The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced new, reduced rates at several ERP gantries during the December holidays, with some fares being reduced to $0 at certain timings.

ERP rates for the December 2023 School Holiday Period

            The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed its review of Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates for the December 2023 school holidays.

2        ERP rates at the following locations during the specified time periods will be reduced.

*ERP rate per Passenger Car Unit (PCU)
**Rates for other time slots at previously announced gantries remain unchanged.

3        The revised rates will apply from Monday, 20 November 2023 to Sunday, 31 December 2023. These rates will revert to the pre-school holiday charges from Tuesday, 2 January 2024 onwards. The rates for other gantries will remain unchanged.

Juvenile delinquency has once again captured headlines, shedding light on a disturbing case involving a teenager whose criminal exploits took a chaotic turn on an MRT train, among a slew of numerous offences, according to The Straits Times.

The accused, now 20 years old, pleaded guilty to using criminal force on a public servant, public nuisance and cheating; and he was supposed to be sentenced on 15 November but it was adjourned to 27 November instead.

He cannot be named as he was under 18 at the time of some of his offences, under the Children and Young Persons Act.

Introduction

At the tender age of 16, the youth embarked on a criminal journey orchestrated by a 20-year-old accomplice known in court documents as A2.

The scheme promised easy money to participants willing to relinquish control of their bank accounts for illicit activities, primarily online gambling.

A2 lured the teenager with promises of financial gain, offering $200 per month for each bank account that he gave the syndicate.

The boy agreed on 17 May 2020 and gave him control of his bank account, which the syndicate used for illicit transactions involving $477,000 in deposits and $473 in withdrawals.

The criminal enterprise involved at least 98 suspects and 170 bank accounts, with investigations still underway to uncover the full scope of the operation.

On 18 May 2020, after being told by A2 that he would give him another $200 per month if he opened a bank account with another bank for them to use, the boy agreed and went to open a bank account, lying to the bank officer that it was for his personal use.

IV. Unrelated Case

In an unrelated incident at Clarke Quay, the offender found himself in a dispute over a bar bill, leading to a scuffle with the police.

Following the dispute with the bar employees love the bill, the police were alerted when a fight broke out. Among the officers deployed was a 29-year-old policeman, who was shoved by the youth before being arrested and later released on bail.

V. MRT Train Incident

The chaos reached new heights when the teenager, seemingly intoxicated, boarded an MRT train. His disruptive behavior escalated to a confrontation with a 66-year-old man, where he not only threatened violence but also attempted physical harm.

He was disturbing the other commuters inside the train by speaking loudly to them but was largely ignored, before turning his attention to a 66-year-old man sitting nearby.

The victim then got up to alight at Kembangan MRT station when the accused then challenged him to a fight and used vulgarities on him.

He also tried to punch the elderly man but the victim dodged his blows and pushed him away, causing the accused to fall down as the other computers then stepped forward and pinned him down on the ground.

The SMRT staff were then alerted to the incident and he was then bought out of the station, before they called the police for help.

However, before the police could arrive, the boy had already fled the scene; but he was subsequently arrested soon after.

Spize Bedok Pte. Ltd. and Spize Concepts Pte. Ltd. fined $3,600 each for multiple food safety lapses

Spize Bedok Pte. Ltd. and Spize Concepts Pte. Ltd, were fined $3,600 each by the court today for food safety lapses committed under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations.

2 In July 2022, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) received reports of gastroenteritis involving 15 persons after consuming food prepared by Spize’s food establishments, located along Bedok Road. None of them were hospitalised.

3 A joint investigation by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and SFA was conducted. Multiple food safety lapses were found at the western food stall located at 336/338 Bedok Road (licensed under Spize Bedok Pte Ltd). These include improper segregation of raw and cooked food at the serving station of the western food stall, and the use of a stained chopping board for cooked food. Other food safety lapses were also found at the foodshop located at 284 Bedok Road (licensed under Spize Concepts Pte Ltd), including the failure to provide hand soap in the kitchen toilet and the unauthorised use of the premises for food processing.

4 In the interest of public health, SFA directed Spize Bedok Pte. Ltd. and Spize Concepts Pte. Ltd to rectify the lapses and take necessary measures to improve the food safety practices and the cleanliness of its premises. SFA has also adjusted food hygiene grades of the western food stall at 336/338 Bedok Road and food shop at 284 Bedok Road from “A” to “C”.

5 Food safety is a joint responsibility as food can be contaminated anywhere along the food chain. While SFA continues to be vigilant and works to ensure that regulatory measures are in place and properly enforced, the industry and consumers must also play their part.

6 All food operators should ensure that their premises are clean and well-maintained, and staff are adequately trained on proper food safety management. SFA will not hesitate to take firm action against anyone found to be in violation of the Environmental Public Health Act. Offenders are liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $100 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.

7 Members of the public who come across poor hygiene practices in food establishments are advised not to patronise them and provide feedback via our online feedback form (www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback) with details for our follow-up investigations.

Issued by the Singapore Food Agency
15 November 2023

On a seemingly ordinary Tuesday (14 Nov), an unusual incident occurred at Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 (T1) that raised eyebrows and disrupted the usual flow of traffic. The incident involved a private bus and an unfortunate collision with overhead signage leading to T1’s carpark.

The bus has collided with the overhead sign and caused it to collapse, according to Shin Min Daily News.

According to reports, the accident resulted from a misjudgment by the private bus driver, who seemingly miscalculated the height of the overhead signage.

The Accident Scene

The aftermath of the accident was promptly shared on the Facebook group SG Road Vigilante. Several images showcased the purple bus parked along the left lane of the road leading towards the Terminal 1 carpark.

The severity of the situation was evident from the state of the signage, indicating a collision with the left side of the overhead sign.

Traffic police officers were quick to respond, ensuring the safety of oncoming vehicles by directing them away from the affected lanes.

Despite the swift response from authorities and efforts to clear the affected lanes, normal traffic flow only resumed after a three-hour delay.

Signage Details

A crucial aspect of the incident revolves around the details of the overhead signage. The sign explicitly states that vehicles taller than 2.1 meters are prohibited from traveling along the lane. This vital piece of information sets the stage for understanding how the accident transpired.

The accident unfolded around 2 pm on Tuesday (14 Nov). Shin Min Daily News reporters arrived at the scene approximately two and a half hours later, finding the lanes leading to the arrival halls still blocked. Normal traffic flow resumed only at 5 pm, underscoring the impact of the incident on airport operations.