THREE MEN ARRESTED FOR EVADING MORE THAN HALF A MILLION IN DUTIES AND TAXES

Three male Singaporeans, aged between 19 and 23, were caught with 5,044 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes on 5 July 2023.

Singapore, 11 July 2023 – On 5 July 2023, Singapore Customs and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducted a joint operation as part of ongoing efforts to detect and prevent tax evasion.

As part of the operation, Singapore Customs arrested three Singaporean men at Ubi Crescent and seized a total of 5,044 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. The duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $539,910.

In an industrial building in the vicinity of Ubi Crescent, Singapore Customs officers monitored a unit that was suspected to be used for storing duty-unpaid cigarettes.

After a man was seen entering the unit, officers conducted a check and uncovered 2,040 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes packed in brown boxes, and another 3,004 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in sofa beds.

The man, along with two other men in the unit were arrested. All the duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized. The total duty and GST evaded amounted to about $495,321 and $44,589 respectively.

Court proceedings against the three men are ongoing.

Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.

ICA will continue to conduct security checks at the checkpoints and work with relevant authorities to safeguard our land, air and sea borders against crime and security threats, including smuggling activities and non-compliance with our regulations.

Members of public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-2330000 or email [email protected] to report these illegal activities.

In a heart-wrenching incident, a baby girl in Malaysia tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, resulting in the arrest of her 22 year old mother, according to The Star.

The incident occurred in the Taiping Hospital, located in Perak. The discovery of drugs in the system of a one-year-and-ten-month-old child has raised concerns about drug exposure and its impact on children’s lives.

The Incident: A Shocking Discovery

The incident came to light when the child’s mother noticed her baby girl displaying uncontrollable movements and incessant wailing. Alarmed by her daughter’s unusual behavior, the concerned mother rushed her to the Taiping Hospital for medical attention.

What followed was a shocking revelation that no parent should ever have to face – the young toddler tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Razlam Ab Hamid, the Taiping police district chief, confirmed the incident, stating that the mother had sent the child to her grandmother’s house while she went to a nearby sundry shop. Upon her return, she found her child crying and moving uncontrollably and immediately sought medical assistance.

She took her daughter to the Taiping Hospital where she tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, and the police were then alerted of the situation.

The mother was then arrested by the police and larger tested positive for methamphetamine as well.

The authorities have initiated an investigation under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act, and the Malysian police are also appealing to those with information related to the incident to come forward.

Dangers of illegal drugs on young children

Exposure to drugs and illicit substances can have severe consequences on a child’s physical and mental well-being.

The developing brains and bodies of young children are highly susceptible to the adverse effects of drugs, leading to potential long-term health issues and developmental challenges. T

his incident serves as a grim reminder of the devastating effects drug abuse can have on innocent lives.

A netizen shared a photo of a man selling egg tarts at Swee Choon Jalan Besar, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Taiwanese mandopop singer Jay Chou on 14 July.

The moment the anonymous customer shared a photograph of the lookalike on the popular Singapore Incidents Facebook group, netizens were captivated by the resemblance.

Standing behind the counter, adorned with rows of tantalizing egg tarts, the Jay Chou doppelganger sported a simple white t-shirt embellished with Swee Choon’s iconic logo.

Despite the lack of flashiness in his appearance, there was no denying the striking similarities in his features – the small mouth, small eyes, and expressions reminiscent of the singer.

Netizens React

As the photograph circulated on social media, it didn’t take long for netizens to weigh in with their thoughts. While most saw the uncanny resemblance, some went a step further, suggesting that the Swee Choon server might even be more good-looking than Jay Chou himself.

Amidst the humorous chatter, some couldn’t resist making light-hearted jabs at Jay Chou’s singing ability. They playfully referenced his past concert in Singapore, where certain fans expressed dissatisfaction with his vocals and disappointment with the concert experience.

The Legend of Jay Chou

For the uninitiated, Jay Chou is an immensely popular Taiwanese singer, songwriter, and actor. With numerous chart-topping hits, he has earned the title of Mandopop royalty and enjoys an ardent global fan base.

Known for his unique blend of R&B, pop, and rock influences, Jay Chou has left an indelible mark on the music industry.

Other Jay Chou lookalikes

A video emerged online showing “Jay Chou” and “JJ Lin” performing a duet for a Douyin video.

Of course it isn’t really them, but rather; their significantly less-talented dopplegangers.

The JJ Lin lookalike, who goes by “俊杰烧饼” on Douyin, has a friend who looks exactly like Jay Chou and the two then started making videos together.

Singapore has been making strides towards reducing plastic waste, with supermarkets already charging 5 cents for each plastic bag to encourage eco-friendly practices.

Following this trend, a hawker stall in Kovan has decided to charge its customers S$0.10 for every plastic bag used after the first one, resulting in mixed reactions from patrons, according to 8world News.

