A fire broke out at Block 618 Bedok Reservoir Road earlier this morning (21 July), resulting in one person being sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Statement

[Fire @ Blk 618 Bedok Reservoir Road]

Early this morning (21 July) at about 3:40am, SCDF was alerted to a fire at the abovementioned location.

Upon SCDF’s arrival, black smoke was seen emitting from a unit on the 7th floor.

Donned with breathing apparatuses, firefighters quickly entered the smoke-logged unit to fight the fire. The fire, which involved a bedroom and part of the living room, was extinguished by SCDF with a water jet. Due to the intense heat of the fire, the rest of the unit sustained heat and smoke damage.

Two persons had evacuated the affected unit before SCDF’s arrival. Both were assessed by an SCDF paramedic for smoke inhalation. One of them was conveyed to Singapore General Hospital and the other declined to be sent to the hospital.

About 90 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the Police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire was caused by an electrical origin in the affected bedroom.

*Fire Safety Tips:*

SCDF would like to remind the public on some good practices to adopt in the household to prevent electrical fires from occurring:

a) Never overload electrical outlets with electrical appliances;
b) Always switch off electrical appliances when not in use;
c) Check the condition of wires regularly. Wires that are frayed or cracked should be replaced or repaired immediately;
d) Do not run wires under carpets or mats and keep wires away from hot surfaces;
e) Use appliances and electrical plugs bearing the Safety Mark. The categories of appliances can be found at http://www.consumerproductsafety.gov.sg ;
f) Do not leave batteries or devices charging unattended for an extended period of time or overnight.

3 electrical fires this week

The Singapore Police Force, in collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), apprehended two men involved in a daring theft at Lucky Plaza.

The two Chinese nationals, 48-year-old Lu Jingnan and 58-year-old He Yuanlin, were charged in court on Friday for the alleged theft of the 3-carat diamond ring at a ValueMax outlet in Lucky Plaza, according to The Straits Times.

The incident, which took place on 16 July 2023, saw a 48-year-old man snatch a diamond ring valued at over $132,000 from a pawnshop and flee the scene, with the help of his 58-year-old accomplice. The police, through their rigorous investigations and cooperation with their Malaysian counterparts, successfully apprehended both suspects, who had fled to Malaysia soon after the incident.

On the fateful day of the theft, the police were alerted at approximately 6.27 pm. The suspect had made off with the valuable diamond ring while the pawnshop staff was attending to his request to buy another ring. With the help of Police cameras and CCTV footage, officers from the Tanglin Police Division swiftly identified the culprits as the 48-year-old man and his 58-year-old partner.

The authorities discovered that both men had managed to leave Singapore and cross the border into Malaysia within an hour after the theft was reported. Undeterred, the Singapore Police Force collaborated with the Royal Malaysia Police, leading to their arrest at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on 19 July 2023, pursuant to warrants issued by the State Courts in Singapore on 17 July 2023.

The arrested individuals were handed over to the Singapore Police Force on 20 July 2023

Singapore Police Press Release

TWO MEN ARRESTED FOR THEFT IN DWELLING WITH COMMON INTENTION

On 16 July 2023 at about 6.27pm, the Police were alerted to a case of theft at Lucky Plaza. A 48-year-old man allegedly took a diamond ring worth more than $132,000 and fled from the pawnshop when the staff was attending to the man’s request to buy another diamond ring.

Through extensive ground enquiries and with the aid of images from Police cameras and CCTV footages, officers from Tanglin Police Division quickly established the identities of the 48-year-old man and his 58-year-old male accomplice on the same day. Both men had left Singapore to Malaysia within an hour after the Police were alerted to the incident.

With strong co-operation and assistance rendered by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), both men were arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on 19 July 2023, pursuant to warrants of arrest issued by the State Courts in Singapore on 17 July 2023. The men were then handed over to the Singapore Police Force on 20 July 2023.

Both men will be charged in court on 21 July 2023 with the offence of theft in dwelling with common intention under Section 380 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code 1871 and the Police will seek a court order to remand them for further investigations. If convicted, the offence of theft in dwelling with common intention carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years and a fine.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
20 July 2023 @ 10:05 PM

Tan Boon Hwee, a 35-year-old man, has once again found himself behind bars for molesting multiple women by touching their feet, according to The Straits Times.

