Manikam Varatharaj, a 45-year-old Singaporean, found himself entangled in legal trouble after trying to avoid a police roadblock while under the influence.

He was sentenced to 3 weeks imprisonment on 28 July and fined $6,800, as well as being banned from driving for 42 months.

What happened

On a September night in 2019, at approximately 2:30 AM, Manikam Varatharaj was driving through Woodlands when he noticed a police roadblock up ahead. Fearful of being caught for drink driving, he decided to take an evasive course of action.

In a desperate attempt to elude the police, Varatharaj turned into a small road leading to the Seagate and 3M Singapore buildings, before he made a u-turn at the end of the road and parked his car at the exit of the Seagate building.

At this point, Varatharaj’s intentions became apparent to a vigilant security guard stationed at the 3M Singapore guardhouse. Curious about his actions, the guard approached Varatharaj, who seemed nervous and smelled of alcohol.

Varatharaj explained that he needed to urgently attend to something and requested the guard to watch over his car.

Despite the guard’s warning that he would inform the police if the car wasn’t moved, Varatharaj decided to abandon his vehicle and flee on foot. This left the security guard baffled and the exit lane obstructed, causing inconvenience to other road users.

Realizing the urgency of the situation, the guard immediately reported the incident to the police roadblock nearby. Upon receiving the information, the police promptly dispatched officers to the scene to investigate.

As events unfolded, two foreign workers who happened to arrive in a van were found to be associated with Varatharaj. They revealed that he had instructed them to be there at that specific time. The police took over a call from Varatharaj when he contacted one of the workers, further solidifying the case against him.

Upon apprehending Varatharaj, the police charged him with drink driving and leaving his car in a manner that inconvenienced other road users. Subsequently, he was put on trial to answer for his actions.

The Trial and its Outcome

At trial, Varatharaj attempted to defend himself by claiming that he had not seen the police roadblock. He further asserted that his hands and legs had been trembling, leading him to stop the car and leave it behind. However, the prosecution presented evidence to counter his claims.

Despite Varatharaj’s defense, the court found him guilty of both charges. Given his previous drink driving conviction and previous fines for other traffic offenses, the court handed down a sentence that included a three-week jail term, a fine of S$6,800, and a driving ban of 42 months.

An incident at the West Coast Community Centre has stirred up controversy and worry as a man and a woman disrupted a lion dance performance through their disruptive actions, according to The Straits Times.

This disruption occurred during the Ngee Ann City National Lion Dance Championship, which was organized by the Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation (SWDLDF), where their son was participating as a performer with the Times Cultural Arts, according to Shin MIn Daily News.

During the performance, as the lion dance team was setting up their props, the couple abruptly rushed in, causing a scene that disrupted the entire performance.

Videos captured the couple shouting the Mandarin phrase “mei da mei xiao,” which translates to “showing no respect,” and allegedly kicking one of the lion’s heads placed on the ground.

Despite attempts from judges and fellow performers to intervene, the couple persisted in their disruptive behavior.

As a result of the incident, the authorities were alerted, leading to the arrest of the 58-year-old man and 51-year-old woman on charges of causing public nuisance.

Authorities take such actions seriously as they disrupt public order and jeopardize the safety of others. Police investigations into the incident are also underway.

In the aftermath of the disruption, Mr. Joseph Low, the secretary-general of SWDLDF, highlighted a miscommunication between the parents and their 25-year-old son, who was part of the lion dance competition.

The parents had attempted to prevent their son from participating due to misunderstandings.

Despite the disturbance, the son’s lion dance team demonstrated resilience and determination. While initially contemplating withdrawal from the competition, the organizers extended the opportunity for them to compete at a later time.

The team’s perseverance paid off as they secured a Gold in the competition, advancing to the semi-finals scheduled at Ngee Ann City from Sept 4 to 9.

Mr. Joseph Low emphasized the vital role of lion dance, like any sport, in building character. It fosters values such as discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and tenacity.

As a community, it is essential to support and encourage young performers in their pursuit of traditional arts and cultural practices, preserving our heritage while shaping the character of future generations.

In a quiet corner of Singapore, at Block 93 Henderson Road, a tragic incident has caught the attention of authorities and neighbors alike.

The police are currently conducting an investigation into an unnatural death that occurred in the ninth-floor unit of the block. The lifeless body of a 67-year-old woman was discovered, and her husband, aged 70, was found unconscious in the same flat, according to The Straits Times.

On Saturday morning, a neighbor, known as Mr. Xu, made a shocking discovery. He had been noticing an unusual and unpleasant smell emanating from the couple’s flat for at least a week before the incident.

Unable to ignore the overpowering odor any longer, Mr. Xu, who lives in the opposite unit, decided to take action. He immediately called the police to report the situation.

Concerned about the wellbeing of his neighbors, Mr. Xu went the extra mile and knocked on the woman’s door. To his horror, the door opened with a gentle push, and he was confronted with an alarming sight. The floor of the flat was covered with maggots, indicating a situation of severe neglect and decay.

The deceased woman, 67 years old, was found lying motionless in the ninth-floor unit. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedic.

Her husband, aged 70, was discovered unconscious and immediately taken to Singapore General Hospital for urgent medical attention. The community is anxiously awaiting updates on his condition.

In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, Mr. Xu shared his observations and interactions with the elderly couple. He mentioned that the couple usually kept their front door open, fostering a friendly and approachable atmosphere.

However, in the last few days leading up to the incident, the door had been tightly shut, raising concerns among the neighbors.

Other neighbors, speaking to Shin Min, revealed that the couple relied on wheelchairs to get around. It was customary for them to leave their flat every morning to have their meals.

However, in the days before the incident, the neighbors had not seen the couple outside, further heightening the sense of worry in the community.

The police were alerted to the incident at approximately 10:17 am on that fateful Saturday. Shortly after, SCDF received a call for assistance, arriving on the scene about 20 minutes later.

The police are currently carrying out a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and her husband’s unconscious state.

Before coming to Singapore, Sharif was the owner of a bookstore and managed several employees. However, the bookstore suddenly closed down, and he was desperate and came to Singapore alone to find another way to make a living.

After paying an agency fee of S$8,000, Sharif was introduced to work on a construction site , and had a wife in Bangladesh who was three months pregnant at the time.

This looks like a difficult road from which there is no turning back.

After coming to Singapore, Sharif found it difficult for him to adapt to life in Singapore. Not only do I have to squeeze into a dormitory with more than 20 construction workers, but I also have to work 28 days a month, 12 hours a day, from 7 am to 7 pm. Sometimes rushing to a project, there will be no day off for several months.

However, for such a heavy work, the daily salary is only 18 Singapore dollars, and most of the money has to be remitted back to Bangladesh for his wife and son…

While he was working hard day and night, people in his hometown had a deep misunderstanding of him. They thought that Sharif could make a lot of money in Singapore and live a luxurious life.

Sharif said aggrievedly: Even after spending 11 years here, I never enjoyed life, I was always struggling.