MAN ARRESTED FOR SHOPTHEFT

The Police have arrested a 23-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of theft in dwelling.

On 30 July 2023 at about 3.45 pm, the Police received a report of shop theft at a supermarket along Woodlands Street 13. Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from CCTV cameras, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him within two hours of the report. Purported stolen Items valued at more than $21,000 were recovered from the man’s residence.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is currently also undergoing court proceedings for other similar cases of shop theft.

The man will be charged in court on 1 August 2023 with theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term that may extend to 7 years and a fine. Police investigations are ongoing.

The Police take a serious view of shop theft cases and offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law. The Police will continue to work closely with stakeholders and the community to prevent and deter cases of shop theft. The Police would also like to remind retailers to remain vigilant against shop thieves, especially when large crowds are expected. Retailers are advised to adopt the following measures:

1. Ensure a good line of sight for the displays by using an appropriate shop layout;
2. Display advisory posters or signage against shop theft;
3. Display expensive merchandise in locked showcases or at prominent locations (eg. near cashier counters);
4. Install CCTVs with recording system at the entrance/exit of the store to capture the facial features of shoppers; and
5. Deploy adequate security personnel to patrol the premises in luminous vests for deterrence.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
31 July 2023 @ 8:55 PM

In a shocking incident, a Singapore permanent resident (PR) named Bahara became a victim of a violent robbery while on a business trip to Batam, losing his valuables and ending up with 17 stitches on his head as a result.

Robbery

On the evening of Jul. 26, Bahara found himself at the Nagoya Foodcourt, a popular spot frequented by tourists. The area, situated near a hotel and residential region, appeared tranquil at 3 am, with few people around.

Unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows, Bahara was engrossed in watching a YouTube video on his phone when he suddenly he felt a jarring blow to the back of his head, followed by several more strikes.

Startled and disoriented, Bahara realized that he was under attack. Despite the assault, he managed to maintain consciousness.

Two assailants swiftly snatched Bahara’s belongings and hastily escaped on foot, leaving him lying on the ground, injured and in pain.

After a few minutes, he gathered his strength and sought help from the nearby food center’s cleaners and stall assistants, who provided assistance.

Losses

Upon reaching a hospital approximately 10 minutes away, Bahara received medical attention for his injuries, which necessitated 17 stitches on the back of his head.

The robbers had taken his wallet, containing his NRIC, cash, and credit cards, along with his phone and passport. Moreover, Bahara’s spectacles were broken during the violent attack. He suspected that the attackers had wielded a large tree branch as a weapon.

Reporting the Incident

Despite the traumatic experience, Bahara promptly reported the incident to the local authorities. However, he expressed uncertainty regarding the possibility of retrieving his stolen phone, as he could not recall its unique IMEI number.

The IMEI number is crucial in tracking a phone’s last connection to the mobile phone network, but without it, the chances of locating the device become challenging.

Recovery and Support

Presently, Bahara is recuperating from his injuries in Batam, with the assistance of a supportive friend. He has informed his family about the incident but does not wish to overly worry them.

Through this troubling incident, Bahara hopes to raise awareness among visitors to Batam about potential dangers and urges caution when venturing into poorly lit areas or using unverified transportation services.

In a heart-wrenching incident, a woman was charged in court on Aug. 1, 2023, for a disturbing act of ill-treating her four children by splashing hot water on them, resulting in the kids suffering about 10% of burn on their body.

A gag order has also been issued preventing the woman’s name from being published, in order to protect the identity of the victims.

What happened?

On Jul. 2, 2022, between 6 am and 9:34 am in a Tampines HDB unit, the woman allegedly splashed hot water on her four children, one son, and three daughters, aged between eight and 11.

The children suffered superficial partial-thickness burns, ranging from 1 percent to 10 percent of their total body surface area. The 10-year-old daughter bore the most serious injuries with burns on her left arm, left hemi-abdomen, left thigh, and right thigh. The severity of the injuries underscores the brutality of the act.

As a consequence of her actions, the woman faces four charges under the Children and Young Persons Act.

Court records revealed that the woman and her husband have since divorced each other, and the children are now staying at a shelter for children.

If convicted, she could face a jail term of up to eight years, a maximum fine of S$8,000, or both.

Other similar cases

A 41-year-old woman in Singapore stabbed her son with a knife after being angry that he had gone into her room without permission to use her phone, according to Channel NewsAsia.

The boy was bleeding profusely after the stabbing and he then went into his bedroom where he then called the police for help.

The woman, who cannot be identified because of a court order, was sentenced on 17 May to 2 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon on a minor.

What happened?

On the morning of 6 November 2021, the victim went into his mother’s room and took her spare phone to play, despite his mother telling him not to go into her room.

He ignored her instructions and continued playing with her phone, and the angry mother then went into the kitchen to grab a knife that measured 21cm long, before heading into her room with it.

Her son was under the blankets and lying down on the bed at the time, and she then pulled the blanket off of him before moving her hand (which was holding onto the knife) in a stabbing motion.

The boy ended up being cut on his thigh as he bled out and was crying in pain, before fleeing to his room and locking the door.

He then called the police for help, telling them that he had been stabbed by his mother with a kitchen knife.

