Earlier today (19 September), a 35-year-old man in Singapore has been sentenced to 21.5 years in jail and 18 strokes of the cane. His crime? He pleaded guilty to the horrifying act of killing his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and burning her body in a metal pot, according to The Straits Times.

This heart-wrenching case unravels a story of darkness, secrecy, and a young life tragically cut short.

The Veil of Secrecy

The magnitude of this tragedy is amplified by the secrecy that shrouded it. Due to gag orders put in place to protect surviving victims, the convicted man cannot be named, and the wife’s identity remains hidden. Even the location of the crime cannot be revealed.

However, one name shines through the darkness – Umaisyah, the victim’s first name. The judge allowed to let her be known by her name instead of just “the deceased” or “the victim.”

The Charges

The man faced grave charges, pleading guilty to culpable homicide not amounting to murder for causing his daughter’s death and failing to seek medical help for her.

Additionally, he admitted to three other charges, including rioting, ill-treating his stepson, and taking illegal drugs, namely Methamphetamine.

Five other charges were considered during the sentencing. The couple involved has since divorced, adding another layer of complexity to this tragic narrative.

A Troubled Family History

The offender and his wife had a complex family history. They had four children of their own, including the 2.5-year-old victim, Umaisyah, born in 2011; the woman also had two other children from a previous marriage to another man.

Umaisyah’s troubled journey began when she was placed in foster care in November 2011, just three to four months after her birth. Her father’s drug rehabilitation and her mother’s inability to care for her led to this decision.

A Child Unfamiliar with Her Parents

In June 2013, after spending 1.5 years in foster care, Umaisyah was returned to her parents. By this time, she had not yet turned two years old.

Tragically, she found herself in an unfamiliar environment, often crying as her parents were no longer familiar to her. The prosecution revealed that she had already spent a significant portion of her young life in foster care.

Umaisyah’s life took a harrowing turn when she was subjected to ill treatment at the hands of her own parents. Her father resorted to using a belt or a hanger to discipline her, even punching her thigh and pinching her body. Shockingly, their other children suffered the same fate, creating an environment of perpetual fear and pain.

The Tragic End

The darkest chapter unfolded in March 2014. Umaisyah soiled her diaper and played with her faeces. In response, her angry mother slapped her cheeks and “flicked her lips,” according to the prosecution.

The father, under the influence of methamphetamine, forcefully slapped his daughter multiple times. This brutal assault resulted in a traumatic brain injury and a concussive brain seizure for the little girl.

The little girl became weak and sat down on the floor, as she stopped crying and gasped for air, with blood and liquid also seen on her facial orifices (nose and mouth).

The man tried to perform CPR on the girl but she was still unresponsive.

A Desperate Plea for Help Ignored

Despite the severity of Umaisyah’s condition, her parents did not seek medical assistance. Fear of arrest and the consequences of the father’s drug use overshadowed their parental instincts. Tragically, medical care could have saved the young girl’s life, but it was never sought.

The couple went to great lengths to conceal their horrific crime. They destroyed evidence, lied to authorities, and misled family members about Umaisyah’s whereabouts.

After her death, they placed her body in a metal pot and set it on fire in the back of their vehicle, ensuring her body was fully burnt. The pot was then sealed, wrapped in cling wrap, and hidden under their kitchen stove in their flat.

Unraveling the Truth

In 2017, the Ministry of Education inquired about Umaisyah’s absence from school registration. The mother fabricated a story, claiming her estranged husband had taken the child to Malaysia.

Suspicions grew when Umaisyah’s uncle noticed the mysterious box in their flat, containing the remains of the young girl.

Umaisyah’s uncle decided to investigate further. Upon opening the box, he discovered the decomposed and wet remains, which were burned beyond recognition.

Shocked and horrified, he shared his discovery with his sister’s friends, who promptly reported it to the police. This discovery, more than five years after the girl’s death, finally brought the truth to light.

Following the discovery, authorities only managed to uncover her small bones and a tooth; none of her facial features or hands or feet could be identified.

