A 28-year-old Bangladeshi man died in Singapore 21 days after receiving his Covid vaccination back in July 2021.

His death has since been ruled by the state coroner to be likely related to the vaccination, and the Singapore Ministry of health will be providing the deceased’s family with financial assistance of $225,000 under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme.

MOH’s press release on state coroner’s findings

STATE CORONER’S FINDING ON DEATH RELATED TO COVID-19 VACCINATION

17TH FEB 2023

The State Coroner has ruled on 15 February 2023 that the death of a 28-year-old Bangladeshi male, who passed away 21 days after COVID-19 vaccination, was a medical misadventure. The cause of death was certified as myocarditis. The State Coroner also found that on the balance of probabilities, it was likely to be related to COVID-19 vaccination.

2. Under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme provided by the Ministry of Health (MOH), a one-time financial assistance of $225,000 will be extended to his family. MOH is working with the Ministry of Manpower to extend assistance to his family and facilitate their application.
3. He received his first dose of Moderna/Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine on 18 June 2021, and passed away on 9 July 2021 after collapsing at his workplace earlier that day.
4. To date, more than 17 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Singapore through the National Vaccination Programme, and this is the first death related to COVID-19 vaccination locally.
5. According to the latest vaccine safety update by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), the incidence of myocarditis remains rare with reporting rates of 0.1 per 100,000 doses (or 0.0001%) for the bivalent vaccines; and 1.1 per 100,000 doses (or 0.0011%) for the primary vaccination series of the monovalent vaccines.
6. As a precautionary measure, since September 2021, vaccinated persons are advised to avoid strenuous physical activity or exercise for two weeks after vaccination to mitigate the potential risk of myocarditis. Persons with chest discomfort, abnormal heartbeats or any other symptoms that arise after vaccination, should seek medical attention promptly. This will enable early diagnosis and appropriate medical management of any rare severe adverse events that may occur after vaccination.
7. MOH, the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination and HSA will continue to monitor vaccine-related serious adverse events closely.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
17 FEBRUARY 2023

Source: MOH

A Singapore driver was seen in a video circulating online, filling up plastic containers with petrol at a petrol station in Johor Bahru, and he then kept them in the boot of his car.

The netizen who took the video and posted it, said in mandarin (translated): “This behaviour, is it considered stealing or smuggling? I just want to ask, if I want to report it, I’m just doing my duty as a good citizen. Aiya, I forgot to ask him if he wants to be famous.”

The netizen posted a video of the incident, showing the driver stowing away plastic containers of petrol into his car boot.

The man was seen at the beginning of the video, appearing to have finished pumping petrol into a huge jerry can, before going to the back of his car holding a filled container in each hand.

he then wrapped plastic bags around the filled containers of petrol, before stuffing them into his car.

Need to be declared

According to the Singapore Customs website, “there is no duty-free concession and GST relief on motor fuel including motor spirits, diesel products and compressed natural gas (CNG) in containers.“

Travellers who bring them into Singapore will have to declare the goods at the customs checkpoint.

Netizens’ comments

1. Haiyah !!! Why so kaypoh ?!?! Last time I go camping/fishing at very remote beach. Use small generator for lights, charge HP, and for other eqpt. So need to tapao petrol. Normal maaa….
2. Very normal, some car owners even can’t afford to pay for the parking and just park anywhere they want

I signed up for a Citibank Credit Card last year. I spent $6800 on 4 November last year. Around that time, I called their hotline to enquire how to make payment. I was advised by them that no action was needed as I was on GIRO and there was more than enough funds too.

On 7 January 2023, a lady from the credit department called to ask me the settle the payment and I told her to call me back as I’m very busy serving a customer. I’m a florist and was very busy during those festive seasons.

On 19 January, the same lady called again and I requested to speak to a manager as I wanted to settle this amicably and for all the wrong informations given that caused the unnecessary delay but was told that they do not have any manager nor refused to put me through to a senior person. No one bother to call me back since then.

I kept receiving private number calls. By early February, I was harassed by more than 249 private calls that I have to block them. Up to 20-30 calls a day. Citibank are now saying that those calls may not be from them.

Even if these calls are not from them, my spending was on 4 November and payment should be due in December 2022.

Merely around a month on 26 January 2023, I was threatened with a lawyer letter from them demanding immediate payment by the next day and an extra of $671.95 for late and interest charges and this exclude legal cost. I felt very threatened and insulted!

This is worst than loan shark and dept collectors.

A manager wilfully called me on 14 February 23, Valentine’s Day, knowing well it’s a busiest day on earth for a florist, wanting to update me on this.