This recalcitrant offender had previously been fined $8,000 in 2019 and sentenced to jail in 2022 for similar charges. However, it seems that he did not learn from his past mistakes and continued to target innocent victims for his deviant desires.

The Recurring Offenses

A Troubling Past

In 2019, Tan Boon Hwee was first convicted of molesting women by touching their feet. The court fined him $8,000 as a consequence of his actions. Unfortunately, this punishment did not deter him from engaging in such behavior.

Jail Time in 2022

In 2022, the recalcitrant offender faced the consequences of his actions once again. He was sent to jail for two weeks and five days after pleading guilty to two molestation charges. However, this brief incarceration proved insufficient to reform his behavior.

The Latest Incidents

On July 8, 2022, Tan targeted an 18-year-old girl in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4. Posing as a representative of a “barefoot organization,” he convinced the young girl to let him photograph her feet. Under the pretense of supporting a cause, the innocent girl agreed, unaware of his sinister intentions.

Once they reached a nearby block of flats, Tan took pictures of her feet and then began to tickle them. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the girl tried to escape, but he held onto her feet tightly. The young victim felt disgusted and uncomfortable and hurriedly walked away.

Repeated Mistakes

A Second Offense

Despite his arrest and jail time, Tan was released back into society. On April 17, 2023, he approached a 24-year-old woman at the Singapore Botanic Gardens using a similar ruse. He asked to photograph her feet, but she declined his request. Ignoring her refusal, he proceeded to molest her by touching her feet.

Re-Arrest and Revelations

Once again, the victim found news reports about Tan’s past offenses and promptly alerted the authorities. This led to his re-arrest on May 2, 2023, and exposed his dark history of molesting two other victims prior to his earlier conviction.

The Prosecution’s Case

Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew presented a compelling case against Tan, detailing the repeated instances of molestation and the severe discomfort and trauma the victims experienced.

The court heard how Tan derived arousal from touching women’s feet and how he exploited their trust for his deviant desires.

Tan Boon Hwee ultimately pleaded guilty to four molestation charges. The court, considering the gravity of his offenses and his unrepentant behavior, sentenced him to 13 months and four weeks’ jail.

Over the past three days, there has been a series of political resignations within Singapore, involving key figures from both the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Workers’ Party (WP).

Notably, Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui of the PAP resigned on Monday (17 July), followed by Leon Perera and Nicole Seah of the WP on Tuesday (19 July), after the revelations of their extra-marital affairs.

Subsequently, the resignation letters of these politicians were posted online and have been subject to much scrutiny and discussion.

Amidst all the analysis, an Instagram account called Mockingbird News has taken a unique approach, grading these resignation letters like they were school homework.

The Mockingbird News Assessment

The Instagram page Mockingbird News gained attention for its unconventional evaluation of the resignation letters. It provided a fresh perspective, offering insight into the content, structure, and overall quality of each letter.

Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin’s Resignation Letter – Grade: A-

Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin, who resigned as the Speaker of Parliament and from the PAP, received a respectable A- for his letter. The marker commended his efforts and termed it a “good attempt.”

However, they also suggested citing sources in the future, indicating the importance of backing statements with credible references.

Ms. Cheng Li Hui’s Resignation Letter – Grade: F

In contrast to Mr. Tan’s letter, Ms. Cheng Li Hui’s resignation note garnered an unfortunate F grade. The letter comprised a mere three lines and lacked proper formatting, drawing criticism from the marker.

The brevity of the letter, considered “shorter than a tweet,” raised concern, prompting the marker to advise utilizing ChatGPT for assistance in crafting more substantial resignation letters.

The market also wrote the infamous “See me!” under the F grade, something that will undoubtedly bring back nightmares for Singapore students.

Mr. Leon Perera’s Resignation Letter – Grade: B-

Mr. Leon Perera’s letter secured a B- grade, with specific observations from the marker. The assessment noted that the writing displayed “little accountability” and insufficiently addressed pertinent issues. They urged Mr. Perera to “revisit the curriculum” in terms of improving his future communications.