Muhammad Farhan bin Mohammad, an Assistant Station Manager, found a lost 6-year-old girl at Mattar MRT Station, and went the extra mile to send the little girl to her school after she had lost sight of her older sister amongst the crowds at Bendemeer Station whilst on the way to school.

The girl didn’t know how to get to her school and only knew that she had to get off at Mattar Station, and that was when she approached Farhan for help.

Farhan later ascerttained and confirmed that her school was nearby, and accompanied the girl to her school because he was concerned for her safety, before handing her over to her teacher near the school.

SBS Transit’s statement on Facebook

Imagine the panic and fear six-year-old Gwen Tan felt when she lost sight of her older sister in the morning crowd at Bendemeer Station on their way to school.

Gwen only knew she had to get off at Mattar Station but wasn’t sure how to reach St. Margaret’s Primary School.

That’s when she approached Assistant Station Manager Muhammad Farhan bin Mohammad, who was more than willing to help!

After confirming with Mattar MRT Station that the school was nearby, Farhan was concerned about Gwen travelling alone and suggested accompanying her to school.

Together, they took a short ride to Mattar Station, with Farhan reassuring Gwen throughout the journey that she would soon be reunited with her sister.

Coincidentally, they met Gwen’s teacher near the school, and Farhan handed Gwen over to her teacher.

Kudos to Farhan for exemplifying our CARES service and going the extra mile to ensure Gwen’s safe arrival at school!

So, if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to approach our friendly station staff – they will assist you as best they can!

35-year-old personal finance content creator Seth Wee, known as Sethisfy, took to TikTok on a sunny Sunday morning, September 17, to share his intriguing experience of attempting to spend the new commemorative $10 coin marking the 100th birth anniversary of Singapore’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew.

He documented his attempts at trying to use the new coin at various stores, including popular chains like Starbucks and 7-Eleven.

Confusion at the Checkout Counter

As Seth Wee tried to pay with the coin at the counter, the cashiers in the video looked thoroughly perplexed and hesitated over accepting the unfamiliar currency.

A cashier at a supermarket appeared confused when she saw the coin and asked him what coin it was, before ultimately telling him “no lah, this one cannot”.

Wee then tried again at a 7-Eleven outlet and the staff was similarly confused, scrutinising the coin and asking him if it was a $10 Singapore coin before rejecting it.

A Closer Look at the Enigmatic Coin

Seth Wee, sensing the bewilderment of the cashiers, decided to offer them a closer look at the coin. Their responses were nothing short of amusing, as they exclaimed how nice the coin looked.

In the end, the man decided to pay for his purchases with his trusty credit card instead, as the novelty of the coin seemed too much for the cashiers to handle.

@sethisfy

7-11 guy so cute made exaggerated gestures so we can get more views 🥲

♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

Legal Tender

The Verdict of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), these unique coins are indeed legal tender and can be used to make payment for services and goods.

The aluminium bronze-made $10 coin boasts a portrait of Lee Kuan Yew on one side and Singapore’s iconic coat of arms on the other.

About 4 million of the coins were made and are available for collection from 4 September to 3 December, for the successful applicants.

Source: @sethisfy on TikTok

In a recent development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Sep. 18, 2023, that two Singapore Police Force (SPF) officers have been charged with the misappropriation of funds acquired from individuals under investigation.

Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jalil and Mohamad Danial Bin Mohamad Nazali, the two officers in question, have been interdicted from duty while receiving half-pay during the ongoing investigation.

The allegations against Mohamed and Danial stem from their alleged misappropriation of funds collected from individuals who were subjects of investigations. Both officers were accused of carrying out these unlawful acts while on official police duties.

The alleged incidents

Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jalil

Mohamed Bin Mohamed Jalil is alleged to have misappropriated restitution funds collected from an accused person over a period of four years, spanning from 2013 to 2017.

These misappropriations took place while he was investigating a case under his charge in 2012. His arrest occurred on Jul. 13, 2020, and he was subsequently interdicted from duty three days later on Jul. 16.

