A woman in Singapore used Deliveroo for the first time, unaware of certain delivery options, she found herself in a distressing situation that left her feeling vulnerable and concerned about her privacy.

First time ordering on Deliveroo

The woman, Ms. Lim, decided to try out Deliveroo for the first time. Eager to enjoy a meal at home, she placed an order through a web browser on a rainy Thursday evening (20 July).

Unbeknownst to Ms. Lim, Deliveroo offers two delivery options – contactless delivery and a two-digit pin code system. Unfortunately, she was not aware of this choice and proceeded without selecting either option.

She also left instructions for the rider to leave her food order outside her unit, at the shoe rack because her doorbell was not working.

While waiting for her order, Ms. Lim realized she needed a shower after getting caught in the rain earlier. Assuming the delivery would be straightforward, she decided to proceed with her shower.

As Ms. Lim was in the shower, the delivery rider arrived at her doorstep and attempted to get her attention by shouting.

Feeling anxious about potential disturbances to her neighbor’s peace, the concerned and alarmed woman then rushed out of the shower, wrapped only in a towel, to collect her food.

To her surprise and dismay, the rider demanded a two-digit pin code to complete the delivery. Unaware of this requirement, Ms. Lim was caught off guard and felt as though she was being held hostage for her food.

She also saw the rider staring at her as she was only wrapped up in a towel and nothing else.

Feeling cornered and vulnerable, Ms. Lim hurriedly retrieved the pin code from her laptop in her living room. During this process, she worried that the rider might have taken images or videos of her in her state of undress.

Despite providing the pin code, Ms. Lim remained hesitant to collect her food until the rider left the vicinity. Once the rider had departed, she felt a mix of relief and distress over the entire ordeal.

Following the unsettling incident, Ms. Lim contacted Deliveroo to express her concerns and discomfort. However, as of 23 July, she claimed to have received no response from the company.

Feeling that her privacy and safety were compromised, Ms. Lim made a police report regarding the incident, seeking to address the issue and ensure that no other customers face a similar situation.

Ms. Lim, in reflection, questions why Deliveroo’s website did not provide clear information about the two-digit pin code option. With better communication, she believes the entire ordeal could have been avoided.

In a heart-wrenching Facebook post, a close friend of the late police officer, Mr. Uvaraja S/O Gopal, who was found dead at the foot of an HDB block in Yishun, has shared his thoughts and insights into the life and struggles of the deceased, according to MustShareNews.

The post not only pays tribute to the fallen officer’s dedication towards crime-fighting but also sheds light on the challenges and anxieties he faced leading up to his tragic passing.

A Tribute to a Dedicated Crime-Fighter

The Facebook post, written by Mr. Raj Naga, a former colleague and senior paracounsellor in the same police division as Mr. Uvaraja, expressed admiration for the late officer’s unwavering dedication to serving the public.

Mr. Uvaraja had a deep passion for crime-fighting and firmly believed in upholding the values of the police force.

A Voice Message of Despair

Mr. Raj revealed that Mr. Uvaraja had sent him a voice message before his passing, which was four minutes long. Unfortunately, due to his absence, Mr. Raj could not listen to the message immediately.

When he eventually listened to it, he was struck by the despair and anguish in his friend’s voice as he shared his experiences.

Struggles and Conflicts

According to Mr. Raj, the late officer started facing problems in late 2015. These issues included conflicts with teammates and his commanding officer, leading to anxiety attacks and difficulty sleeping.

Amidst these challenges, Mr. Uvaraja was also caring for his mother, who was recovering from a head injury.

Seeking Help and Facing Adversity

Mr. Uvaraja reported an alleged racial slur incident to his commanding officer, but his claim was allegedly not supported by his other teammates.

Additionally, he had to undergo two surgeries and faced scrutiny over the validity of his medical condition during a medical leave. All these incidents took a toll on his morale and exacerbated his sleep issues.

A Display of Courage and Resilience

Despite the adversities he faced, Mr. Uvaraja showed remarkable courage and unwavering loyalty to the force. His integrity remained intact.

