A 71-year-old woman, Chan Chui Yoke who fell into an uncovered drain and subsequently sued the Holland Village – Bukit Panjang Town Council for more than $60,000, citing negligence, has lost her case, according to The Straits Times.

The town council said in its defence that Madam Chan’s fall was the only such accident that they knew of in the past 20 years.

Chan blamed the town council for her fall into an uncovered part of the drain, saying that it was the town council’s fault for not properly cleaning the drain and she couldn’t tell the difference between the drain covers and the dirty drain.

She also alleged that the town council had been negligent by failing to cover the drain or warning residents to not cross the drain.

The town council said that they owed a duty of care to Madam Chan but didn’t breach the duty of care, adding that the drain was not a means of access to the turfed area, and that there were pavements and walkways that the woman could have used instead.

District Judge Teo Guan Kee said in his judgement:

“Having regard to the limited likelihood of a person falling into the uncovered perimeter drain and suffering a significant injury, and balancing that against the consideration that the perimeter drain was left uncovered for a cogent and supportable reason, consistent with a practice commonly adopted by town councils, I am of the view that the defendant did not fall short of the duty of care which it owed to the plaintiff.”

Recap

A 71-year-old elderly resident who lives in Bukit Panjang, is suing the Holland Village – Bukit Panjang Town Council for compensation after falling into an uncovered drain, citing negligence for failing to cover the drain.

She suffered a severe rupture of her left foot ligaments and broke her right middle finger during the unfortunate incident.

The accident took place on 8 February 2021 at Block 276 Bangkit Road at Bukit Panjang, according to Lianhe Zaobao.

She elderly woman was on the ground floor watering her plants that day and was returning home when she fell into the drain that was not covered, resulting in her injuries.

She blamed the town council for failing to ensure the safety of public areas and allegedly sought compensation worth more than $60,000 for her medical and transport fees.

Town Council’s response

The town council has since denied all accusations of negligence, and highlighted the flaws in the elderly woman’s argument.

After the division of the constituency back in 2001 and the TC taking over matters relating to maintenance, some drain covers were removed to facilitate cleaning and to check for breeding mosquitoes.

They added that given the resident’s stay in the area for more than 30 years, she should be familiar with the area.

They added that since the woman was maintaining the illegal plants she had there, she should’ve been aware of the drains.

Singapore Customs arrests two men and seizes 1,600 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes

Singapore Customs arrested two male Singaporeans, both aged 23, and seized 1,600 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in an operation on 17 February 2023.

Case information

In an operation conducted at a car park in Jurong East Street 24, Singapore Customs officers conducted checks on two men and a van, and uncovered 1,600 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Both men were arrested.

Investigations revealed that one of the men was allegedly engaged by an unknown person to collect and deliver duty-unpaid cigarettes using the van. He then allegedly engaged the other man to assist him in the collection and delivery of the duty-unpaid cigarettes.

The duty-unpaid cigarettes and the van were seized. The total duty and Goods and Services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $216,040 and $18,660 respectively. Court proceedings are ongoing against both men.

Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Vehicles used in the commission of such offences are also liable to be forfeited.

Members of public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-2330000 or email [email protected] to report these illegal activities.

Singapore Customs
21 February 2023

The Singapore Police Force said in a press release that a 53-year-old man was arrested for his alleged involvement in several cases of theft.

He had allegedly stolen from the vicinity of Chinatown and Kampung Bahru between 11 November last year to 14 February this year.

He was later arrested on Monday (22 February) and was charged in court yesterday with theft in dwelling.

Singapore Police Force’s statement

MAN ARRESTED FOR A SERIES OF THEFT CASES

The Police have arrested a 53-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of theft cases.

Between 11 November 2022 and 14 February 2023, the Police received multiple reports of purportedly stolen property in the vicinity of Chinatown and Kampung Bahru.

Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from Central Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 20 February 2023. The man is believed to be involved in other similar cases of theft.

The man will be charged in Court on 21 February 2023 with theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term up to seven years and a fine.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
20 February 2023 @ 9:15 PM

64 YEAR OLD MAN ARRESTED FOR OUTRAGE OF MODESTY

The Police have arrested a 64-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of outrage of modesty at Raffles Place MRT Station.

On 31 October 2022 at about 12.10pm, the Police were alerted to an incident where a woman was purportedly molested by a man while she was on the escalator at Raffles Place MRT Station. The man was subsequently arrested at the scene by responding police officers.

The man will be charged in court on 21 February 2023 with outrage of modesty, punishable under Sec 354(1) of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term which may extend to three years, or a fine, caning, or any combination of such punishments.

The Police have zero tolerance towards sexual offenders who threaten the safety of the community. Offenders will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The Police would also 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
20 February 2023 @ 4:50 PM

FOUR PERSONS CHARGED FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO OBSTRUCTING INVESTIGATIONS AND FORGING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF TWO FOOTBALL CLUBS

The Commercial Affairs Department (“CAD”) has completed investigations into the police report lodged by SportSG in April 2017 which alleged, amongst others, the misuse of funds by Tiong Bahru Football Club and a purported attempt to obstruct audits of football clubs that did not participate in the S-League in2017. Four individuals, aged between 33 and 50, have been charged on 21 February 2023 for offences relating to obstructing. Police investigations and forging the financial statements of two football clubs.

The details of the charges are as follows:

Kaw Lai Fong
Kaw Lai Fong was the General Manager of Tiong Bahru Football Club and the Treasurer of Woodlands Wellington Football Club at the material time. She has been charged under Section 204A of the Penal Code[1] for obstructing CAD’s investigations by concealing her mobile phone from the CAD and lying about the whereabouts of the said mobile phone.

[1]Chapter 224, 2008 Revised Edition.

Gary Tan Eng Chin and Sng Kian Peng (Sun JianPing)
Gary Tan Eng Chin was the former chairman of Woodlands Wellington Football Club. Both he and Sng Kian Peng (Sun JianPing) are directors of ESW Holdings Pte Ltd. They have both been charged under Section 204A read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, for engaging in a conspiracy to obstruct CAD’s investigations by instructing their staff to replace all the hard disks in their computers, with the intention of preventing CAD from having access to them.

Lau Chee Yoong
Lau Chee Yoong was an audit assistant of audit firm, M/s Chan Leng Leng & Co., who had audited the financial statements of both Woodlands Wellington Football Club and Hougang United Football Club at the material time. He has been charged for two counts under Section 465 of the Penal Code, for forging the financial statements of both football clubs for the financial year that ended in 31 December 2015, by fraudulently affixing the signature of the firm’s sole proprietor, Chan Leng Leng, in the independent auditors’ report of the said financial statements.

The offence of obstructing, preventing, perverting, or defeating course of justice under Section 204A of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, a fine, or both. The offence of forgery under Section 465 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to four years, a fine, or both.

After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case as disclosed by investigations, and with the concurrence of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, there will be no further action taken against other individuals in respect of the other matters reported in the Police report, which include, the alleged misuse of funds by Tiong Bahru Football Club and the purported attempt to obstruct audits on clubs who did not participate in the S-League in 2017.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
21 February 2023 @ 11:35 AM