The Straits Times Forum published a letter from a member of the public after reports of two Traffic Police officers getting tased by a man with a stun device, when he was resisting arrest.

The member of the public asked why the Traffic Policemen were not armed when they are deployed on the frontlines, to which the Singapore Police Force issued a press release clarifying that their police officers are actually armed during their duty.

Background of the incident

𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗗𝗟𝗬 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗡𝗝𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗡 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘

The Police have arrested a 38-year-old man for allegedly attacking and injuring two police officers with a stun device, which is a prohibited item in Singapore.

On 29 October 2023 at about 2.50am, two Traffic Police officers, aged 32 and 29, were conducting a vehicular patrol along Victoria Street when they spotted a speeding vehicle. The officers signaled for the male driver to pull over, but he stopped along the second lane of the road instead. When officers approached the driver to ask for his NRIC and driving licence, he only produced his NRIC for identification. To avoid further obstruction to other road users, the officers directed the driver to move his car to the side of the road for further checks.

The driver complied and stopped his car on lane three of the three-lane road near the junction of North Bridge Road and Jalan Sultan. He then dashed out of his car suddenly and fled on foot with his belongings that exposed a black object resembling the handle of a weapon.

The officers gave chase and managed to stop the man at a back alley near Jalan Klapa. The man dropped his belongings and a samurai sword with a black handle dropped out during the ensuing struggle with officers. The man then allegedly brandished a stun device in his possession and used it to tase the officers repeatedly. Despite their injuries caused by the stun device, the officers were able to subdue and arrest the man with the help of a passer-by, who was a 22-year-old off-duty full-time national serviceman from the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

The 32-year-old officer suffered back injuries and was conveyed to hospital where he was subsequently discharged with medical leave. The other 29-year-old officer suffered injuries to his left hand and leg.

The stun device, one samurai sword, two knuckledusters, various drug paraphernalia, and controlled drugs comprising a total of about 236g of ‘Ice’, 11g of heroin, 56 Erimin-5 tablets and two ‘Ecstasy’ tablets were seized from the man as case exhibits.

The 38-year-old man will be charged in court on 30 October 2023.

The Central Police Division also presented the Public Spiritedness Award to the 22-year-old off-duty full-time national serviceman, Private (PTE) Mohammed Akbar Madarsa Bin Mohamed Sultan, from the Singapore Civil Defence Force for his courage and public spiritedness in assisting to detain the man with the police officers.

The Police have zero tolerance for such brazen acts of violence against police officers and will not hesitate to take firm action against those who blatantly disregard the law. The Police would also like to remind members of the public that it is an offence to carry an offensive or scheduled weapon in a public place.

Here is what Commander of Central Division, AC Jeremy Ang, said to the media during the press conference earlier.

S’pore Police statement

TRAFFIC POLICE OFFICERS ARE ARMED

We thank Mr Desmond Cheng for his concern for the safety of our officers, “Traffic Police should be armed to deal with aggressive offenders” (2 November 2023).

Traffic Police (TP) officers are armed, to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.

During the 29 October 2023 incident where two TP officers were attacked by a man with a stun device, both officers were armed.

The officers’ priority was to prevent him from hurting any members of the public, and to apprehend him swiftly. Their initial evaluation of the threat posed by the man was that contact tactics would be sufficient to contain and resolve the situation, guided by the Police’s operating doctrine to use only the necessary force to deal with the threat. It was only while the officers were effecting his arrest that the man took out and used his stun device on them.

The Police have zero tolerance of violence against our officers and will take firm action against those who hurt our officers. We would also like to remind members of the public that it is an offence to carry an offensive or scheduled weapon in public.

SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE (SUPT) LIN ZHIHAO
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION)
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
07 November 2023 @ 8:43 PM

In a tragic incident that unfolded on Wednesday, November 8, a motorcyclist lost his life in a horrific accident along the East Coast Parkway (ECP).

The shocking twist in the story is that this unfortunate event was further compounded by a passenger’s reckless decision to jump out of a minibus while the vehicle was on the expressway.

The Unfolding of the Tragedy

At approximately 11:05 am on Wednesday (8 November), the police received a distress call about a multi-vehicle collision on the ECP, specifically along the route towards the Marina Coastal Expressway. The collision involved a minibus, a lorry, and a motorcycle, setting the stage for a grave turn of events, according to Channel NewsAsia.

The 27-year-old motorcyclist involved in the crash was found unconscious and rushed to the hospital. Despite all efforts, his life couldn’t be saved, as the police sadly confirmed the next day.

Additionally, there was purportedly a 15 to 20-minute delay after the crash before anyone stepped in to help, according to the minibus driver.

The plot thickens as details emerge about a 38-year-old passenger who, inexplicably, decided to jump out of the moving minibus while it was navigating the expressway.

The Passenger’s Reckless Act

The Singapore Civil Defence Force swiftly responded to the distress call. At the scene, they encountered a motorcyclist in dire need of medical attention.

In a heartening display of humanity, other drivers who witnessed the accident stopped to help. They performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the injured motorcyclist.

CNA reported that the passenger who jumped out of the minibus, has since been arrested after the accident and is assisting the police with their investigations.

