Singapore Police have successfully arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with a case of outrage of modesty. The incident took place in the vicinity of Lorong 18 Geylang, and prompt action by the police led to the suspect’s swift capture within 2 hours.

On 8 June 2023, at approximately 1:25 am, the police received a report regarding an alleged molestation incident involving an unidentified man and a woman. Acting swiftly, officers from the Bedok Police Division initiated ground inquiries and utilized images obtained from police cameras to aid in their investigation.

Within two hours of receiving the report, the efforts of the police resulted in the identification and subsequent arrest of the 29-year-old suspect along Lorong 16 Geylang.

The suspect was charged in court on 9 June 2023 with charges under Section 354(1) of the Penal Code 1871 for the offense of outrage of modesty. If found guilty, the accused could face imprisonment for a term of up to three years, a fine, caning, or a combination of these penalties.

Singapore Police Force’s statement

MAN ARRESTED FOR OUTRAGE OF MODESTY

The Police have arrested a 29-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of outrage of modesty.

On 8 June 2023 at about 1.25am, the Police were alerted to an incident where a woman was purportedly molested by an unknown man in the vicinity of Lorong 18 Geylang.

Through ground enquiries, and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division located the 29-year-old man and arrested him along Lorong 16 Geylang within two hours of the report.

The man will be charged in court on 9 June 2023 with the offence of outrage of modesty under Sec 354(1) of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term which may extend to three years, or a fine, or caning, or any combination of such punishments.

The Police have zero tolerance towards sexual offenders who threaten the personal safety of the community. Offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law. The Police would like to urge members of the public to remain vigilant and, if they witness an incident of outrage of modesty, or are aware of someone being a victim of outrage of modesty, to report the matter to the Police immediately.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
08 June 2023 @ 11:00 PM

A resident residing in a low-rise HDB flat located in the Alexandra area woke up one morning to an unexpected surprise: his previously white Adidas slides had magically transformed into black.

The resident, who had purchased the white slides for S$30, was startled to find a pair of black slippers resembling his own model left outside the corridor overnight.

According to the resident, when his mother first noticed the change, he decided to investigate further.

He reviewed the footage captured by a surveillance camera installed outside his home, which was pointed towards the corridor, in an attempt to uncover the truth behind this mysterious incident.

Upon reviewing the footage, it became apparent that his slippers had been taken earlier that morning on June 7th at approximately 6 am.

The video showed two individuals walking past his unit initially, but they soon retraced their steps and stopped in front of his door, appearing to examine something on the ground.

The resident suspected that these two individuals might have swapped one of their slippers for his.

Interestingly, the black slippers they left behind closely resembled his original white Adidas slides, although they featured nine stripes instead of the usual seven, suggesting that they were knock-offs.

Deeply concerned about the situation, the resident promptly filed a police report to report the incident.

Block shopping

Block-shopping refers to the act of stealing shoes left outside HDB flat doors or in common areas such as corridors and stairwells.

Perpetrators typically strike during the night, under the cover of darkness, seizing the opportunity to snatch footwear and make a quick getaway.

Shoes of various types and brands, ranging from sneakers to sandals, have fallen victim to this brazen theft.

The increasing prevalence of block-shopping has raised significant concerns among HDB residents. Many individuals view their shoes as valuable possessions and often take pride in their collection.

With the fear of losing their cherished footwear, residents are now more vigilant and cautious about leaving their shoes unattended, even for a brief moment.

Prevention

Residents are advised to take certain precautions to minimize the risk of falling victim to block-shopping. These include:

1. Avoid leaving shoes unattended in common areas or outside the flat door.
2. Consider installing a secure shoe rack inside the flat or near the entrance.
3. Utilize proper lighting in common areas to deter potential thieves.
4. Get to know your neighbors and establish a sense of community watch.
5. Consider using security devices such as CCTV cameras or motion sensor lights.

