In a world where the glitz and glamour of showbiz once reigned supreme, Singaporean celebrities are increasingly trading the spotlight for the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.

While some have struck gold with their business ventures, others have faced setbacks, reminding us that fame doesn’t guarantee success in the business world.

Celebrity F&B ventures

One shining example of a celebrity-turned-entrepreneur success story is Jeanette Aw. Known for her remarkable acting career, she ventured into the F&B industry with “What The Fudge” brownies.

Another celebrity who took the plunge into the food and beverage world is Taufik Batisah. Renowned for his singing career, Taufik ventured into the world of spice with “Chix Hot Chicken.”

His bold move paid off as the flavorsome venture became a hot topic in town, proving that a celebrity’s touch can sometimes turn an eatery into a sensation.

While tales of triumph abound, not all celebrities-turned-business owners find themselves in a fairy tale. Shane Pow, a familiar face in showbiz, embarked on a rather rocky journey into entrepreneurship with his Korean eatery, Gogiyo.

In late 2020, Shane Pow, along with five childhood friends, entered the competitive F&B scene by opening Gogiyo, a Korean stall. Shane is a part-shareholder in the venture, balancing it with his acting career. Initially, four Gogiyo outlets graced the food scene, but today, only one outlet is left.

Fan-workers fiasco

Shane Pow had an innovative idea to engage his fans by offering them job opportunities at Gogiyo. The allure of working alongside their favorite actor while earning a salary seemed like a win-win situation. However, reality didn’t quite align with expectations.

Speaking on the KUNZversations podcast by YES933 DJ Zhong Kunhua, some fans did join as employees, but Shane’s hectic schedule made it challenging for him to interact with them as they had hoped. Disappointed by the lack of meet-and-greet opportunities, some fans decided to quit their jobs.

Shane Pow’s vision for Gogiyo didn’t quite materialize as planned. The restaurant struggled to generate the anticipated cash flow.

While Shane thought of serving dishes like chicken rice or bak chor mee, he also acknowledged the fierce competition in the market for these quintessentially Singaporean dishes.

Owning a restaurant had always been a dream for Shane, and investing in one seemed like a fun idea, especially for hosting gatherings with friends.

However, this aspiration led to the downfall of his business. Instead of attracting organic customers, Shane ended up becoming his own restaurant’s top spender instead, primarily due to him hosting lavish gatherings for his friends.

Conclusion

The stories of celebrities like Jeanette Aw and Taufik Batisah demonstrate that successful transitions from showbiz to entrepreneurship are indeed possible.

However, Shane Pow’s rollercoaster journey with Gogiyo reminds us that fame alone is not enough to guarantee business success. It’s a testament to the challenges and uncertainties that come with venturing into the competitive world of entrepreneurship.

A 30-year-old man from Sri Lanka, Eshan Tharaka Koottage, who allegedly killed his wife at the Holiday Inn Express hotel at Katong, was charged in court earlier today (11 September) with her murder, according to The Straits Times.

He is charged with killing his wife, 32-year-old Diyawinnage Sewwandi Maduka Kumari, on Saturday (9 September) sometime between 10.45am and 4.42pm.

According to MustShareNews, Eshan and the deceased were purportedly tourists from Sri Lanka having their holiday here in Singapore.

The two had just arrived in Singapore when they got into an argument, during which Eshan then allegedly killed his wife with a knife.

He then changed out of his clothes and left the hotel room, heading to a nearby police station to turn himself in to the police.

Lianhe Zaobao reported that the alleged murder took place on the 9th floor of the hotel.

He had turned himself in at the Marine Parade Neighbourhood Police Centre and told police officers that he had killed his wife, and officers then went to his hotel room and found the deceased with a slash wound, lying motionless; she was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Eshan appeared in court earlier today via video link and conversed via a Sinhalese interpreter, and he was also unrepresented.

The prosecution requested for permission to bring him back to the crime scene to recover exhibits and also asked for him to be remanded for a week.

In court, Eshan also requested to engage a lawyer via the Sri Lankan High Commission, who have been informed of the case. However, Eshan is not allowed to communicate with anyone at the moment because investigations into the murder are currently ongoing.

He is expected to return to court on 18 September and if convicted of murder, he faces the mandatory death penalty.

Recap

A 30-year-old man was apprehended by the police on Saturday for the alleged murder of his 32-year-old wife at a hotel along Katong, according to The Straits Times.

The harrowing saga began on a seemingly ordinary Saturday evening around 5.05 pm when the man walked into the Marine Parade Neighbourhood Police Centre. He confessed to the officers that he had taken the life of his wife at a hotel located in East Coast Road.

While the police did not initially disclose the name of the hotel, The Straits Times reported that the grim incident occurred at the Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong.

Upon receiving the alarming confession, officers swiftly made their way to the hotel room mentioned by the suspect, where they found the lifeless body of the woman, bearing a slash wound, lying motionless.

She was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.

The man, who had voluntarily turned himself in, was promptly arrested at the Marine Parade Neighbourhood Police Centre. A knife believed to be the murder weapon was discovered in the hotel room and seized as well.