Ms. Nicole Seah’s Resignation Letter – Grade: A+

Ms. Nicole Seah’s resignation letter was met with the highest praise, receiving an outstanding A+ grade. This comes as no surprise given her background in marketing and communications. The marker acknowledged her demonstrated accountability and understanding of the source material, indicating a well-crafted letter.

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A post shared by The Mockingbird (@mkbdnews)

A seemingly routine trip on an escalator turned into a horrifying experience, as one 6-year-old boy and his family discovered at the Botanic Gardens MRT station.

The chilling incident occurred on Jul. 1, when the young boy’s foot got caught in the escalator, leaving him with a severe injury, according to Shin Min Daily News.

The Traumatic Encounter

The incident unfolded at around 2:30 pm as the boy, accompanied by his parents and younger brother, was riding the escalator.

The boy was wearing a pair of Crocs, and halfway down the escalator, he suddenly let out a cry of distress, catching his parents off guard.

The boy’s father reacted swiftly, rushing to release his son from the escalator’s grip. Passersby, seeing the distress, offered their assistance, but the mother believed her son’s injury to be minor and politely declined their help.

It was only later that they realized the seriousness of the situation when they found the boy’s toe was severely wounded and bleeding profusely. Moreover, his last toe was nearly fractured.

Seeking immediate medical attention, the family approached the MRT staff for assistance. The staff closed off the escalator and brought the injured boy to the first aid room.

However, the first aid treatment was deemed insufficient, leading to the decision to call for an ambulance. Unfortunately, valuable time was wasted in the process, further worsening the boy’s condition.

At the National University Hospital, medical experts found that the boy’s toe was dislocated and lacerated, necessitating a two-hour surgical operation that night.

To aid in his recovery, a small metal rod was inserted into the boy’s injured toe. The mother expressed her discontent with the MRT staff’s handling of the situation, labeling their actions as unprofessional and inefficient.

A Gift Basket, but No Compensation

In the aftermath of the accident, the MRT staff sent the family a gift basket as a gesture of concern. However, this thoughtful gesture did little to alleviate the family’s worries, as they were later informed that the MRT could not offer them compensation and they said that there wasn’t any problems with their escalator.

The family’s pleas for compensation were met with bureaucratic delays and the need for further investigation, adding to their frustration and financial burden.

Beyond the physical injuries, the traumatizing encounter has left lasting emotional scars on both the boy and his family.

The mother shared that they are now scared of escalators after the incident, and hope that the authorities can compensate them for their losses.

The Prime Minister’s Office has instructed the POFMA office to issue a correction direction to the blog Political Sophistry, following their article “Upfront and transparent? A timeline of the CPIB investigation into Transport Minister Iswaran” where they conveyed that PM Lee and DPM Wong didn’t want to reveal Iswaran’s arrest as it was politically embarrassing.

The PMO clarified that they didn’t reveal Iswaran’s arrest because it was related to the operational matters of the CPIB, and Political Sophistry will be required to required to carry a correction notice at the top of the article and at the top of the main page of their website.

POFMA Office’s press release

ISSUANCE OF CORRECTION DIRECTION UNDER THE PROTECTION FROM ONLINE FALSEHOODS AND MANIPULATION ACT (POFMA) TO POLITICAL SOPHISTRY

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ms Indranee Rajah, has instructed the POFMA Office to issue a Correction Direction to Political Sophistry for their article “Upfront and transparent? A timeline of the CPIB investigation into Transport Minister Iswaran” published on 16 July 2023 (“Article”). The Article falsely conveyed that:

a. On 12 July 2023, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (“PM”) and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (“DPM Wong”) did not want to disclose the fact of Mr Iswaran’s arrest because it was politically embarrassing.

b. In his doorstop interview on 12 July 2023, DPM Wong deliberately withheld information that two arrests had been made in connection with the case because he wanted to conceal the truth.

