Update: The missing worker has been found pinned under a collapsed reinforced concrete structure, with no pulse and wasn't breathing. He was subsequently pronounced dead.

An incident occurred this afternoon at a construction site situated at 1 Bernam Street in Tanjong Pagar, involving the collapse of a building structure.

According to reports, one worker is currently missing in the incident, with the collapsed structure being part of a building that was undergoing demolition activities a the time.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was notified of the incident on June 15 at approximately 2 pm and at present, SCDF personnel are at the scene to conduct investigations as well as trying to locate the missing worker.

The Straits Times reported that about 11 emergency vehicles and 70 rescuers were deployed to the site of the collapsed structure, including firefighters, rescue workers and emergency medical workers.

The area around Bernam Street off Anson Road has also been cordoned off from the public.

In an update provided at 4 pm, SCDF announced that officers from Marina Bay Fire Station and members of the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) are actively engaged in search operations to locate the missing worker.

To aid in the search efforts within an area spanning approximately 20 meters by 10 meters, two SCDF search canines have also been deployed.

SCDF’s statement

[Collapsed Structure Incident @ 1 Bernam Street]

On 15 June 2023 at about 2 p.m., SCDF was alerted to an incident involving a collapsed structure at the abovementioned location. The collapsed structure is at a building site undergoing demolishing works.

SCDF is currently at scene investigating.

SCDF’s updated statement

[Update 1: Collapsed Structure Incident @ 1 Bernam Street]

SCDF officers from 1st SCDF Division, Marina Bay Fire Station and rescuers from the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) are currently at scene conducting search operations to locate a worker who was reported missing.

Two SCDF search canines have also been deployed to assist in the search in an area of about 20 metres by 10 metres.

SCDF’s second update

[Update 2: Collapsed Structure Incident Along Bernam Street]

Following an intensive search operation, a worker who was earlier reported missing, was sighted to be pinned under the collapsed reinforced concrete structure around 1800hrs. The worker had no pulse and not breathing.

The SCDF immediately conducted cutting and breaking operations to free the casualty. The operation also required the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) personnel to dig their way through the rubble to create space and assess where parts of the body may have been trapped. This was further complicated due to the weight of the concrete slab which was in excess of 50 tonnes (estimated) as well as mangled scaffolding around the body.

The casualty was finally freed after nearly four hours around 2145hrs. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.

Earlier in the search operation, CCTV footages from the surrounding buildings were obtained by the Police to assist in the assessment of the situation. A fibre optic scope, life detection equipment and search canines were also deployed to detect for signs of life. The operation involved the coordinated use of heavy machinery from the construction site as well as rescue equipment to cut and lift the reinforced concrete slab.

11 SCDF emergency vehicles and about 70 personnel, including rescuers from the DART were deployed at the scene for this operation.

Images source: SCDF and Complaint Singapore Unrestricted on Facebook

Singapore comedian Jocelyn Chia, otherwise known as public enemy number one in Malaysia, has responded to reports that the Malaysian police were seeking the assistance of Interpol to identify and locate her.

Speaking to the BBC, she described the whole situation as “overblown” and “ridiculous”.

According to a report published on June 13 by Bernama, Malaysia’s government news agency, local law enforcement authorities were planning to seek the assistance of Interpol, the international organization responsible for facilitating cooperation between various police agencies, in order to identify and locate Jocelyn Chia.

In a previous interview with CNN, the comedian clarified that her joke had been taken out of context in a brief video clip that was edited and shared on social media.

Regarding the involvement of Interpol, during her conversation with BBC, Chia emphasized that her intention was never to mock the tragic incident involving MH370, but rather to find a way to infuse humor into it.

She amusingly remarked, “I just wish I could have seen the face of the Interpol officer who received this request.”

“Honestly, if Interpol does do something about this request and things escalate, can you imagine how famous it is going to make me?”

On the alleged request from the Malaysian Police, Interpol stated that they have yet to receive any request for help from them, yet.

Recap

Singapore-born comedian Jocelyn Chia, known for her recent stand-up comedy show in the United States, has sparked a significant debate on the boundaries of comedic material.

In a video clip lasting 89 seconds, shared on Instagram, Chia addressed the ongoing rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia.

She made references to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965, joking about Singapore’s subsequent development into a First World country while suggesting that Malaysia remained a developing nation.

Chia’s comedic set also included a reference to the Malaysia Airlines plane MH370, which went missing in March 2014 en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur.

Acknowledging the sensitive nature of the tragedy, Chia stated that certain jokes, like the disappearance of the plane, do not “land well”.

The video clip received criticism from Malaysians, with radio broadcaster Kudsia Kahar expressing offense and asserting that a good stand-up comedian should avoid turning tragedies into jokes.

A 40-year-old Swiss man, identified as Ramon Taboada Souza Neto, recently found himself in trouble during his visit to Singapore.

The incident occurred on April 1, 2023, at Zouk, a popular establishment in Singapore where the victim, a 39-year-old employee referred to as a “table hostess,” was working in the VIP section.

The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous due to legal reasons, was performing her duties, cleaning a table, when Ramon approached her from behind.

