In a tragic incident that occurred on Tuesday morning (Jun. 20), a 75-year-old woman lost her life in a road traffic accident on Yishun Ring Road.

As reported by Shin Min Daily News, a picture captured the heart-wrenching scene of the accident. The image depicted the elderly woman lying on the road while paramedics attended to her.

One of the paramedics was observed performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an attempt to revive her.

Upon receiving reports of the incident, the police promptly arrived at the scene. The accident had occurred on Yishun Ring Road, heading towards Yishun Avenue 2, at approximately 8:10 am.

The Singapore Police Force confirmed the arrest of a 52-year-old male mini bus driver for careless driving causing death.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also confirmed that they were alerted to the incident at around 8:05 am.

Upon arrival, they swiftly attended to the situation and provided medical assistance to the victim, conveying her to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries and died at around 6 pm on the same day.

In light of the incident, the mini bus driver was arrested by the police and is being investigated for careless driving causing death.

At the time of writing, police investigations in the fatal accident are currently underway.

Similar deaths

A similar accident took place last month on 25 May involving a motorcycle, a lorry, and an SBS bus that resulted in the death of a 26-year-old motorcyclist near Chijmes and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mrs Grace Wu, the Vice-President of Customer Experience and Communications at SBS Transit, provided a statement in response to inquiries from The Straits Times.

Wu expressed her deepest condolences to the family of the motorcyclist and stated that the front of a Service 851 bus had minor contact with the motorcycle. She clarified that the bus was travelling straight on Victoria Street, having the green light in its favour.

The aftermath of the accident caused a significant traffic jam, stretching as far as the Hill Street area, as reported by Lianhe Zaobao.

Images circulating online and in various chat groups depict a stationary green bus positioned on Victoria Street, heading towards Bugis Junction. Additionally, orange and white cones were placed on the two rightmost lanes of Bras Basah Road, which runs adjacent to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.

Authorities were alerted to the accident at the junction of Victoria Street and Bras Basah Road at approximately 7:30 am. The police have commenced investigations into the incident, and they have confirmed that a 31-year-old male lorry driver is assisting with their inquiries.

In a shocking incident at a playground near a block of flats, a man played a dangerous prank by throwing a firecracker towards a group of children at a playground along Jurong.

The man, 49-year-old Ramdan Bujan, pleaded guilty to a charge of discharging fireworks and was fined $3,500 on Monday (19 June).

What happened?

On July 28, 2022, at a Housing Board block in Jurong, Ramdan Bujan, a driver in the construction industry, committed an act that endangered the safety of others. At around 3:40 p.m., a group of children, including two 10-year-old boys, a nine-year-old boy, and their friends, were enjoying themselves at the playground on the block’s first floor.

One of the boys noticed Ramdan behaving suspiciously in the common corridor and decided to keep a watchful eye on him. Ramdan, moving between lift lobbies, suddenly threw a burning spherical object towards the children. The object exploded with a loud noise, causing immense fright and prompting the children to flee from the scene in fear.

Alarmed by the explosion, one of the children approached an adult passer-by who promptly called the police. When the officers arrived, two of the boys informed them that a man had thrown something that had exploded. Armed with this description, the police quickly located Ramdan at his residence.

Initially, Ramdan denied any involvement in the incident. However, when faced with the evidence captured by a police camera, which showed him leaving his home with a spherical object in hand, and witnessing the children running towards the block, Ramdan eventually admitted to throwing the firecracker as a misguided “joke.”

Called the firecracker a Chilli Padi

Ramdan Bujan was charged with discharging fireworks, an offense that posed a threat to the safety of others. During the sentencing, an additional charge of endangering the personal safety of others by committing a rash act was taken into consideration. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Yanying presented the case, recommending a fine ranging from $3,000 to $4,000.

Ramdan’s lawyer, Mr. S.S. Dhillon, pleaded for a minimum fine of $2,500, stating that the firecracker involved was a small one, commonly known as a “chilli padi” in Malay. Ramdan claimed to have found it on the pavement near a bus stop a year earlier and decided to keep it. According to his lawyer, Ramdan lit the firecracker for what he thought would be harmless fun. Fortunately, no one was injured, and no property was damaged.