2 These statements are false.

a. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (“CPIB”) issued a press release on 12 July 2023 stating that Minister Iswaran was assisting CPIB with an investigation.

b. PM’s statement of 12 July 2023 and DPM Wong at his doorstop interview on the same day kept to what CPIB had announced. PM and DPM did not want to deviate from what CPIB had announced in its statement since this is related to operational matters. It is CPIB’s call to make, on the operational information it was comfortable to provide in the CPIB’s press releases.

c. On 14 July 2023, CPIB provided an update in response to media queries, stating that Minister Iswaran and Mr Ong Beng Seng were arrested on 11 July 2023, and subsequently released on bail.

3 For the facts of this case, please refer to the Factually article “Corrections regarding false statements of fact in Political Sophistry article “Upfront and transparent? A timeline of the CPIB investigation into Transport Minister Iswaran” (https://www.gov.sg/article/factually200723-a).

4 Political Sophistry will be required to carry a correction notice at the top of the article and at the top of the main page of their website, so that readers can read both versions and draw their own conclusions.

Govt’s Factually Article

The facts are as follows:

• On 12 July 2023,
  • The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (“CPIB”) issued a press release that Minister Iswaran was assisting CPIB with the investigation into a case uncovered by CPIB. CPIB also acknowledged the interest by members of the public in this case because a Minister was being interviewed by CPIB.
  • PM separately issued a statement that the formal investigation began on 11 July 2023 and Minister Iswaran was assisting CPIB with the ongoing investigations.
  • DPM Wong said that CPIB needed to interview Minister Iswaran as part of further investigations. DPM stated “We will be upfront and transparent, and we will not sweep anything under the carpet, even if they are potentially embarrassing or damaging to the PAP and to the government”. He also stated that he was unable to provide more information because the CPIB investigations were ongoing.
• On 13 July 2023, the Prime Minister’s Office said that Minister lswaran would remain in Singapore during his leave of absence; and that he would have no access to any official resources and government buildings.
• On 14 July 2023, in response to media queries, CPIB stated that Minister Iswaran and Mr Ong Beng Seng were arrested on 11 July 2023, and subsequently released on bail.

Whether to arrest a person under investigation is an operational judgement by CPIB. In addition, whether and when to make public that a person has been arrested in connection with their investigations is a decision for the CPIB. In the usual course, it is the CPIB (and not Ministers) which releases such information.

CPIB’s press release on 12 July 2023 stated that Minister Iswaran was assisting CPIB with the investigation into a case uncovered by CPIB. CPIB did not then state that Minister Iswaran had been arrested on 11 July 2023.

As it is CPIB’s operational judgement when and whether to make public that a person has been arrested in connection with their investigations, PM’s statement of 12 July 2023 and DPM Wong at his doorstop interview on the same day were consistent with CPIB’s 12 July 2023 press release. It is therefore untrue that PM or DPM Wong did not want to disclose the fact of Minister Iswaran’s arrest because it was politically embarrassing, or that DPM had deliberately withheld information on the arrests because he wanted to conceal the truth. It is also not a case of PM and DPM Wong abdicating their responsibility to disclose such information.  Instead, PM and DPM did not want to deviate from what CPIB had announced in its statement since this is related to operational matters.

Ministers have to let CPIB independently decide on the release of operational information. CPIB must be afforded the necessary time and space it needs to conduct a proper, thorough, and independent investigation.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Ms Indranee Rajah has instructed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office to issue a Correction Direction to Political Sophistry. The Correction Direction requires the recipient to insert a notice against the original post, with a link to the Government’s clarification. We advise members of the public not to speculate and/or spread unverified rumours.

Source: POFMA Office and Gov.sg

TikTok user Raymond Ng (@gazythegreat) posted on his TikTok page on 19 July, saying that he had lodged a police report against former MPs Tan Chuan Jin, Cheng Li Hui, Leon Perera and WP senior member Nicole Seah for allegedly breaching safe distancing measures during the Circuit Breaker back in 2020, according to a report by 8days and The Independent Singapore.

It is worth noting that Ng is the husband of Iris Koh, the founder of an anti-vaccine group Healing The Divide, who is at the moment facing charges of conspiring to defraud the Ministry of Health, according to CNA.

