A Singaporean commando officer, aged 48, has achieved an impressive feat by completing an astounding 650 chin-ups within a span of one hour. Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Robin Lee accomplished this remarkable record at a fitness corner located in Bishan East Park on May 5, 2023.

During the rigorous challenge, Lee strictly adhered to the prescribed standards for each chin-up. To qualify, his chin had to be raised clearly above the bar, and his arms needed to be fully extended during the descent. Several attempts fell short of meeting these regulated criteria, resulting in disqualification.

Approaching the challenge, Lee told Pioneer that he mentally divided it into 60 one-minute sets, with a target of completing 12 chin-ups per set. He maintained this pace during the first half-hour. As fatigue set in, he continued with 12 chin-ups per minute but took longer breaks between sets.

Around the 50-minute mark, Lee confessed that his blisters had worsened to the extent that he could only manage five chin-ups per minute. Nevertheless, he persevered through the pain, and his achievement was officially acknowledged by the Singapore Book of Records, where it is now recorded as the “Most Chin-Ups In One Hour (Individual)”.

Lee, who has experience with demanding endurance challenges, sought to replicate the fitness training he had undergone during his deployment in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2011. Surprisingly, he began focusing on chin-up training only at the beginning of the year, and it was not until late April that he entertained the idea of setting a national record.

To build up his chin-up stamina, Lee performed 100 chin-ups per hour over a span of 10 hours. His commitment to fitness is evident, as he regularly engages in workouts and physical activities. Even after achieving the chin-up record, Lee returned to his exercise routine after just one day of rest, emphasizing the importance of fitness for a healthier lifestyle.

“Fitness is an enabler to healthier living,” Lee stated. “I try to keep myself active at this age because it reduces lethargy and keeps me healthy. And, of course, when durian season comes, I have more leeway!”

The incredible accomplishment of LTC Robin Lee serves as an inspiration to fitness enthusiasts and showcases the indomitable spirit of perseverance and dedication.

A tragic incident occurred on Thursday morning near Chijmes, resulting in a fatal collision involving a motorcycle, a lorry, and a bus.

The collision claimed the life of a motorcyclist, who was identified as a 26-year-old man. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics, who arrived at the scene promptly, sadly pronounced him dead.

Mrs Grace Wu, the Vice-President of Customer Experience and Communications at SBS Transit, provided a statement in response to inquiries from The Straits Times.

Wu expressed her deepest condolences to the family of the motorcyclist and stated that the front of a Service 851 bus had minor contact with the motorcycle. She clarified that the bus was travelling straight on Victoria Street, having the green light in its favour.

SBS Transit acknowledged the tragic loss and expressed its sympathies to the family of the deceased motorcyclist. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the passengers on the bus during the collision.

The aftermath of the accident caused a significant traffic jam, stretching as far as the Hill Street area, as reported by Lianhe Zaobao.

Images circulating online and in various chat groups depict a stationary green bus positioned on Victoria Street, heading towards Bugis Junction. Additionally, orange and white cones were placed on the two rightmost lanes of Bras Basah Road, which runs adjacent to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.

Authorities were alerted to the accident at the junction of Victoria Street and Bras Basah Road at approximately 7:30 am. The police have commenced investigations into the incident, and they have confirmed that a 31-year-old male lorry driver is assisting with their inquiries.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) mentioned that one individual involved in the collision sustained minor injuries. However, this person refused medical transportation to the hospital.

As the investigation into the tragic collision continues, authorities are yet to disclose further details regarding the exact circumstances leading to the incident.

Images source; Singapore Road Accidents

In a tragic incident that occurred in 2021, a driver under the influence of alcohol collided with a food delivery rider, resulting in the rider’s untimely death.

The driver, identified as Andre Low Cheng Jun, aged 36, has pleaded guilty to charges of drunk driving and driving without reasonable consideration.

On 24th May, he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and a 10-year driving ban.

According to reports from Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the incident took place on the evening of 23rd March 2021. Prior to the collision, Low had consumed one-and-a-half glasses of Martell cognac at Clarke Quay before driving his friend to Potong Pasir.

While on Tampines Road, he overtook two cars at a high speed, which was noticed by the other drivers.

