were hospitalised after supposedly consuming the food. A Haidilao spokesperson confirmed they received feedback on Mar. 14 from the customers that they had fallen ill after having lunch at the restaurant on Mar. 10. The authorities subsequently inspected the outlet on Mar. 16 and 18, the spokesperson revealed. A total of 220 tables were served on the day the family had lunch there, and they were the only group to have supposedly fallen ill from having a meal there, the spokesperson added. Details provided to the authorities included food products, test reports, and security footage related to the family's meal. The spokesperson also said internal quality inspectors conduct food safety inspections on a daily basis, while third-party professional agencies are invited to disinfect and sterilise the premises every two weeks. The Northshore Plaza outlet is still operating, according to reporters. The popular Chinese hotpot chain has 20 outlets in Singapore. It first opened here in 2012. Water filtration system company Purexygen, directors warned by CCCS for unfair marketing practices3/21/2024 SINGAPORE - Water filtration company Purexygen and its directors have been issued warnings by the Competition and Consumer Commission Singapore (CCCS), for unfair practices such as making misleading claims on the health benefits of filtered water.
In a statement on March 21, the CCCS said it is reviewing the marketing practices, accreditation, certification, and health benefit claims made by water filtration system suppliers, as part of its ongoing market monitoring of the industry. The commission investigated Purexygen - a company that supplies water dispensers, alkaline water filtration systems, and maintenance system packages to consumers - under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA), and found that the company had engaged in “unfair practices” between September 2021 and November 2023. During this period, the company had made misleading claims on the health benefits of alkaline or filtered water on its website and social media pages, such as how they can help prevent osteoporosis, acid reflux, blood pressure conditions, and diabetes. The company had also told customers that its water faucet and water dispenser were free for a limited time, in its Carousell listings, even though both items are provided to all of Purexygen’s customers for free at all times, and gave false excuses on its “persistent delay” in providing a customer with the water filters bought. The company also falsely claimed, in sales kits used to pitch to customers, that its water filters had been tested by testing bodies, said CCCS. The commission added that Purexygen had stated in its service agreements that the sums paid for the activation fee and maintenance service package under direct sales contracts were non-refundable, but did not tell them that they could legally cancel such contracts and be refunded. During this period, the company had made misleading claims on the health benefits of alkaline or filtered water on its website and social media pages, such as how they can help prevent osteoporosis, acid reflux, blood pressure conditions, and diabetes. The company had also told customers that its water faucet and water dispenser were free for a limited time, in its Carousell listings, even though both items are provided to all of Purexygen’s customers for free at all times, and gave false excuses on its “persistent delay” in providing a customer with the water filters bought. The company also falsely claimed, in sales kits used to pitch to customers, that its water filters had been tested by testing bodies, said CCCS. The commission added that Purexygen had stated in its service agreements that the sums paid for the activation fee and maintenance service package under direct sales contracts were non-refundable, but did not tell them that they could legally cancel such contracts and be refunded. About 46% of car travellers used new QR code system over 2 days at Woodlands, Tuas checkpoints3/21/2024 SINGAPORE – About 86,000 travellers in cars passing through Singapore’s Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints have cleared immigration using the new QR code system as at March 20.
The initiative, which started on March 19, allows those travelling by car to clear immigration at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints more quickly without having to present their passports. The 86,000 users represent about 46 per cent of the total number of car travellers who crossed the two checkpoints during those two days, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on March 21. Deputy director of ICA’s operations division, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Phua Chiew Hua, said the number of QR code users is set to grow, with officers engaging drivers presenting passports to use the new system for future trips. He added that car travellers in groups found the process to be hassle-free and faster compared with presenting multiple passports. “The feedback gathered has been positive. Most travellers generated the QR code before reaching the checkpoints and cleared immigration smoothly,” said AC Phua. Retired teacher Steven Lim, 80, who was on a day trip with seven others, including his brothers and their wives, said using the QR code took under two minutes. He added: “Using our passports would probably have taken much longer as the immigration officer would have to open and check eight passports one by one. “This is a good initiative, and it’s easy to use. I was excited to try it after reading about it in the news.” Housewife Rasimah Idris, 61, said that while using the QR code quickened the clearance process, there could still be long lines at immigration counters during peak hours and festive periods. “When many people want to go to the same place at the same time, there will be congestion. And if the Malaysia side is slow, it could create a tailback situation,” she added. Mr Andrew Ang, 67, a retired construction contractor, had trouble generating a group QR code for himself and two friends, and they cleared immigration using their passports instead. He said: “I thought all of us had to download the MyICA app to generate the QR code, but actually only one person had to do it. We’re excited to try using the QR code when we return from our trip.” ICA encouraged car travellers to use the QR code, especially at the upcoming Good Friday long weekend from March 29 and Qing Ming Festival on April 4, when heavy traffic at both checkpoints is expected. ICA estimates time savings of around 20 seconds for cars with four travellers and about one minute for cars with 10 travellers. It said travellers should still bring their passports as ICA may check them in some cases, and travellers still need to present their passports at Malaysia’s Customs. Travellers may also need their passports while overseas as a form of identity verification. The same group QR code can be used for multiple trips if the same number of travellers with the same passport details are travelling together. The QR codes can be used to clear individual travellers or groups of up to 10 people in the same vehicle. Travellers can update the QR code via the MyICA mobile application should there be any changes in passport details. They can also create multiple group QR codes for travels with different groups of people and store them in the application under different names like “Family” or “Friends”. ICA added that QR codes will be rejected if they do not tally with the details and number of travellers in the vehicle. Travellers will have to present their passports for clearance instead. First-time visitors, including foreigners, and those re-entering Singapore using a different passport from the one used on their last visit to the country, will still need to present their passports for immigration clearance. But they can use QR codes for immigration clearance on subsequent trips. All foreign visitors passing through the land checkpoints using the QR code or passport to clear immigration are still required to submit their Singapore arrival card within three days, including the day of arrival, before arriving in Singapore. They can do so via the MyICA mobile application or ICA’s website. The QR code initiative is the first step towards the Automated Passenger Clearance System (APCS) to allow travellers to perform self-clearance in their cars with minimal intervention by officers. In 2026, APCS lanes are expected to be introduced at Tuas Checkpoint, where travellers will scan a QR code generated from their MyICA app, and present their biometrics for verification. This removes the need to station an officer at every car lane. Such lanes will be introduced at the redeveloped Woodlands Checkpoint in 2028. ICA said it plans to progressively extend QR code clearance to other vehicular clearance zones at the land checkpoints, so it can be used by travellers in other types of vehicles. |
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