The police have announced that the suspect will be charged with murder, and he is set to appear in court on Monday. In Singapore, individuals convicted of murder can face severe penalties, including the death penalty or life imprisonment coupled with caning.

The Singapore Police Force arrested a 39-year-old man for allegedly attacking a 40-year-old man with a knife along Jalan Besar on 9 September.

The Dispute Unfolds

The police were alerted to a fight in progress on that day. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered two men engaged in a heated dispute.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that this altercation was not a random act of violence. Instead, it was the result of an ongoing disagreement between the two individuals, which had finally escalated to a dangerous level.

With the aid of images from police cameras and ground enquiries, officers from the Central Police Division, supported by their counterparts from the Police Operations Command Centre and Bedok Police Division, swiftly identified the assailant and arrested him within 8 hours of the incident.

Evidence Seized

During the arrest, the police confiscated two knives believed to be involved in the attack. Additionally, they secured the victim’s shirt, which was seen heavily stained with blood.

The assailant will face legal repercussions for his actions. He is scheduled to be charged in court on September 11, where he will face charges of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.

If convicted, he could be sentenced to a prison term of up to seven years, a hefty fine, caning or any combination of the punishments.

This incident serves as a stark reminder for the public regarding the seriousness of carrying offensive or scheduled weapons in public places. It is essential to note that such actions are illegal and can lead to severe consequences under the law.

Similar cases

About 2 weeks ago, a 23-year-old man was arrested for possession of offensive weapons, including a karambit knife and a knuckle duster.

Police officers were performing checks on him along Victoria Street at the time when the man tried to flee, before being detained by the officers who then found the weapons in his possession.

He was also found to be in possession of suspected illegal drugs, and was subsequently charged in court.

A series of enforcement operations was conducted at nightspots located in the Joo Chiat, Marina Bay and Bugis areas from 7 to 10 September 2023. The enforcement operation involved officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) as part of sustained efforts to clamp down on illegal activities, including drug offences and crime.

A total of three male Singaporeans and one female foreign national were arrested for suspected drug-related offences, the youngest being a 19-year-old Singaporean teenager. In total, about 3g of ‘Ice’, 98g of ketamine, 46g of ‘Ecstasy’ tablets and 60g of powdery substance believed to be controlled drugs were seized.

Anti-drug operations at nightspot in Joo Chiat area on 7 September 2023 led to arrest of three suspected drug offenders

In the night of 7 September, close to 20 persons in a nightspot located in the vicinity of Joo Chiat Road were checked during an enforcement operation that involved officers from CNB and SPF. At around the same time, a 29-year-old female foreign national, who was observed by CNB officers to have earlier exited the nightspot, was arrested in a nearby open-air carpark. About 1g of ketamine was recovered from her.

In follow-up operations the same night, CNB officers arrested a 26-year-old male Singaporean in the vicinity of Dunman Road. About 3g of ‘Ice’, 46g of ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, 90g of Ketamine and 60g of powdery substance believed to contain controlled drugs were seized from the vehicle he was in. CNB officers also arrested a 53-year-old male Singaporean in the vicinity of Petain Road, and about 7g of ketamine were recovered from him.

Photo 1 (CNB): A male suspect arrested in the vicinity of Dunman Road on 7 September 2023, in a follow-up from CNB’s enforcement operation at a nightspot in the Joo Chiat area.

Anti-drug operations conducted on 9 and 10 September 2023 at nightspots located in the Marina Bay and Bugis areas; one teenager arrested for suspected drug offences

Over 90 persons in four nightlife establishments located in the Marina Bay and Bugis areas were checked during an overnight enforcement operation from 9 to 10 September involving officers from SPF and CNB. A 19-year-old male Singaporean was arrested for suspected drug-related offences.

Photos 2 and 3 (CNB): Saliva test kits deployed in anti-drug operations conducted at nightspots from 7 to 10 September 2023.

Photo 4 (CNB): Scene at one of the nightspots during anti-drug operations conducted from 7 to 10 September 2023

Superintendent Lim Sze Yuk, Commanding Officer of Enforcement ‘A’ / ‘E’ Division, said:

The series of anti-drug operations at nightspots is part of CNB’s ongoing efforts aimed at keeping illicit drugs off Singapore’s streets and nightspots. CNB’s enforcement actions are necessary so that members of the public can enjoy Singapore’s nightlife safely without fear of being harmed by fellow partygoers or motorists under the influence of drugs. Our advice is clear – stay away from drugs. CNB will not hesitate to take firm action against drug offenders.”

Singapore adopts a strict policy of zero tolerance towards controlled drugs. The importation and exportation, possession, sale and consumption of controlled drugs or products containing controlled drugs, is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) 1973.

Under the MDA, it is also an offence for a person to arrange for gatherings for drug abuse, and it is also an offence for the premise owner, tenant or occupier to permit the premises to be used for drug abuse or drug trafficking.

Members of the public who would like to report on suspicious drug-related activities may submit it to us at https://www.eservices.cnb.gov.sg/feedback, or call the CNB hotline at 1800-325-6666.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU

10 September 2023