In a world where counterfeit products abound, unsuspecting consumers can often fall victim to purchasing items that are not what they appear to be.

This is precisely what happened to a woman in China who purchased a pair of shoes from a store she thought was a Charles & Keith outlet.

Little did she know, she had entered a ‘Chermas & Kaeth’ store instead, thinking that it was the original brand.

The incident came to light when the woman shared her story on the popular Chinese social media platform, Xiaohongshu, on 25 June.

She recounted her experience of walking into a store that closely resembled a Charles & Keith outlet, complete with polished grey floors and white shelves.

Trusting her instincts, she assumed it was a legitimate store of the renowned Singaporean brand and proceeded to make a purchase.

After spending 500 yuan (S$93) on a pair of shoes, the woman eagerly tried them on, only to be met with disappointment.

The quality of the shoes felt off, raising suspicions about their authenticity. It was at that moment she realized her mistake—she had unwittingly bought shoes from a “random brand from Guangdong.”

Frustrated and dissatisfied, she decided to pursue a refund from the store.

Aware of the possibility of not receiving a refund, the woman acknowledged that she would consider this unfortunate incident as an expensive lesson learned.

Her post quickly gained traction on Xiaohongshu, attracting attention from fellow users who offered their opinions on the brand.

As expected, opinions on ‘Chermas & Kaeth’ varied among netizens. Some individuals shared similar experiences, having been tricked by the deceptive store with bags that looked strikingly similar to those of Charles & Keith.

On the other hand, some users argued that the brand offered products of decent quality, raising the question of whether ‘Chermas & Kaeth’ was merely an imitation or a brand of its own.

Interestingly, one Xiaohongshu user went as far as considering the existence of ‘Chermas & Kaeth’ as a compliment to Charles & Keith.

In their view, the emergence of imitation brands in China is a testament to the popularity and influence of the original brand.

However, this perspective does not diminish the concerns of consumers who unknowingly purchase counterfeit items, expecting the quality and craftsmanship associated with the original brand.

Upon investigating further, it was discovered that ‘Chermas & Kaeth’ was founded in Hong Kong in 2018. Their official website showcases a wide range of products, including shoes, bags, sunglasses, and various accessories. The price range for their items is listed as 300 yuan (S$60) to 500 yuan (S$93)

A fatal accident took place along Upper Changi on Wednesday (28 June) at about 3 am, a 66-year-old man was killed in the accident that involved a van, according to a report by Shin Min Daily News.

On the early morning of June 28, a fatal accident occurred on Upper Changi Road North. The details of the accident are still under investigation, but the incident resulted in the untimely demise of a 66-year-old male pedestrian.

As the morning progressed, a 63-year-old taxi driver named Mr. Lan drove past the accident scene. It was around 4 am at the time when he noticed a motionless body covered by a white cloth on the road.

With only the legs visibly sticking out from under the cloth, it was apparent that the deceased had been wearing shorts at the time of the fatal accident.

Authorities swiftly responded to the incident, cordoning off the affected area on Upper Changi Road North.

Dashcam footage captured the aftermath, revealing the presence of police vehicles and a blue tent set up to cover the body.

A van suspected to be involved in the accident was also spotted nearby, parked with hazard lights on.

The police confirmed the occurrence of the accident, stating that a 66-year-old male pedestrian had tragically lost his life at the scene.

The authorities arrested a 76-year-old van driver on suspicion of careless driving causing death. Investigations are currently underway to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal accident.

Similar fatal accidents

Last week, a 59-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed after being hit from behind by a car in an accident that took place on 25 June, along Yishun Central.

The accident occurred on Sunday morning, at around 10 a.m., along Yishun Avenue 9. The e-bike rider was traveling towards Yishun Central when a car collided with him from behind. The impact of the collision proved to be fatal, resulting in the rider’s death.

According to 64-year-old retiree Zheng Yingshu, who spoke to Shin Min Daily News, the car struck the e-bike from behind.

Another witness, Mr. Xu Jinbiao, a 70-year-old who was working at a nearby temple, recalls hearing a loud sound and rushing to the scene. He discovered a crowd surrounding the injured rider. Alarmed by the severity of the situation, he immediately called for medical assistance.

Upon the arrival of paramedics, the man had already lost consciousness. The paramedics then began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the spot. For approximately 15 minutes, they tirelessly worked to revive him he eventually succumbed to his injuries and died.

Johan Wijaya, a 32-year-old Singapore permanent resident, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of voyeurism and was sentenced on 27 June to 8 months imprisonment.

He secretly recorded women during intimate encounters without their consent or knowledge, according to a report by Today.

Johan Wijaya’s voyeuristic activities were uncovered following a thorough investigation where authorities discovered recordings of 76 women who had fallen victim to Johan’s intrusive behaviour.

The victims cannot be named because of a court order protecting their identities.

Among the 76 featured victims was a 25-year-old whom Johan met on a dating app, and they later agreed to meet up a few days later to have intercourse once a week.

Johan ended up with 16 videos of her fully unclothed with her private parts and face visible in the videos.

What happened?

Johan Wijaya employed a calculated approach to carry out his voyeuristic acts. He utilized popular dating applications such as Tinder and OkCupid to connect with women.

After establishing contact, Johan would engage in conversations to determine if the women were open to casual relationships before arranging face-to-face meetings.

Over a five-year period, 76 women became unknowing victims of his voyeuristic activities. The secret recordings captured their most intimate moments without their consent.

Johan Wijaya meticulously concealed his recording equipment within a powerbank charger. Prior to engaging in intercourse with the women he met, he would activate the hidden camera that was inside a powerbank. The powerbank with the hidden camera was bought in 2017 to secretly film the videos.

The powerbank, inconspicuous due to its lack of emitting light while recording, was strategically positioned to face the bed while the victims showered or used the toilet.

The victims only found out that they had been filmed when police seized Johan’s laptop and found a total of 391 videos, with 336 of them being voyeuristic, and featured 76 victims in total.

Johan Wijaya’s admission of guilt led to his sentencing. He pleaded guilty to five counts of voyeurism, resulting in an eight-month jail term. The court took into consideration an additional eleven similar charges during the sentencing process.

Each count of voyeurism carries a potential penalty of up to two years in jail, fines, caning, or a combination of these punishments.