He was subsequently conveyed to the hospital with an open wound before being discharged about a few weeks later after the incident.

In a tragic incident that occurred on March 5, 2021, at a unit on the 11th storey of Block 456 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, a personal mobility device (PMD) caught fire while charging, leading to the death of a 49-year-old woman named Madam Tay Choon Hwee.

The incident was ruled as a misadventure on 25 July by State Coroner Adam Nakhoda. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegally modified PMDs and the importance of adhering to safety regulations.

According to the report, Madam Tay Choon Hwee’s son, referred to as Mr Ching, had purchased an illegally modified PMD from a person named Mr Muhammad Shahrul Abdul Razak for $1,400. Mr Shahrul had advertised the device on Carousell after his wife found it too big. He explicitly informed Mr Ching that the PMD was not compliant with Land Transport Authority (LTA) regulations.

The Illegally Modified PMD

The PMD that Mr Ching purchased had been modified. The original battery pack was removed, and the device was powered by two external 36-volt lithium-ion battery packs given to him by Mr Shahrul. It is important to note that the 72-volt charger used by Mr Ching might have been incompatible with the two 36-volt battery packs, potentially leading to overcharging and subsequent fire.

On the night of March 4, 2021, Mr Ching brought the PMD home, and at approximately 2 am on March 5, he attempted to charge the battery packs using a charger he already owned. Though he noted that the voltage of the charger matched that of the battery packs, he hesitated and monitored the charging process for two hours due to fear.

Tragic Outcome

After witnessing no issues during the initial charging, Mr Ching went to sleep, leaving the battery packs to continue charging. However, between 5 am and 6 am, he was awakened by his mother, who heard what sounded like explosions outside. When they opened the door, they discovered a fire engulfing the PMD in the living room, with the lithium-ion battery cells popping.

As the fire spread, Mr Ching rushed to the kitchen toilet to get water to extinguish the blaze. During this time, his mother experienced difficulty breathing due to thick black smoke filling the kitchen area. She attempted to return to the bedroom to call for help, but her vision was obstructed.

Rescue Efforts and Tragic Outcome

Amid the chaos, Mr Ching managed to shout for help through an open window, and a concerned member of the public called the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for help.

The SCDF officers used a compressed air foam backpack and a jet hose to put out the fire. Tragically, Madam Tay Choon Hwee was found unconscious on the floor with items on top of her. Despite paramedics performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, she was pronounced dead at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) at around 8 am.

The State Coroner’s Conclusion

Following a thorough investigation, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda emphasized the inherent dangers posed by modified PMDs.

He strongly advised against purchasing and using such devices. Instead, he recommended that users only opt for UL-2272 certified and LTA-registered PMDs.

Moreover, he stressed the importance of charging PMDs using the supplied chargers to mitigate potential risks.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched a search and rescue operation after a distress call was received from a Cyprus-flagged passenger vessel, Spectrum of the Seas, reporting that a passenger had fallen overboard in the Singapore Strait. The incident occurred at approximately 7:50 am on 31 July 2023 while the vessel was en route into Singapore.

Upon receiving the notification, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Singapore, which is operated by the MPA, promptly initiated the search and rescue efforts. To aid in the mission, MRCC Singapore issued navigational safety broadcasts to all vessels traversing the Singapore Strait and those in port, urging them to be vigilant and report any sightings of the missing person to the MRCC.

As of the time of this report, the identity of the missing passenger and the circumstances surrounding the incident have not been disclosed. Authorities are actively investigating the matter to determine the sequence of events that led to the passenger falling overboard.

Following the incident, the passenger vessel Spectrum of the Seas was brought to a berth in Singapore to support the ongoing investigation. Subsequently, the vessel departed from Singapore at approximately 4:30 pm.

The search and rescue operation remains underway, with multiple vessels and maritime agencies collaborating to locate the missing passenger. The MPA has not provided any further updates regarding the search efforts at this time.

The MPA and relevant authorities have reminded all maritime operators and passengers to prioritize safety measures while on board vessels and to adhere strictly to safety guidelines and protocols. Incidents like these underscore the importance of vigilance and prompt reporting in emergency situations at sea.

The MPA will continue to provide updates on the search and rescue operation as more information becomes available. Anyone with relevant information about the incident is urged to contact the MRCC Singapore immediately.

The maritime community and the public at large are urged to extend their full cooperation and support during this challenging time. Our thoughts are with the missing passenger’s family and friends, and we hope for a swift and successful resolution to the search and rescue operation.

MPA’s statement

Passenger Fallen Overboard in Singapore Strait

     At about 7:50 am on 31 July 2023, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Singapore operated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was notified that a passenger onboard a Cyprus-flagged passenger vessel, Spectrum of the Seas, had fallen overboard in the Singapore Strait while enroute into Singapore.

2.   MRCC Singapore is coordinating the search and immediately issued navigational safety broadcast to vessels in the Singapore Strait and vessels in port to keep a lookout for the missing person and report any sightings to MRCC Singapore. 

3.   The passenger vessel was berthed earlier in Singapore to support the investigation, and had departed Singapore at around 4:30pm.

Image source: カテキン via Wikipedia Commons