At a T-junction on Hougang Avenue 1, a food delivery rider had stopped his e-bike in the middle of the second lane. Unfortunately, Low failed to notice the rider and continued to accelerate, only realizing his presence when it was too late. He applied the brakes abruptly but ended up crashing into the back of the rider’s bike.

The impact of the collision propelled the victim into the air, causing him to roll over Low’s vehicle before hitting the ground. The accident severely damaged the e-bike and resulted in the car’s front bonnet and bumper being torn off.

An eyewitness promptly reported the incident to the police, while Low himself called for an ambulance. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers conducted a breathalyser test on Low, which he failed due to the strong smell of alcohol emanating from him. Subsequently, the police arrested him and took him to the traffic police headquarters.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Low had 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of his breath, surpassing the legal limit of 35. Tragically, the victim succumbed to head and chest injuries at the hospital on the same day.

The prosecution sought a jail term of 15 to 18 months, along with a 10-year driving ban, highlighting the evidence of dangerous driving exhibited by Low. They stated that he was driving well above the speed limit of 60km/h, reaching speeds of at least 70km/h and possibly up to 93km/h while intoxicated. Furthermore, he had accelerated just before reaching the stop line.

Low’s legal representative acknowledged that this was his first encounter with the law and emphasized his client’s deep remorse for the tragedy that unfolded.

Singapore Dollar (SGD) Surges to 3.41 Ringgit, Ideal Time to Exchange Currency

The Singapore Dollar (SGD) has reached a new high in its value against the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), and this development couldn’t have come at a better time with the upcoming June school holidays just around the corner.

For Singaporean travellers, the appeal of visiting Malaysia has always been enhanced by its delightful food and exciting shopping options. However, now there’s an additional reason to be excited— the stronger exchange rate between the SGD and MYR.

If you have plans to visit Malaysia in the near future, it’s crucial to take advantage of this opportunity and convert your cash sooner rather than later.

Reputable online currency converter, Xe.com, reports that as of 4:50 PM on Wednesday (24 May), the SGD to MYR exchange rate has soared to 3.41. In simpler terms, this means that every Singapore Dollar (S$1) can fetch you approximately RM3.41.

It’s worth noting that this represents a noticeable increase of about 3% from the exchange rate recorded in February (S$1 : RM3.31).

The timing of this recent appreciation of the SGD against the MYR couldn’t be better, coinciding perfectly with the upcoming June school holidays, which are scheduled to commence this Saturday (27 May).

This favorable exchange rate offers an enticing opportunity for Singaporeans to plan their trips across the Causeway and now is the time to seize the opportunity and make the most of the stronger SGD.

By planning your currency conversion and financial arrangements wisely, you can ensure that you maximize the benefits of this favorable exchange rate during your visit to Malaysia. It’s a chance to create cherished memories and make your trip even more enjoyable.

Take advantage of the increased purchasing power that the SGD now possesses against the MYR and if you’re among those planning to visit Malaysia soon, don’t miss out on the opportunity to convert your cash and make the most of the stronger SGD. Your journey awaits, filled with exciting possibilities and the promise of lasting memories.

Security officers from ION Orchard testified in court on 24 May against Phoon Chiu Yoke, the infamous Badge Lady as she is more commonly referred to by online netizens.

Phoon, appearing in a black blazer, white shirt, and black skirt, chose to represent herself in contesting four charges. These charges included not wearing a mask on two occasions along Orchard Road, once in ION Orchard, and failing to attend an investigation by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 2022.

During the trial, two ION Orchard security officers and a service ambassador were called as witnesses by the prosecution. Both security officers were on duty on August 16, 2022, when it was alleged that Phoon did not wear a mask within the shopping mall.

CCTV footage shown

The first security officer testified that he observed Phoon not wearing a mask while she was riding an escalator from level three to level two near the Patek Philippe store. In court, CCTV footage was shown, depicting the security officer approaching Phoon and advising her to wear a mask.

However, she ignored his advice and continued on her way. The security officer confirmed that he did not witness Phoon eating, drinking, or consuming any medication during that time.

Asked guard how he knows she wasn’t eating lozenges

During the cross-examination, Phoon requested the security officer to repeat what he had said to her. He responded by saying, “Can you please wear your mask?” Phoon further inquired about signage at the entrance regarding mask-wearing, but the security officer stated that he couldn’t recall.

Phoon then questioned how the security officer knew she was not eating since he approached her from behind. The officer explained that he saw her turn around to look at him. Phoon retorted by asking if they had a conversation, to which the officer replied, “No.”

