As Singapore grapples with an ageing population, the unfortunate reality of elderly individuals living alone and being discovered deceased in their homes is becoming all too common.

This narrative recently unfolded tragically on Wednesday, 27th December, when two elderly men, aged 74 and 64, were found dead in their respective flats, according to Shin Min Daily News. Despite the stark coincidence of the incidents occurring on the same day, they were unrelated.

Block 50 Dorset Road: Uncovering the First Tragedy

The day began with a somber revelation at Block 50 Dorset Road. A 74-year-old man, living on the seventh floor, was discovered lifeless in his unit. The unfolding of this unfortunate event was brought to light by a 45-year-old neighbor, Rahman, who noticed an unusual smell emanating from the elderly man’s flat.

The neighbor, Rahman, had returned from abroad on the evening of 26th December. Initially attributing the odor to deceased rats, he informed the cleaner. However, as the stench persisted, suspicions grew. A 78-year-old retiree neighbor, Mr. Ho, revealed that the deceased had been an accountant, living alone for over a decade since the passing of his parents. Despite the lack of immediate family, the man was a familiar figure in the community.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed the incident, stating that they received a report and promptly investigated. The preliminary findings indicated no foul play, although a thorough examination is ongoing. The elderly man, an accountant with no immediate family, had succumbed to circumstances unnoticed until the unpleasant discovery.

Block 83 Commonwealth Close: A Second Tragedy Unfold

Neighbors shared that the deceased, a 64-year-old man, lived a solitary life. Despite being in good health and actively participating in late-night corridor sweeping, he had not been seen for several days prior to the discovery. The absence of immediate family or regular check-ins heightened the sense of isolation surrounding his passing.

n the world of ride-hailing services, there’s a common scenario that unfolds from time to time – a passenger requesting the driver to take a longer route to avoid Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges and, inevitably, wasting petrol. While this may raise eyebrows for some, let’s dive into the dynamics and reasons behind such requests.

Introduction

Navigating through the intricate web of urban roads, passengers occasionally find themselves wanting more than just a direct route to their destination. Some have a peculiar request – a big round to sidestep ERP charges and, interestingly, to burn a bit more fuel. Now, before we jump to conclusions, it’s crucial to understand the context and dynamics of this peculiar ask.

GPS Dictating Routes

Contrary to the assumption that drivers have free rein over route choices, the reality for PHV drivers is quite different. The route is predominantly dictated by the GPS navigation system. The days of drivers deciding the best way to get from point A to B are fading as technology takes the wheel, quite literally.

Lack of Request, Negotiation, and Arguments

In the PHV world, the absence of traditional negotiations and arguments is a defining feature. The passenger need not engage in a back-and-forth with the driver about the route or express preferences beforehand. The GPS takes charge, rendering such interactions obsolete.

Understanding PHV Drivers

It’s unfair to place the blame solely on PHV drivers. The lack of express requests from passengers before boarding contributes to the perception that drivers are not accommodating. In reality, many drivers are more than willing to consider alternative routes if only they were asked.

In conclusion, the request for a big round to avoid ERP charges and intentionally waste petrol is a nuanced aspect of ride-hailing dynamics. It’s not about the lack of willingness on the part of drivers; rather, it’s a consequence of the automated systems and the absence of explicit passenger requests.

A total of 18 men and 12 women, aged between 24 and 65, are being investigated for various offences, following a series of multi-agency enforcement operations conducted from 27 November to 9 December 2023.

The operations were led by Bedok Police Division and supported by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Customs, Land Transport Authority (LTA), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA). The operations aimed to clamp down on illegal activities in Geylang, including illegal gambling, vice activities, sale of illegal sexual enhancement medicines and illegal hawking.

The details of some of these operations are as follows:

1. In an enforcement operation against illegal gambling activities on 7 December 2023, officers from Bedok Police Division raided a unit along Geylang Road. Cash amounting to S$730 and other gambling paraphernalia were seized. Four men, aged between 34 and 65, are being investigated for offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022. Under Section 20(2) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, any individual who gambles with another person in or from any place or premises in Singapore and knows, or ought reasonably to have known, that the place or premises is an unlawful gambling place shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months or both. Under Section 18(3)(a) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, any individual who conducts betting operations, gaming or lotteries unlawfully, shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $200,000 and imprisonment of up to 5 years.
   

1. Several joint enforcement operations were conducted by officers from Bedok Police Division, HSA, ICA, SCDF and CNB along Geylang Lorongs from 27 November to 6 December 2023. The joint operations looked into fire safety as well as sales of unregistered health products and illegal drug activities. Unregistered health products consisting of cough syrup and various purported sexual enhancement products with an estimated street value of about $15,300 and about 45g of ‘Ice’, with an estimated street value of about $13,800 were seized. Two men, aged 53 and 59, are being investigated for offences under the Health Products Act 2007. Those found guilty of importing, manufacturing and/or supplying of unregistered health products, may be liable to an imprisonment term for up to two years and/or fined up to $50,000.

1. On 6 December 2023, officers from Bedok Police Division conducted enforcement operations against two massage establishments located along Geylang Road. One woman, aged 34, was arrested for an offence under the Women’s Charter 1961. Both outlets are being investigated for offences under the Massage Establishments Act 2017.
   Officers from the CID, Bedok Police Division and ICA conducted checks at public entertainment outlets and hotels as well as carried out anti-vice operations along Geylang Road and Geylang Lorongs.
   
2. On 5 December 2023, five women, aged between 27 and 40 years old were arrested for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990. Six women aged between 31 and 48 years old were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961.
   
3. On 8 December 2023, one man, aged 24, was arrested under the Societies Act 1966. 
   Officers from the Singapore Customs conducted an enforcement operation against duty-unpaid cigarettes on 1 December 2023. One man, aged 32, was arrested for an offence under the Customs Act 1960. Seven men, aged between 30 and 45, were issued with composition sums under the Customs Act 1960 for possessing duty-unpaid cigarettes. Nine cartons, twelve packets and 38 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized as part of the operation. Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing, or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act 1960 and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act 1993. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.
   
4. Officers from LTA conducted an enforcement operation on 8 December 2023 around the vicinity of Geylang, targeting the usage of illegally modified Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs). Three men, aged between 38 and 49, are being investigated for offences under the Active Mobility Act 2017. One PAB, one PMD and one bicycle were also impounded during the operation.

Investigations against the 30 individuals are ongoing. 

The Commanding Officer of Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Raub expressed his appreciation to all the agencies involved for their strong support and commended the officers for their professionalism and excellent teamwork during the operation. The Police will continue to work closely with other enforcement agencies to clamp down on illegal activities. The Police take a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal activities and will take firm action against those who blatantly disregard the law. Members of the public are advised to report those engaging in unlawful activities to the Police.