29-year-old Singaporean man, Vin Lau Jun Sheng, was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment yestyerday (28 April) after defaulting on his National Service (NS) duties for more than 10 years, according to Channel NewsAsia.

He had pleaded guilty to one charge under the Enlistment Act for defaulting on his NS from August 2010 to October 2020.

Lau left Singapore 16 years ago and stayed in Hong Kong to start his own family until 2020 when he decided to come back to Singapore after his business failed during the pandemic.

He returned to Singapore to help his wife and child get Singaporean citizenship despite knowing that he would be jailed for evading NS.

Lau was born in Singapore in 1994 to a Singaporean woman and a Hong Kong citizen, and after his parents divorced in 1997, he moved with his father to Hong Kong while his mother stayed in Singapore.

He was aware of his national service obligations after being informed by his mother but ignored it to stay in Hong Kong.

His mother then applied for an exit permit for him in November 2009, allowing Lau to defer his NS until July 2010, but he remained in Hong Kong after the permit expired before registering for NS in September 2010.

At the same time, his mother also applied for a full deferment for his from CMPB while waiting for him to renounce his Singapore citizenship, but it fell through because of missing documents and his deferment application then became invalid.

Lau then received letters from the CMPB asking his to report for NS duties, but Lau refused to return and by March 2011, he had cut off all contact with his mother.

He was then put on a gazette and blacklisted by the Singapore Police Force.

After Lau’s automobile repair shop closed down in August 2020 during the pandemic, he planned to return to Singapore after discussing with his wife and agreeing that a Singapore citizenship for her and their child was the best option moving forward.

His mother, now aware that he wants to settle down in Singapore, told him that if he returns he would need to serve NS and warned him that he had committed an offence when he defaulted on his NS duties 10 years ago.

Lau knew that he was facing possible imprisonment and a fine, but said he was prepared for the consequences because he wanted to bring his family over to Singapore.

He then came back on 3 October 2020 and served a 14-day SHN, before he enlisted for national service, which he has completed since.

A text message has been circulating around, claiming that Singapore is experiencing a “heat wave” and asking people to “be prepared for high temperatures between 40°C -50°C”.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has since debunked the message and said that it is unlikely for the “heatwave” to hit in the coming weeks.

NEA acknowledged that Singapore has been experiencing hotter days recently, but highlighted that the temperatures experienced were not record-breaking.

They said that the highest temperature ever recorded in Singapore, 37°C, was recorded more than 40 years ago on 17 April 1983.

The circulating message

“Be prepared for high temperatures between 40°C -50°C. Always drink clean water and drink slowly. Avoid cold water or ice.

Currently, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and other countries are experiencing a “heat wave.”

What to do and what not to do?

1. Doctors say not to continue drinking very cold water when the temperature reaches 40°C, as our small blood vessels may burst or explode.

It was said that one of the doctor’s friends had come in from outside on a hot day. Sweating profusely and wanting to cool down quickly, he immediately washed his feet with cold water… Suddenly, out of sight, he collapsed. An ambulance was immediately called and taken to hospital.

2. When the heat reaches 38°C and you come from outside… let’s warm up. Don’t drink cold water. You can drink hot or warm water, but drink it slowly.

Do not wash your hands or feet immediately, and do not wash or wet areas exposed to the sun. Take at least 30 minutes or half an hour before washing or showering.

3. A man cooled down from the heat and immediately took a shower. After the shower, he was taken to hospital with a stiff jaw. He had a stroke.

Notes:

During the summer months or if you are very tired, avoid drinking very cold water immediately, as it can cause the veins or blood vessels to narrow or narrow, which can lead to a stroke.

Teach your kids and roommates as a reminder to each other!

Spread and spread the word”

NEA responds

We understand that there is a text message circulating on a possible incoming heatwave between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius for Singapore.

It is unlikely for the temperature in Singapore to reach a high of 40 degrees Celsius in the coming weeks.