A netizen who was nearby at the time, witnessed the horrific incident and took to Instagram to appeal for witnesses.

Here is what she said

APPEALING FOR WITNESSES

Update: Rider has passed on. Prayers be with his newly wed wife, unborn child and family.

Hi everyone, we just witnessed a horrific car and motorcycle accident along ECP heading towards the city, just before Exit 14 to KPE, where Ash administered CPR to the motorcyclist. The accident happened at about 10.45am today, Wednesday, 8 November 2023. We are hoping for anyone who can help identify the person who caused the accident.

There were 3 vehicles involved, a car, lorry and motorcycle. From what we understand from the driver of the first car, he fetched a Turkish man from the airport and when the driver’s boss later told him he picked the wrong guy, the Turkish man came to the front seat (where the door was unlocked) with his luggage and JUMPED OUT of the car. The car driver braked. The lorry driver braked. The motorcyclist hit the lorry terribly and tumbled a distance.

This Turkish man was last seen with an injured right arm running away from the accident with his luggage in hand.

We do not think the motorcyclist made it. If anyone has any information or have seen this man, please help. Thank you and God bless.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sandra Faustina (@sandrafaustinalee)

In a startling revelation, a woman in Singapore recently stumbled upon a photograph on her husband’s phone that has left her perplexed and distressed.

She found what appears to be a photo of a prostitute on her husband’s phone.

The Discovery

The story began when the woman, who works as a software engineer, came across a photograph on her husband’s mobile device.

The image was nothing short of alarming, showing a scene that left little to the imagination. While it’s not uncommon for people to have private images on their phones, the nature of this photograph has stirred a whirlwind of emotions.

As anyone would in her shoes, the woman’s initial reaction was shock, disbelief, and suspicion. She questioned the authenticity of the image and its implications.

The main concern that loomed large was the location. The woman couldn’t help but wonder whether this was a brothel in Singapore (Geylang being a prominent red-light district), Johor Bahru in Malaysia or even Thailand, which is famous for their salacious activities.

Seeking Confirmation

Desperate for answers, the woman turned to online netizens for support and advice. She posted her predicament online, reaching out to the collective wisdom of the internet to confirm the location and possibly identify any underlying issues. Her plea for help unleashed a surge of suggestions and speculation.

The location in the photograph remains a mystery, and various possibilities have been suggested. Some believe it may be a hidden corner in Singapore’s Geylang, known for its bustling nightlife and numerous brothels.

Others have pointed to the neighboring country, Malaysia, specifically Johor Bahru, as a likely location. The notion of Thailand, with its reputation for exotic nightlife, also lingers as a possibility.

Communication Breakdown

This discovery has inevitably strained the relationship between the woman and her husband. The breach of trust and the cloud of suspicion have created a chasm that needs bridging. Open and honest communication is vital in such situations, but it’s often easier said than done.

Emotionally, this revelation has taken a toll on the woman. The uncertainty, doubt, and insecurity that accompany such discoveries are deeply distressing. It’s a situation that no one should have to endure, and it underscores the importance of maintaining trust and transparency in any relationship.

In a recent legal development that has garnered significant attention, the 54-year-old lawyer, M Ravi, found himself sentenced to 21 days’ jail on 8 November for contempt of court, according to Channel NewsAsia.

M Ravi was convicted of nine instances of contempt, with all of the offences taking place in November of 2021 – four of the charges occured in the State Courts before District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt and five in the High Court before Justice Audrey Lim.

Accusations and Contemptuous Actions

He was found guilty of making baseless accusations against Judge Chay of bias, intentionally interrupting the judge, and even insulting him by suggesting that the State could remove him at will.

These contemptuous actions were not limited to Judge Chay alone. Similar allegations were made against Justice Lim in a separate hearing involving Chua Qwong Meng against SBS Transit.

Furthermore, Mr. Ravi applied for Justice Lim to disqualify herself on the grounds of bias, without being instructed to do so by his client.

Bipolar Disorder as a Contributing Factor

A significant aspect of this case is the fact that Mr. Ravi was suffering from a hypomanic episode arising from his bipolar disorder as he pointed out during his defence.

However, the prosecution argued that the disorder doesn’t limit his ability to control himself and exercise restraint during the offences.

The prosecution sought a five-week jail term for M Ravi, along with substantial costs of S$12,000 and disbursements.

M Ravi represented himself during the court proceedings and argued that jail should be imposed only as a last resort. He pointed to the substantial impact of his bipolar disorder on his behavior at the time and requested fines as a more suitable form of punishment, given the unique circumstances surrounding his case.

The Verdict and Rationale

Justice Hoo Sheau Peng, in her judgment, acknowledged the connection between M Ravi’s bipolar disorder and his actions.

However, she did not believe that his disorder substantially impaired his capacity to exercise self-restraint. She emphasized the seriousness of M Ravi’s offenses, considering his related history of misconduct in the courtroom and a lack of remorse in previous disciplinary proceedings.

Ultimately, Justice Hoo awarded the Attorney-General costs of S$10,000.

M Ravi’s Response

Following the hearing, M Ravi expressed his disappointment with the sentence on Facebook, describing it as “very harsh.”

However, he announced his decision not to appeal and indicated his willingness to serve the sentence immediately.