Without her consent, he proceeded to slap her left buttock with his right hand. This act was caught on Zouk’s surveillance cameras.

The victim swiftly turned around, catching Ramon in the act. Realizing what had happened, she immediately informed Zouk’s security officers about the incident.

A security officer approached Ramon for questioning, but instead of cooperating, he attempted to flee the premises.

However, Zouk’s security team managed to detain him outside, promptly contacting the police at approximately 3:31 am. One of the security officers told the police when calling for help, saying that there was “a molest case. Detained him and he is trying to run. Victim is with us.”

The authorities arrived at the scene and took Ramon into custody. He was released on S$1,000 bail on the same day.

Subsequently, on June 12, 2023, Ramon pleaded guilty to the charge of outrage of modesty. The district judge presiding over the case imposed a fine of S$4,000 as punishment.

During the mitigation plea, Ramon’s defense lawyer, Navin Naidu from Dentons Rodyk & Davidson, emphasized that his client had no previous criminal record.

Naidu argued that Ramon’s actions were a result of excessive alcohol consumption, although a blood sample obtained more than 10 hours after the incident revealed no traces of alcohol. Naidu suggested that the alcohol might have already been metabolized by that time.

To demonstrate Ramon’s remorse, Naidu highlighted that his client had written an apology letter to the victim on April 23, 2023.

The defense lawyer also mentioned that Ramon was eager to return to his family in Switzerland, as his wife was expecting their fourth child. The incident had forced Ramon to remain in Singapore for over 70 days, causing significant stress for him.

66-year-old Singaporean businessman, Chan Kim Tay, was killed after being shot in the head on MOnday in the Batangas province of Manila, Phillipines; in what is suspected to be an assasination.

The victim had recently finished his errands at a public market in Lian town and was en route home at approximately 6 p.m. on Monday.

At that moment, an unidentified individual approached him and fatally shot him in the head, as confirmed by Sergeant Arthur Rosales, the assigned case officer, according to the Straits Times.

Following the attack, Mr. Chan was conveyed to a nearby hospital in Nasugbu town. However, despite the efforts made, he was declared dead upon arrival.

Police chasing leads

The police are currently reviewing surveillance footage from the vicinity of the crime scene in hopes of identifying the perpetrator. Sergeant Rosales also further stated that investigators are pursuing several leads, including the possibility of a domestic conflict being the motive for Mr. Chan’s murder, as well as the potential involvement of a contract killer.

Having resided in the Philippines for around three decades, Mr. Chan had established deep roots in the country. He was married to Mrs. Marife Chan, a 49-year-old Filipino, and together they had three children aged 28, 17, and 7.

According to Sgt. Rosales, Mrs. Chan has provided her statement to investigators, indicating that her husband did not possess any known adversaries nor engage in any recent altercations. Witnesses have also informed the authorities that Mr. Chan mostly kept to himself as he had never acquired fluency in Tagalog, the local language.

Not the first Singaporean shot in Philippines

Regrettably, this is not the first incident of its kind involving a Singaporean citizen residing in the Philippines. In August 2015, Mr. Stanley Jang, a 36-year-old manager of a computer company, was similarly attacked. He was shot in the face by two individuals while working inside his cubicle in Paranaque city, situated south of Manila.

In the case of Mr. Jang, his widow informed the police that he had been receiving death threats related to a business dispute prior to his untimely demise.

Image source: Philippines Police

On June 12, the police arrested seven men, aged between 23 and 49, in connection with a case of rioting that took place at Jalan Besar. The five were officially charged on June 14.

According to court records, the 5 men who were charged are alleged to have punched and thrown a beer tower and glasses during the fight over a dispute, with the intent to cause harm to 4 other people.. The incident unfolded at Club Gaga, located in Sim Lim Tower.

Police were alerted to the reported brawl between two groups at approximately 12:50 am on June 12. Among those involved, a 29-year-old man suffered multiple lacerations on his lips and chin, before being sent to the hospital conscious.

Initial inquiries have indicated that the altercation originated from an earlier dispute, although the specific cause has not been disclosed in either the police’s press release or the court documents.

Additionally, the police also said that two other men are currently assisting with the ongoing investigation.

If convicted of rioting, the five men could potentially face a maximum prison sentence of seven years and may also be subjected to caning as a punitive measure.

Singapore’s Police Force’s press release

SEVEN MEN ARRESTED FOR RIOTING

The Police have arrested seven men, aged between 23 and 49, for their suspected involvement in a case of rioting.

On 12 June 2023 at about 12.50am, the Police were alerted to a case of an alleged fight between two groups along Jalan Besar. A 29-year-old man sustained multiple lacerations on his lips and chin and was conveyed conscious to the hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that the altercation arose after an alleged dispute which happened earlier.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from Central Police Division established the identities of the persons involved and arrested them.

Five men, aged between 23 and 49 will be charged in court on 14 June 2023 with the offence of rioting under Section 147 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence of rioting carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, and caning. Two other men are assisting with investigations. Police investigations are ongoing against all parties involved.

The Police will spare no effort to apprehend those who commit violence and will take firm action against them in accordance with the law.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
13 June 2023 @ 6:00 PM