1st bag free, subsequent ones 10 cents

A stall at the Kovan Market and Food Centre at Block 209 has introduced a new policy where the first plastic bag is provided free to customers.

However, if they require additional bags to carry their takeaway, each bag would incur an extra cost of S$0.10. The stall owner explained that many diners often requested two to three bags for their purchases, prompting the implementation of this environmentally conscious measure.

The hawker stall’s decision to charge for plastic bags aligns with Singapore’s broader efforts to become more environmentally friendly.

By encouraging customers to minimize plastic bag usage, the stall aims to contribute positively to the environment. The owner expressed the importance of hawkers not falling behind in adopting sustainable practices.

Customer Reactions

While some customers were understanding of the new charge, others found it excessive. One customer mentioned that supermarket-provided plastic bags were cheaper despite being larger.

On the other hand, another customer felt that as long as there was proper notice about the extra charge, they were fine with it.

At another hawker centre in Chong Pang, there have been reports of diners taking more plastic bags, causing concern for stall owners.

One incident involved a customer taking six bags to carry their order of noodles. To address this issue, the owner decided to remove all plastic carriers to avoid similar situations in the future.

Stall owners at various hawker centres expressed concerns about the increasing costs of plastic bags. In the past, they could purchase 20 plastic bags for S$1, but now, the same amount costs S$2, making it a financial burden for some.

While some owners were willing to forgo the charge in specific cases where customers couldn’t afford it, they emphasized the need for patrons to bring their own carriers.

In response to media queries during a walkabout at Teck Whye Shopping Centre on July 15, 2023, former Senior Minister and presidential hopeful Tharman Shanmugaratnam expressed his views on the ongoing probe by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) concerning Minister for Transport S Iswaran.

Tharman, who has known Iswaran for a long time, reassured the public that the investigation is not the end of Iswaran’s life or future, urging everyone to let the process run its course without making premature judgments.

Tharman emphasized that Singapore’s system, which allows CPIB to have full autonomy to investigate questions related to integrity and incorruptibility, is what sets the nation apart and garners admiration worldwide.

He highlighted that the Singapore system ensures that no prime minister interferes with CPIB’s work, and should such a day ever come, the president would be there to uphold the system’s integrity.

Even with the setback, Tharman remains optimistic about the strength of the Singapore system. He believes that Singaporeans will overcome this challenge, further reinforcing the nation’s commitment to maintaining integrity and trust between the government and its people.

Tharman pointed out that the confidence in the Singapore system is crucial for the country’s future, fostering trust domestically and gaining the trust of foreign entities internationally.

Recap

Singapore Minister of Tranport S. Iswaran was previously reported as assisting the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), who have reportedly uncovered a case that has prompted the need for a thorough inquiry involving Minister Iswaran and several others.

He was subsequently told to take a leave of absence by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong until the investigations are complete, with his duties being taken over by Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat, who will assume the role of Acting Minister for Transport.

Following which, on 14 July, it was made public that Ong Beng Seng has been issued a notice of arrest by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), according to The Straits Times.

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He has been asked to provide information to the CPIB about his interactions with Transport Minister S.Iswaran for their investigations.

A case of housebreaking and theft took place on 12 July and occurred at the Seu Teck Sean Tong Yiang Sin Sia, a temple situated along Bedok North Ave 3 in Singapore and a 52-year-old man was arrested by the Singapore Police Force, according to a police statement.

The incident came to light when the temple caretaker, Mr. Yu, arrived at the temple on Wednesday morning at approximately 7:00 am. To his dismay, he discovered that a 200kg safe box, meant to serve as an offerings box, was missing from its spot outside a temporary tent, according to Shin Min Daily News.

This tent, housing thousands of spirit tablets, was set up during a recent expansion and renovation project undertaken by the temple in June 2023.

In addition to the missing safe box, Mr. Yu noticed that one of the offering boxes on the left side of the temple had its lock picked, and the money inside had been stolen.

Furthermore, a damaged trolley was found at the scene, presumably broken while the culprit transported the safe box away from the temple grounds.

While it was difficult to ascertain the exact amount of money stolen, given that the temple had not yet tallied the total offerings for two weeks due to the non-peak season, Mr. Yu estimated the loss to be between S$3,000 and S$5,000.

Police Response

The Singapore Police Force was promptly alerted to the case of housebreaking at around 7:20 am on the same day. Officers from the Bedok Police Division, using images obtained from CCTV cameras and police surveillance, launched ground enquiries to identify the suspect.

Following the man’s apprehension, the donation safe box, the trolley, and cash amounting to approximately S$90 were successfully recovered.

The suspect faced charges related to housebreaking and theft, offenses that carry severe penalties under Singaporean law.

If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years of imprisonment, a significant fine, and caning as part of his punishment.

Temple

The Seu Teck Sean Tong Yiang Sin Sia is a revered temple with deep historical and cultural significance in the community it serves.

The temple’s recent expansion and renovation project aimed to provide enhanced facilities for its growing number of devotees.