Phoon then asked the officer if he was certain that she was not eating, consuming medication, or sucking on lozenges. She also raised the question of whether not wearing a mask for 39 seconds constituted a significant offense and why she wasn’t asked to leave immediately if it was.

The security officer explained that they would first advise shoppers to put on their masks before requesting them to leave. Phoon concluded her cross-examination by asserting that she had put on a mask “39 seconds later” and highlighting the security officer’s uncertainty about the presence of signage in the mall.

Claims CCTV footage could’ve been edited

Subsequently, a second security officer and a service ambassador took the stand. They were responsible for extracting CCTV footage that depicted Phoon’s activities in ION Orchard on August 16. The prosecution presented and played most of the 24 CCTV footage, which showed Phoon walking around without a mask.

The videos revealed Phoon entering ION Orchard through the connected passageway from Wheelock Place, moving through the mall, and then descending from level four.

During the cross-examination of the second security officer, Phoon raised doubts about the authenticity of the videos, suggesting that they might have been tampered with. She questioned whether the security officer had compared the extracted and saved video with the “raw footage” within the system, emphasizing that the videos were not adequately protected.

The security officer replied that he hadn’t performed a second-by-second comparison but believed that the video he extracted was the same as the raw footage. Phoon continued to assert that technology could be used to edit the videos and add additional figures, arguing that the video was vulnerable to manipulation from the moment the thumb drive left the security officer’s possession.

The trial is set to continue, with more witnesses expected to testify against Phoon. In a previous phase, social media personality Wendy Cheng, also known as Xiaxue, and her cameraperson provided testimony against Phoon. One of their videos captured Phoon walking without a mask in the background. The prosecution intends to present additional witnesses to support their case against Phoon.

If found guilty of failing to wear a mask when required, the penalties can include up to a year of imprisonment, a fine of up to S$20,000, or both. These penalties apply to repeat offenders as well.

It is worth noting that Phoon had previously received a 16-week jail sentence in September 2021 for similar mask-wearing offenses.

A 20-year-old Police NSF molested a woman by touching her private parts, before receiving his national service posting to a police division 3 months later.

However, instead of reporting for duty, the NSF forged several medical certificates (MCs) and went absent without leave, according to The Straits Times.

The 20-year-old perpetrator cannot be named due to a court order to protect the victim’s identity, and he pleaded guilty on Wednesday (24 April) to charges of molestation, forgery, and a violation of the Police Force Act.

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Yvonne Poon, “Investigations revealed that the accused avoided going to work due to his deep shame regarding the ongoing investigations into his offenses, and he simply wished to remain at home.”

The man and the 21-year-old victim were classmates during their secondary school years from 2015 to 2018. They reconnected in September 2021 through social media and grew closer as friends.

DPP Poon stated, “The victim considered him to be one of her closest friends and confided in him about various aspects of her life, including work and dates with individuals she met through social media and dating apps. Their relationship was strictly platonic, and both parties were aware of this.”

On July 17, 2022, they spent the night at a friend’s residence. While the woman was asleep, the offender, who was lying beside her, inappropriately touched her private areas. She woke up in shock.

She refused to engage with him, wrapping a blanket around herself and turning away as she used her phone to book a ride home.

Later, she disclosed the incident to a male acquaintance, who promptly informed the police around 6 am the following day. The offender was subsequently apprehended.

Court records do not provide details of subsequent events, but on October 21, 2022, he was assigned to a police division and expected to commence his national service duties there.

According to DPP Poon, the offender’s supervisor was aware of the ongoing investigations into his offences. However, following his posting, the offender frequently claimed to be unwell and irregularly reported for work.

He disregarded requests from his supervisor to submit his MCs and provide documentation for his absences.

On February 22, 2023, the supervisor visited the offender’s residence to retrieve the MCs but discovered that the documents did not cover multiple days that month.

The offender alleged that he had accidentally discarded the physical copies of the MCs.

Subsequently, on February 28, he forwarded the MCs with altered dates to the supervisor via WhatsApp.

The court has ordered assessments to determine the offender’s suitability for probation and reformative training.

Young offenders undergoing reformative training are detained in a facility where they follow a strict routine that may involve physical drills and counselling.

The case has been adjourned until June 19,