In a heartbreaking incident on the afternoon of October 22, 2023, a 36-year-old Bangladeshi construction worker met with a tragic end.

He fell 10 meters through a skylight while working on the installation of solar panels on the rooftop of a workshop at a construction site in Tuas, according to The Straits Times.

A photo of the aftermath was shared on the Complaint Singapore Unrestricted Facebook page, showing two paramedics attending to the man, as the other workers stood aside.

What also appears to be (presumably) his brain or organs could be seen on the floor beside his head. (Or it could just be a blood soaked cloth or bandage).

MOM’s Response

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed the incident and said that it happened on Sunday at 12 Tuas South Street 2, at about 2pm.

The worker was rushed to the National University Hospital, where he died from his injuries later that day.

The spokesperson also disclosed that the worksite’s occupier is Energetix Pte. Ltd., while the employer of the deceased worker is BBG Electrical Engineering Pte. Ltd.

MOM has acted swiftly in the wake of this tragedy, instructing the occupier to cease all work-at-height activities at the site and initiating a thorough investigation into the incident.

This incident brings the number of reported deaths in the workplace this year to 21.

Migrant Workers’ Centre’s statement

MWC is aware of the tragic accident that resulted in the loss of a 36-year-old Bangladeshi national at his workplace and MWC understands that the cause of incident is still under investigation.

We have established contact with the deceased worker’s employer to gather all relevant information pertaining to this unfortunate incident, while offering guidance and support on filing of incident report to make claims under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). We understand that the employer has arranged for the repatriation of the worker’s remains to his family in Bangladesh.

Our primary focus now is to ensure that the immediate needs of the affected worker’s family are met. To provide interim financial assistance to the next-of-kin (NOK) as they await compensation through WICA, we will extend an ex-gratia payout from the Migrant Workers’ Assistance Fund (MWAF). We are also ready to assess and address any urgent needs and assistance required. We recognise the significant impact such incidents can have on the livelihoods of the families involved, and we remain dedicated to providing a helping hand during times of crisis.

In addition to supporting the affected worker’s family, MWC acknowledges the emotional toll this incident may have on other workers who were present at the scene. As such, we will offer counselling services to these workers through our partner organisations when the need arises. Our goal is to ensure that no worker is left alone in the aftermath of such distressing incidents, and we are committed to providing comprehensive assistance.

MWC remains steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the welfare and rights of all migrant workers in Singapore. We will work closely with relevant authorities, employers, and other stakeholders to prevent workplace incidents and enhance safety measures across various industries. Every worker deserves a safe working environment, and we will continue to advocate for robust safety standards and strict enforcement. We will continue to engage with employers, educate workers about their rights, and collaborate with all stakeholders to create a safer working environment for all. At NTUC, we are advocating that reporting workplace safety issues is a basic right for workers and employers must not retaliate against these reporting for a good cause. We urge all workers to report any unsafe conditions and notify appropriate personnel and the union. NTUC and its affiliated unions stand ready to assist on any matters should there be any inaction on resolving these issues of non-compliance.

Migrant workers who require assistance can contact MWC via our 24-hour helpline at 6536 2692.

Image source: Complaint Singapore Unrestricted (Warning: Graphic images, viewer discretion is advised)

29-year-old Han Feizi, who has since rose to infamy in Singapore for insulting a Singapore General Hospital staff member and challenging the police, was recently charged in court, where she pleaded guilty on 25 October.

She was handed 6 charges earlier this month (13 October) before being slapped with 2 other charges related to manpower offences.

She is being charged with being a public nuisance, two counts of using insulting language to a public servant, two counts of using criminal force on a security guard, one count of harassment and two offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

It was earlier reported that Han had allegedly been moonlighting as a freelance hostess.

She appeared in court earlier today via video-link to much fanfare, about 50 people showed up in court to see her, as she pled guilty to her charges.

Wanted to “have fun” in Singapore

The prosecution said that Han was arrested on 11 October, and the MInistry of Manpower was then informed about possible breaches under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

Investigations then ensued and it revealed that Han had applied for a work permit earlier this year in August, after her application for a student pass was rejected.

In her application, she declared that she would be working as a clerk but failed to do so.

The prosecutor for MOM also added that Han had only wanted to come to Singapore to “have fun”, and that she applied for the work pass without trying to understand what it said, as the form was in English.

Drunk

Incident at The Sail

The prosecution said that on 3 October at about 10pm, the police were called in by the security at The Sail at Marina Bay, a private apartment building, because there was a drunk resident that needed help.

Han was found by a security officer squatting in a common area, and she said that she was drunk; the security then helped the woman back to her unit but she became aggressive inside the lift and pushed the guard, insulting him with vulgarities.

SGH Incident

On 10 October, the Singaporean police received a call for help at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) at around 2:35 am.

Han claimed to have waited for three hours in the hospital’s emergency department without receiving any medical attention after allegedly being hit by a car.