Considering Ramdan’s remorse for his actions, his lawyer’s statements regarding his financial responsibilities as the sole breadwinner of his family, and his status as a first-time offender, the defense sought leniency in the form of a lower fine. Ultimately, the court fined Ramdan Bujan $3,500 as punishment for his reckless behavior.

Two Singaporeans drowned to their deaths during a river expedition in South Africa along the Crocodile River after their canoe capsized.

The two deceased were part of 20 Singapore tourists and 6 local river guides, and after the incident, CPR was conducted on them by paramedics but to no avail, and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

National Sea Rescue Institute’s press release

Two deceased in river trip on the Crocodile River

At 14h42, Sunday, 18 June, NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam, SRU (Strategic Rescue Unit) and the SA Police Services responded to the Crocodile River, between the Lion Park and Hartbeespoort Dam, following reports of an accident involving canoes on the river with multiple casualties.

NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam rescue swimmers, NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam medics, SRU rescue medics, Police and a paramedic from the Lion Park responded.

While responding to the scene it was determined that during a river canoe expedition involving a total of 26 persons – 20 Singapore tourists and 6 local river guides.

It was reported that 8 tourists had capsized on 4 canoes. The 6 river guides were assisting and reported that CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts had been commenced on 1 male tourist and 1 female tourist.

6 tourists (males and females) and 2 (of the 6) river guides, (both males) needed help in the water.

On arrival on the scene, paramedics conducted CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on an adult male and an adult female.

6 tourists (males and females) and 2 river guides, both males, were rescued from the water with the cooperation of the river guides, the tourists themselves and the emergency services – the 2 river guides were unconscious and medical treatment was provided by paramedics to the 2 river guides and to 6 of the tourists.

Despite extensive CPR efforts to the 2 patients, both the man and the woman were sadly declared deceased by paramedics.

The 2 river guides were stabilised by paramedics and transported to hospital where they are recovering.

The remaining 6 tourists rescued from the water were treated for injuries on the scene before being released.

The bodies of the deceased have been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

12 tourists, males and females, were not injured.

All casualties were accounted for. NSRI commend the Lion Park and Safaris staff for their assistance.

The tour operator is assisting the tourists and families of those affected in cooperation with the authorities.

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the families and friends of the deceased.

Our thoughts are with all involved in this difficult time.

Images source: Kormorant and National Sea Rescue Institute

Singapore’s Low-Cost Carrier Scoot encountered an unexpected incident during a recent flight, as one of its planes landed in Taipei with a missing wheel, according to reports from the Central News Agency and TVBS News.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, operating flight TR897 from Seoul to Taipei, experienced a technical fault during landing on June 19. Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport witnessed the safe landing of the aircraft shortly after midnight.

The mishap was discovered when it became apparent that the left nose wheel of the aircraft was missing upon inspection.

Normally, the landing gear of this aircraft model consists of two wheels under the nose to facilitate maneuvering on the runway.

With over 300 passengers onboard, the flight was reported to have encountered abnormal tire pressure prior to descent.

Astonishingly, only the right nose wheel remained intact, while the metal rim of the left wheel had fallen off. Additionally, the left wheel shaft was found to be damaged.

The exact location of the missing wheel remains uncertain, as it was not recovered on the runway by Taoyuan International Airport Corporation.

Due to the unfortunate circumstances, the subsequent flight from Taipei to Singapore had to be cancelled. Originally scheduled for 1:30 a.m. with an expected arrival time in Singapore at 5:55 a.m., the affected passengers were provided with necessary assistance, including accommodation and refunds, according to reports.

Scoot expressed their regrets and apologized for the distress and inconvenience caused by the missing wheel incident. They reassured the public that the safety of their passengers and crew remains their utmost priority, and they will continue to extend support to those affected.

Meanwhile, investigations into the incident have been initiated by Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration, led by Transport Minister Wang Kuo-tsai.

The damaged aircraft awaits the availability of replacement parts for necessary repairs. A replacement flight was arranged to accommodate the remaining passengers, scheduled to depart Taipei at 8:45 p.m. on the same day.

A woman in Singapore was sentenced to 17 weeks’ imprisonment after her father’s in-car camera exposed her lie about causing an accident.