Although we have been experiencing warmer days in recent weeks, the temperatures were not record breaking. The highest temperature ever recorded in Singapore was 37 degrees Celsius on 17 Apr 1983.

The inter-monsoon months of Apr and May are normally the warmer period of the year, due to strong solar heating and light and variable wind conditions. Apr 2023 has been generally warm, with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 34 degrees Celsius on most days (17 days as of 27 Apr 2023), and 8 of those days registering temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or more. The highest daily maximum temperature was 36.1 degrees Celsius at Woodlands on 14 Apr 2023. This is the highest temperature recorded so far this year.

The prevailing inter-monsoon conditions are expected to persist in the coming weeks, and the daily maximum temperature can still be expected to reach 34 or 35 degrees Celsius in the afternoon on most days. On a few days when there is less cloud cover, the daily maximum temperature could reach a high of around 36 degrees Celsius.

$239,300 Worth of Drugs and More Than $36,000 Seized; Ten Arrested for Suspected Drug Offences

Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested ten Singaporeans for suspected drug offences in operations conducted on 26 and 27 April 2023. During the operations, a total of about 3,172g of heroin, 81g of ‘Ice’, 30g of ketamine and 4 Erimin-5 tablets with an estimated street value of $239,300 were seized. The seizure of 3,172g of heroin and 81g of ‘Ice’ can feed the addiction of about 1550 users for a week.

2. In the afternoon of 26 April, CNB officers arrested three men, aged between 45 and 57, for suspected drug offences in the vicinity of Jalan Bukit Merah and seized about 477g of heroin, cash amounting to $36,550 and various drug paraphernalia. The 45-year-old man was later escorted to a residential unit in the same vicinity where about 74g of heroin and 26g of ‘Ice’ were seized. In a follow-up operation conducted on 27 April, CNB officers arrested another three men and a woman, aged between 43 and 60, for suspected drug offences.

Photos 1 – 2 (CNB): Controlled drugs including heroin and ‘Ice’, and cash amounting to $36,550 were seized in the vicinity of Jalan Bukit Merah in a CNB operation conducted on 26 April 2023.

3. In another operation conducted on 26 April, CNB officers raided a residential unit in the vicinity of Tampines Street 22. Forced entry was effected as the occupants had refused to heed the lawful orders of CNB officers to open the door. Before CNB officers could enter the unit, they spotted one of the occupants, a 35-year-old man, scaling down the unit’s kitchen window into another residential unit directly below. The 35-year-old man was subsequently placed under arrest. Two men aged 40 and 41 were arrested within the unit for suspected drug trafficking offences. About 32g of ‘Ice’, 30g of ketamine, 4 Erimin-5 tablets, and various drug paraphernalia were seized from within the unit.
4. A further search was carried out at the dry-riser located outside the unit and about 2,621g of heroin were recovered within. The three men were then escorted to their vehicles where about 23g of ‘Ice’, 58 packets of contraband cigarettes, three knives and drug paraphernalia were seized.

Photos 3 – 5 (CNB): Controlled drugs including heroin and knives were seized in the vicinity of Tampines Street 22 in a CNB operation conducted on 26 April 2023.

5. SUPT William Tan, Senior Assistant Director of Intelligence Operations, said of the operations:

“Drug trafficking and misuse pose serious threats to our society. The recent operations involving large seizures of controlled drugs, dangerous weapons and cash are timely reminders that we must never let our guard down in our fight against drugs. Our officers will continue to remain steadfast in our mission to tackle drug offenders and neutralise drug activities.”

6. Under Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, it is an offence for a person, on his or her own behalf, or on behalf of any other person, whether or not that other person is in Singapore, to traffic in a controlled drug, offer to traffic in a controlled drug; or to do or offer to do any act preparatory to or for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled drug. If a person is found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of pure heroin (diamorphine), he or she may face the mandatory death penalty.
7. Investigations into the drug activities of all arrested suspects are ongoing.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
28 April 2023