He sought to transfer to a different division, but his request was declined due to a low-performance grade, which further impacted his morale.

The Legacy of Mr. Uvaraja

Mr. Raj’s heartfelt post praises Mr. Uvaraja for embodying the core values of the police force throughout his career.

Despite the challenges he encountered, he remained steadfast in his commitment to his duty and his fellow officers. Mr. Uvaraja’s legacy is one of courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication.

A Tragic End and a Request for the Truth

Mr. Uvaraja’s life came to a tragic end when he was found motionless at the foot of an HDB block in Yishun. Before his passing, he had tagged Mr. Raj in his final Facebook post, instructing him to tell the truth about what he knew.

Call for Thorough Investigation

Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has instructed the police force to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, as he called the allegations “serious” and that he has “asked SPF to investigate the matter thoroughly. We will get to the bottom of it. And be accountable.”

On Jul. 20, the Singapore Police Force arrested 13 men and 12 women suspected of involvement in unlawful gambling activities along Gambas Crescent, an industrial area situated between Woodlands and Sembawang.

The Arrest

The operation led by officers from the Woodlands Police Division resulted in the apprehension of 13 men and 12 women.

Among them, a 39-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman allegedly acted as gaming service providers to 23 others, ranging in age from 31 to 76.

The activities took place within an industrial premise along Gambas Crescent, a location that seemed to have been chosen to remain inconspicuous.

At the time of writing, police investigations are underway.

Evidence and Seizure

The police executed the arrest with precision, seizing crucial evidence that linked the suspects to the illegal gambling activities.

Among the items confiscated were cash amounting to S$19,752, 11 hand phones, and various gaming-related paraphernalia.

Penalties under the Gambling Control Act 2022

The illegal gambling activities uncovered in Gambas Crescent carry severe penalties under the Gambling Control Act 2022. Those found to be engaged in unlawful gaming or betting operations may face fines of up to S$200,000 and imprisonment for up to five years.

Not only do the organizers of illegal gambling operations face harsh consequences, but participants in such activities are also at risk. Individuals who gamble with an unlawful gambling service provider may be fined up to S$10,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

The police’s position on illegal gambling is unequivocal – they take a serious view of all forms of such activities. The authorities recognize the potential harm caused by unregulated gambling, and they are determined to protect the public from its adverse effects.

As demonstrated by the Gambas Crescent operation, the police will continue to take tough enforcement action against those involved in illegal gambling activities.

On November 1, 2022, a tragic incident occurred in Taipei, resulting in the death of a Singaporean flight attendant who had arrived in Taiwan on leave.

The cause of the unfortunate demise was a drunk driving accident involving a 53-year-old man surnamed Hsiang, who rammed his Porsche into the victim, resulting in a fatal collision.

A Fatal Collision

The accident occurred around 9 pm on a rainy and dark night, where the victim, a man believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was attempting to cross the road, according to Taiwan News.

Hsiang hit the flight attendant with his Porsche, but despite slamming the brakes, the car didn’t stop immediately, sliding for a significant distance of 72.5 meters. The impact left a deep dent in the car’s hood and critically injured the victim.

The victim was rushed to the hospital but, unfortunately, medical efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 10 pm.

It was later revealed that this was not Hsiang’s first encounter with drunk driving. He had previously been convicted of the same offense in two separate incidents, according to Focus Taiwan.

In 2019, he faced a four-month sentence for each case and had his driver’s license revoked. Despite the previous convictions, Hsiang had been released on bail after the latest incident.

Taipei prosecutors swiftly took action and indicted Hsiang for his reckless actions. He now faces a potential sentence ranging from five years to lifetime imprisonment, as well as a hefty fine of up to NT$3 million (S$127,385).

Alcohol Impairment and Negligence

Hsiang claimed that he had only consumed “a few glasses of red wine” during dinner with friends before the accident. He insisted that the alcohol did not hinder his reactions and blamed the rainy and dark conditions for the collision.

However, the police discovered that his blood alcohol level significantly exceeded the legal limit at the time of the accident, indicating a clear case of alcohol impairment.