It should also be noted that thus far, none of the parties involved has stated or gone on record saying that they had an affair during the circuit breaker period, and the allegations are unproven.

In his TikTok video, Raymond claims that the four politicians had allegedly been engaging in their respective extra-marital affairs and “meeting during the Circuit Breaker period”, and wants them to be investigated, charged and punished.

Ng said that they were allegedly “having an affair during the circuit breaker”, which Ng took to mean that they met each other during the period, hence his police report.

This comes in the wake of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s press conference where he confirmed that former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin and his fellow PAP MP Cheng Li Hui had been having an affair since 2020.

Following which, the Workers’ Party were also rocked by their own extra-marital scandal, when Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh confirmed that MP Leon Perera and Senior Member Nicole Seah had been having an affair which started after the General Election 2020.

At the moment, Ng’s accusations remain mere allegations, and he also shared his police report that he lodged.

In a separate TikTok video, Raymond shared a screenshot of the police report he filed online. In the report, he listed all four politicians as both “suspects” and “victims” of the case.

Netizens have unimpressed with Ng’s antics and claims, with some suggesting that he pay a visit to the Institute of Mental Health, while others questioned if he had any evidence or proof to back up his claims.

Understanding the Circuit Breaker Measures

The Circuit Breaker was a period during which social gatherings, dining in at food establishments, and working from the office were all restricted to varying degrees.

It was implemented in three time periods: April 7 to June 1, 2020; May 16 to June 2021; and July 22 to August 9, 2021.

The most stringent measures were in place during the April 7 to June 1, 2020 period. Restrictions were gradually lifted from August 10, 2021, onwards.

@gazythegreat I have made a police report on Tan Chuan Jin, Cheng Li Hui, Leon Perera & Nicole Seah. For breach of Circuit Breaker laws. @singaporepoliceforce @mhasingapore @mofspore @moesingapore @mohsingapore @prabu_ramachandran @leongszehian2 @iriskoh11 #singapore #singaporetiktok #tiktoksg #viral #viralvideo #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Gazy The Great

@gazythegreat Replying to @sng247 #singapore #fyp #pap #singaporetiktok #sgtiktok ♬ original sound – Gazy The Great

Netizens’ comments

Recap

Coroner Marvin Bay testified in court on Wednesday (19 July) during an inquiry into the death of Ahmmed Mohammad Manik, a 37-year-old Bangladeshi construction worker, who was working on the seventh-storey rooftop of a building in Westcove Condominium in the West Coast Crescent at Block 16, where he fell to his death.

What happened?

Ahmmed was with his colleague, Mr. Hossain Md Akter, who were assigned to the rooftop to perform some work, and Ahmmed was not wearing a harness at the time.

They had limited access to water at the time. The lack of hydration became apparent when Ahmmed started showing signs of heat stress.

Ahmmed and Mr. Hossain were sharing a mere 500ml bottle of water during their work at height.

After working for about 30 minutes under the scorching sun, Ahmmed informed Mr. Hossain about feeling unwell. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he requested water, but there was none left in their shared bottle.

Mr. Hossain went down to fetch some water, and when he returned, he found Ahmmed lying on the ground level, having suffered a fatal fall.

Authorities were alerted, and paramedics arrived at the scene promptly. Ahmmed was still breathing when they reached him, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his multiple injuries shortly before 1 pm that day. An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death.

MOM Investigations

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducted an investigation and discovered several shortcomings on the part of the waterproofing company, RJ Contract.

The company’s proposed fall prevention plans were not fully complied with, and there were no handholds to enable safe descent from a parapet wall to the roof.

Coroner Marvin Bay pointed out that employers should ensure that workers have timely access to water, particularly in countries with tropical climates.

Additionally, the employer, RJ Contract, was found to have failed in implementing proper work-at-height procedures, leading to this tragic accident.

Ahmmed’s Medical History

Ahmmed had previously experienced a fainting episode while working under the sun, for which he sought medical attention.

He was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope, which could have contributed to his disorientation on the fateful day. However, it was established that he was not fatigued from strenuous labor or extended working hours at the time of the incident.