Audrey Ong Hui Ling, aged 27, pleaded guilty to four charges, including perverting the course of justice, which led to her conviction. Additionally, she will be disqualified from driving for two years starting from her date of release.

Her defense lawyer, Mr. S.S. Dhillon, argued that her father had acted out of paternal instinct. The father, David Ong, who will face court in August, is also charged with perverting the course of justice and was present in court with his daughter during the trial.

Background

The incident took place in 2019 when Audrey, without a valid driving license, drove the car rented by her father, who worked as a Grab driver at the time.

On October 15, 2019, Audrey made a U-turn at Tampines Avenue 2 without checking for oncoming traffic, resulting in a collision with a motorcyclist.

The motorcyclist, who had the right of way, suffered a fractured wrist in the accident. Immediately after the collision, David allegedly offered to take responsibility for the incident and told Audrey that he would assume her place. She agreed to his proposal, and when the police arrived, David claimed to be the driver of the car.

David maintained this false account throughout the police statements and attributed the accident to his negligence and fatigue caused by long working hours.

In September 2020, he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous hurt by a negligent act that endangers the life or safety of others. However, the truth eventually came to light when lawyers representing the victim discovered an audio recording from David’s in-car camera.

The recording contained a conversation between the father and daughter, revealing their conspiracy and leading to the exposure of Audrey’s lie.

Deputy public prosecutor Jean Goh sought a jail term of four months and one week to six months and two weeks for Audrey. Goh argued that Audrey not only caused grievous harm to the victim but also engaged in a prolonged conspiracy with her father to shift the blame onto him.

It was revealed that Audrey confessed to the truth only when faced with undeniable evidence against her. In mitigation, Mr. Dhillon emphasized the close relationship between Audrey and her father, stating that David had taken the blame out of paternal instinct and not because Audrey had instructed him to do so.

Mr. Dhillon also mentioned that David no longer works as a Grab driver and expressed the hardships Audrey experienced, witnessing her father serve a five-day sentence for her offense.

In a recent statement issued by the Public Service Division (PSD) on Monday, June 19, it was announced that all civil servants in Singapore would receive a 0.3-month mid-year bonus.

This decision was made in light of the weakened economic outlook and significant downside risks prevailing in the global economy.

In addition to the base bonus, civil servants in different grades will receive varying one-time payments to address the current economic challenges.

PSD’s press release

Civil servants to receive 0.3-month mid-year bonus
Junior grade officers to get an additional one-time payment of up to $400

This follows close consultation with public sector unions

                In close consultation with the public sector unions, the Government has decided to pay all civil servants a mid-year Annual Variable Component of 0.3 month. Civil servants in grades equivalent to MX13(I) and MX14 will receive an additional one-time payment of $200 while those in grades equivalent to MX15 and MX16, and those in the Operations Support Scheme (OSS) Grades III and IV will receive a higher one-time payment of $400. This mid-year payment takes into consideration the weakened economic outlook, and significant downside risks that remain in the global economy.

Economic outlook

2               The Singapore economy expanded by 0.4 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the first quarter of 2023, moderating from the 2.1 per cent expansion in the previous quarter. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has maintained a GDP growth forecast of “0.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent” for 2023, with growth likely to come in at around the mid-point of the forecast range. The assessment is that Singapore’s external demand outlook for the rest of the year has weakened and downside risks have risen. The downside risks include the impact of tighter global financial conditions and the risk of further escalations in geopolitical tensions.

3               The labour market continued to expand in the first quarter of 2023, albeit at a more moderated pace compared to the previous quarter. Total employment expanded for the sixth consecutive quarter, and unemployment rates remained low.

Progressive approach to mid-year payment

4               Against this backdrop, the Government, in close consultation with the public sector unions, has decided to pay all civil servants a mid-year Annual Variable Component (AVC) of 0.3 month. Taking a progressive approach to the mid-year payment, civil servants in grades equivalent to MX13(I) and MX14 will receive an additional one-time payment of $200 while civil servants in junior grades equivalent to MX15 and MX16, and those in OSS Grades III and IV will receive a higher one-time payment of $400.

5               In deciding the year-end AVC payments, the Government will continue to monitor the economic situation closely, and take into consideration the guidelines by the National Wages Council which will be released later in the year.

Source: Public Service Division