Mohamad Danial Bin Mohamad Nazali

Similar allegations were made against Mohamad Danial Bin Mohamad Nazali. He is accused of misappropriating restitution funds collected from accused individuals and proceeds of crime that had been seized.

Furthermore, Danial allegedly forged acknowledgment receipts on multiple occasions to create the appearance that the restitution processes were being followed diligently.

His arrest took place on Oct. 17, 2020, and he, too, was interdicted from duty three days later.

In a shocking revelation, it was discovered that Danial had also allegedly been moonlighting as a taxi driver while still being interdicted.

Additionally, he allegedly evaded parking charges on multiple occasions between Nov. 3, 2021, and Feb. 18, 2022.

Interdiction with Half-Pay

In response to a question posed by Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Hazel Poa, the Ministry of Home Affairs revealed that both Mohamed and Danial have been interdicted on half-pay during the course of the investigation.

The ministry also provided information that investigations into these two officers began on the day of their respective arrests, specifically, Jul. 13, 2020, and Oct. 17, 2020.

A 64-year-old cleaner in Singapore, Tamilselvam Ramaiya, was sentenced to 2 weeks imprisonment on Monday (18 September) after pleading guilty to an offence under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act.

Back in 2021, he was found to have Covid-19, and deliberately coughed in the direction of two colleagues. One of them had kidney issues and was undergoing dialysis at the time, according to The Straits Times.

A Not-So-Harmless “Joke”

Tamilselvam Ramaiya initially claimed that his actions were nothing more than a “joke.” However, the prosecution made it clear that this was no laughing matter.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sruthi Boppana emphasized the gravity of the situation, especially considering the backdrop of a fresh surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore at the time.

The Incident Unfolds

Tamilselvam, a 64-year-old Singaporean, was employed as a cleaner for the investment holding firm Leong Hup Singapore. On the fateful morning of October 18, 2021, he reported for work at the logistics office in Senoko Way with a runny nose.

An assistant logistics manager, concerned about his symptoms, asked Tamilselvam to take an antigen rapid test (ART). The test returned a positive result, prompting the manager to instruct Tamilselvam to go home immediately.

The manager then took the responsible step of informing the two colleagues about the cleaner’s condition. These colleagues were a 40-year-old male logistics supervisor and a 56-year-old female clerk, who had underlying heart and kidney issues.

However, instead of leaving the premises, Tamilselvam went in search of the assistant logistics manager.

The Shocking Act

The real shock came when Tamilselvam entered an enclosed, air-conditioned office where the two colleagues were present. It was around 10:30 AM when this incident occurred.

The logistics supervisor, well aware of Tamilselvam’s positive Covid-19 status, warned the driver accompanying him not to get too close. He also urged Tamilselvam to exit the office immediately.

What happened next was both alarming and reckless. Tamilselvam, wearing his mask initially, walked toward the office door and intentionally coughed into the room with his mask on. Shockingly, he repeated this act not once, but twice.

The clerk, seated near a window, was unfortunate enough to witness his actions up close. Tamilselvam opened the office window from the outside and coughed in her direction while maintaining his mask, although he was just an arm’s length away.

Unsurprisingly, the two colleagues were left in distress and immediately reported the incident to the assistant logistics manager, who promptly lodged a police report.

The Legal Consequences

On Monday, Tamilselvam Ramaiya faced the legal consequences of his actions. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sruthi Boppana urged the court to impose a sentence of three to four weeks’ jail, emphasizing that his actions demonstrated a wanton disregard for the safety of his colleagues.

Of particular concern was the female victim, a dialysis patient with cardiac and renal issues. She, understandably, was deeply alarmed by Tamilselvam’s reckless behavior, taking an antigen rapid test on herself soon after the incident to ensure her safety.

In his defense, Tamilselvam’s lawyer, Lee Wei Yung, pleaded for a fine instead of a jail sentence, citing his pre-existing heart condition and did not act out of malice towards the victims.