According to TVBS, Hsiang said that he was “unlucky” and that he had stopped drinking at 4-5pm before going for a massage, and then to his shop before driving home.

Additionally, there was a “no pedestrian crossing” sign on the street where the victim attempted to cross, raising questions about negligence on both sides.

Top 10% of Higher Nitec students guaranteed entry to polytechnics from AY2027 intake

To expand opportunities for Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students to upgrade to a polytechnic diploma, Higher Nitec students who meet a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 will be guaranteed admission to a polytechnic course mapped to their Higher Nitec course from AY2027.

2. This is part of a broader set of changes to the admissions requirements to ITE and the polytechnics, which aims to support students’ aspirations and enhance opportunities and outcomes. They include:

1. For ITE graduates entering polytechnics from the AY2027 polytechnic intake:
   1. a) Extension of polytechnic progression guarantee to all Higher Nitec students who attain raw GPA of 3.5 or more; and
   2. b) Changes in Minimum Entry Requirements for Higher Nitec students progressing to polytechnics.
2. For secondary school leavers entering ITE from AY2028 ITE intake: Changes in admission requirements for direct entry into Year 2 of Higher Nitec.

Extension of polytechnic progression guarantee

3. The Direct-Entry Scheme to Polytechnic Programme (DPP) currently allows Normal (Academic) stream students to be admitted directly into a 2-year Higher Nitec programme at ITE without having to sit for the O-Level examinations or undergo a Nitec programme. DPP students who meet the qualifying GPA are guaranteed a place in a mapped polytechnic course.

4. From the AY2027 polytechnic intake, polytechnic admission will be guaranteed to all Higher Nitec students with a minimum raw GPA of 3.5. This is expected to benefit the top 10% of Higher Nitec graduates, or around 1,000 students across all Higher Nitec courses. Currently, around 900 DPP graduates per year across all 18 DPP courses qualify for the polytechnic progression guarantee. With the removal of stream labels under Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB), the DPP pathway will cease from the AY2028 ITE intake.

Minimum Entry Requirements for ITE upgraders to progress to polytechnics

5. Today, most Higher Nitec students who progress to polytechnics attain a net GPA of 2.5 and above. To ensure students can better cope with the academic rigour of a polytechnic education, the minimum entry requirements (MERs) for ITE upgraders to progress to polytechnics will be raised from net GPA 2.0 to net GPA 2.5 from the AY2027 polytechnic intake.

6. In addition to the polytechnic diploma, all Higher Nitec graduates can continue to upgrade via the Work-Study Diploma (WSDip) and Technical Diploma (TD) pathways, which offer valuable hands-on, apprenticeship-based training and ensure students are equipped with industry-relevant skills. Today, 1,400 places are offered across both WSDip and TD pathways. This will grow to 1,800 places by 2025. ITE will continue to expand its WSDip and TD offerings to provide more upgrading opportunities to ITE graduates.

Admission requirements for direct entry to Year 2 of Higher Nitec from AY2028 ITE intake

7. ITE is on track to transit all Nitec courses to the enhanced three-year curricular structure leading directly to a Higher Nitec certification by AY2026. Today, the Higher Nitec pathway is accessible to O-Level students, a limited number of Normal (Academic) stream students via the DPP, and Nitec upgraders.

8. With the removal of stream labels under Full SBB, admission requirements for direct entry into Year 2 for all Higher Nitec courses will be set at G2 from AY2028. Students taking a combination of G3 and G2 subjects can apply for direct entry into Year 2 of Higher Nitec, as long as they obtain an ELMAB3 aggregate score of 19 points or better¹. G3 subjects will be mapped to G2 for the computation of the aggregate score².

9. Taken together, the revised admissions requirements to post-secondary pathways will expand access to upgrading opportunities, provide more flexibility and better recognise students’ strengths and interests, while ensuring academic rigour and students’ ability to cope with the curriculum. Secondary schools, ITE and the polytechnics will also continue to provide Education and Career Guidance (ECG) to support students. Students who require more targeted ECG support can continue to approach their teachers and lecturers for advice, or approach ECG counsellors for individual or group counselling.