On 24 May 2023, a 40-year-old Singaporean male, M J-Earn Joesz (“M J”), was sentenced to 4 months and 2 weeks imprisonment and $6,000 fine for the following offences:

1. One count of engaging in a conspiracy to launder fraudulent Value-Added-Tax (“VAT”) refunds from the United Kingdom (“UK”) under Section 47(1)(c) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 (“CDSA”), read with Section 109 of the Penal Code 1871; and
   
2. One count of breaching Customs declaration obligation under Section 128B(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1960 read with Section 140 of the Customs Act and Sections 26 and 77 of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1993.

This prosecution arose from joint investigations conducted by the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Customs, with the assistance of HM Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom (“HMRC”), following information received of an unsuccessful attempt to make VAT refund claims in another unrelated European country.

Details of the case

The joint investigations revealed that sometime around December 2020, M J and other individuals were recruited by a Singaporean, Yeo Alan, to travel to London to collect fake jewellery and claim VAT refunds for the jewellery. M J managed to claim a VAT refund amounting to EUR 30,940. Upon his arrival in Singapore, M J also failed to declare or pay Customs duty for the jewellery that he had collected in London. Working closely with HMRC and Singapore Customs, the Police arrested M J in Singapore on 12 December 2022. Yeo Alan has been convicted, among other offences, of an offence of engaging in a conspiracy with M J to launder fraudulent VAT refunds and sentenced, on 14 April 2023, to eight months’ imprisonment for this offence.

Under Section 47(1)(c) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992, a person shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.

Under Section 128L(1) of the Customs Act 1960, a person who commits an offence under Section 128B(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1960 shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or the equivalent of the amount of the customs duty, excise duty or tax payable, whichever is the greater amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both.

Laundering of proceeds from criminal activities as well as claiming tax refunds from overseas authorities through fraudulent means are serious offences. The authorities will not hesitate to take action against individuals who commit such offences. To avoid being implicated in such criminal activities, members of the public should reject dubious job offers to travel for the purpose of claiming sales tax refunds from overseas authorities.

Singapore Customs would also like to remind the public that it is the responsibility of all arriving travellers to make accurate and complete declarations of dutiable and taxable goods in their possession for duty and GST payment.

Director CAD, Mr David Chew said, “This successful prosecution is a culmination of a joint transnational collaboration between the HM Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom and authorities in Singapore. I would like to thank the HM Revenue and Customs for their strong commitment to work with us to disrupt this transnational syndicate. The Singapore Police Force and Singapore Customs are resolute in our enforcement and investigation efforts against such criminal activities. We will not hesitate to prosecute such offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”

In a recent incident, the police have apprehended a 22-year-old man believed to be involved in an armed robbery case.

Details of the Armed Robbery

On 6 June 2023, at approximately 6:00 PM, the police received an alert regarding an armed robbery that occurred along Bukit Batok Central. The incident involved a suspect who allegedly used a knife to threaten the victim and demand their wallet and mobile phone. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect approached the victim and brandished a knife, coercing them to hand over their valuables. The victim, fearing for their safety, complied with the demands. The suspect swiftly took possession of the victim’s wallet and handphone before making a hasty retreat.

Police Response and Investigation

Upon receiving the report, officers from the Jurong Police Division promptly initiated an investigation into the armed robbery case. They utilized various investigative techniques, including ground enquiries and footage from police cameras in the vicinity. These efforts aimed to identify and apprehend the suspect responsible for the crime.

Arrest of the Suspect and Recovery of Stolen Items

Thanks to the diligent efforts of the police officers involved, the suspect was identified within one hour of the reported incident. Law enforcement authorities wasted no time and swiftly apprehended the 22-year-old man. The arrest was carried out with the assistance of the evidence obtained during the investigation.

During the arrest, the police successfully recovered the victim’s wallet and handphone. The return of the stolen items serves as a testament to the effective actions taken by the police to swiftly resolve the case. It also ensures that the victim’s belongings are returned to their rightful owner.

Legal Charges and Potential Punishment

The suspect will face charges of armed robbery in court on 8 June 2023. Under Section 392 read with Section 397 of the Penal Code 1871, armed robbery carries severe penalties. If convicted, the suspect may face an imprisonment term ranging from three to 14 years, in addition to a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.