She further alleged that a nurse told her she would not be treated because she was not a Singaporean citizen. These claims were later disputed by SGH.

Insights from SGH

Speaking to The Straits Times, the head and senior consultant for SGH’s department of emergency medicine, Associate Professor Kenneth Tan, said that the woman was discharged after 2 hours, after she had been thoroughly reviewed by the medical staff.

Tan added that everyone who presents themselves at SGH’s emergency department will receive the medical care that they require.

The situation also escalated when the woman refused to wear a face mask and according to Professor Tan, during the triage process at the emergency department, a staff member offered her a mask, which she refused to put on, despite being reminded about the government’s guidelines on wearing masks in Singapore’s hospitals.

As the situation got increasingly heated, the woman continued to behave in an aggressive manner and the medical staff had to call the police for help, as her behaviour was affecting the hospital operations.

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Douyin Videos

The woman posted two videos on Douyin, both exceeding 11 minutes. She was also seen demanding a plainclothes police officer to identify herself and attempting to grab her police lanyard.

According to ST, the Singapore Police Force said that the two plainclothes officers, who were investigations officers, had introduced themselves in front of uniformed officers before speaking to the woman.

The female police officer was seen in the video repeatedly asking the woman if she had used vulgarities on the nurse, but the woman refused to answer.

The woman refused to cooperate and used vulgarities on one of the police officers, and filmed her interview with one of the female investigation officers and sharing them on her Douyin account.

The videos, which have since been reposted on several social media platforms, have been viewed more than a million times in total.

You can watch the videos here, here and here.

30-year-old Kumaran Tanggapan, was sentenced on 18 October to 5 years jail and 6 strokes of the cane, after pleading guilty to a charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by using a knife to slash at the victim and cut off his right index finger. The accused initially claimed trial, but pleaded guilty after the trial had proceeded for three days, according to a judgement that was released.

What happened?

On March 5, 2022. A 27-year-old man, Karthik Kanesan, accompanied by his female friend, found himself embroiled in a shocking and violent encounter with a man named Tanggapan Suppaiyya, who is the father of the accused.

What began as a dispute over alleged staring soon escalated into a disturbing incident that resulted in a man’s index finger being chopped off with a 40cm knife.

The incident started at a traffic light junction in Ang Mo Kio when Karthik and Tanggapan crossed paths. An argument erupted, fueled by the belief that one had been staring at the other. Tempers flared, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control.

Tanggapan, determined to settle the dispute, took a drastic step. He summoned his son, Kumaran Tanggapan, for assistance.

A Swift Descent into Violence

Kumaran arrived at the scene, armed with a knife, and a confrontation ensued. The confrontation took a horrifying turn when Kumaran slashed the man’s right index finger off with the knife. The severity of the act left bystanders in shock, and the victim in excruciating pain.

The choice of weapon in this disturbing incident was a 40-cm-long knife with a 30cm blade.

Realizing the gravity of his actions, Kumaran fled the scene, leaving the victim in dire need of medical attention. He drove home and disposed of the incriminating knife in a rubbish chute.

Kumaran then went to his girlfriend’s home at Yishun and fell asleep, before the police later tracked him down and arrested him.

The victim was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for immediate medical attention.

Kumaran has also since appealed against his sentence.

A 28-year-old Singaporean woman, Jocelyn Lee Sock Hui, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $23,767 compensation to the victim, for using his credit card to pay off her credit card bills and go on a shopping spree.

She had used her company director’s credit card to do so because she felt underappreciated at work, according to Channel NewsAsia.

What happened?

Jocelyn Lee’s journey of deception began in 2014 when she joined Hai-Ou Co as an administrative assistant. Her primary responsibilities included assisting her boss, Lee Kin Choi, a 78-year-old director of the company, with paperwork, purchasing orders, quotations, and invoices.

In a show of trust, Lee Kin Choi provided Jocelyn with his credit card and online banking details, entrusting her to manage payments and print bank statements on his behalf.

A Growing Resentment

Over time, she started feeling increasingly unappreciated in her role, a sentiment that bred resentment. It was this resentment that ultimately drove her to misuse her boss’s credit card.

Between March and July 2020, Jocelyn Lee embarked on a relentless shopping spree on popular online platforms like Shopee and Lazada. Using her boss’s credit card, she made 77 unauthorized transactions, racking up an astonishing total of S$29,246.45.

To cover her tracks, Jocelyn Lee resorted to forgery. She falsified records by creating fabricated bank statements, thereby concealing her unauthorized shopping sprees. This cunning tactic was employed to avoid detection, but as the saying goes, “the truth will always come to light.”

The Consequences

The gravity of Jocelyn Lee’s actions soon became apparent when her deceit was reported to the authorities by her boss’s daughter-in-law on August 24, 2020.

In the face of impending legal action, Jocelyn opted to make restitution by returning S$22,000 to her boss.

Lee was allowed to start her jail term in December, and she also has to make full compensation to her boss by then or receive another additional three weeks imprisonment.