CITIBANK, you gave me the wrong information and now you threatened me!

This is highly unprofessional and unacceptable. This is how a big bank works?

The SCDF’s Operation Lionheart contingent who were deployed to Turkey to assist with the rescue operations of earthquake victims, returned home on the morning of 18 February.

They were welcomed like heroes at Changi Airport Terminal 3, and were even greeted with flower garlands by the ministers.

SCDF’s statement

On 8 February 2023, SCDF deployed the Operation Lionheart (OLH) contingent to Türkiye to assist in disaster rescue efforts in the aftermath of the Türkiye-Syria earthquake.

The OLH contingent, comprising 68 members and four canines, had safely returned to Singapore early this morning (18 Feb).

The contingent members were received by Mr K Shanmugam Sc, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State (MOS) for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development, and His Excellency Mehmet Burçin Gönenli, Turkish Ambassador to Singapore at Changi Airport.

Families and loved ones were also present to warmly welcome them home.

In his welcome address, Minister Shanmugam commended the OLH contingent for their unwavering efforts in conducting extensive search and rescue operations across multiple rescue sites in Türkiye.

He also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the families and loved ones for supporting the contingent members during their 10-day deployment.

On behalf of Türkiye, His Excellency Mehmet Burçin Gönenli thanked the OLH contingent for rendering assistance to the communities affected by the earthquake. He also acknowledged the contingent members for carrying out a safe and successful mission.

To our Lifesavers, thank you for your commitment and dedication to service. Welcome home!

SCDF would like to express our appreciation to Singapore Embassy in Ankara and the İstanbul Airport for the assistance rendered to the OLH contingent’s deployment in Türkiye.

We would also like to thank Singapore Airlines, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Changi Airport, and Turkish Airlines for facilitating the contingent’s flight and logistical arrangements on short notice.

The help that has been provided to us has been pivotal in supporting the OLH contingent’s deployment to, and return from Türkiye.

Two former Keppel Fels employees, 64-year-old Tan Seng Cheh and 72-year-old Wong Kok Seng, were fined on 17 February for accepting bribes from a steel supplier in the form of overseas holidays to China, Japan and Italy.

Tan, a former senior sub-contract manager and assistant general manager was fined $85,000 and given a penalty of $3,672.35; while Wong, a former senior general manager of group procurement, was fined $15,000.

Tan pleaded guilty to one count of accepting a bribe, with 3 other charges being considered during his sentencing, while Wong pleaded guilty to 1 count of accepting a bribe.

CPIB’s previous statement

Two Former Employees Of Keppel Fels Ltd And Another Individual Charged For Corruption

On 6 January 2023, three individuals were charged in Court for allegedly committing offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. They were:

a) Thong Chee Kong (“Thong”) (湯志光, 53-year-old male Singaporean), Regional General Manager of Corus South East Asia Pte Ltd (“Corus SEA”) at the material time.

b) Tan Seng Cheh (“Tan”) (陈新星, 64-year-old male Singaporean), Senior Sub-Contract Manager and Assistant General Manager of Keppel Fels Ltd (“Keppel Fels”) at the respective material time; and

c) Wong Kok Seng (“Wong”) (黄國誠, 72-year-old male Singaporean), Senior General Manager (Group Procurement) of Keppel Fels at the material time.

Allegedly misleading Keppel Fels

2. On or around 4 March 2008, in Singapore, Thong was alleged to have knowingly given Tan a quotation from Blue Steel Pte Ltd made to Keppel Fels to purchase its scrap steel which was not intended to be a genuine offer. Sometime between 4 March 2008 and 9 April 2008, Tan was alleged to have knowingly used the said quotation in his bid analysis. These were allegedly done with the intent to mislead Keppel Fels into selling scrap steel to Corus SEA.

Allegedly giving and accepting gratifications

3. In 2007, Thong allegedly paid for Tan’s trip expenses to Italy, amounting to S$20,636.50. Further, in or before 2008, Thong allegedly paid another S$17,360 and Japanese Yen 1,240,080 for Tan’s expenses for two other trips to Japan. These were allegedly gratification that were corruptly given to Tan as an inducement for advancing the business interest of Corus SEA with Keppel Fels.
4. Earlier in 2006, Thong also allegedly paid for Wong’s and his wife’s expenses for a trip to China, amounting to S$5,850. This was allegedly gratification that was corruptly given to Wong as an inducement for advancing the business interest of Corus SEA with Keppel Fels. In 2008, Thong left Singapore. He returned only in 2022 and was arrested upon entry into Singapore.
5. For their alleged offences, the three individuals face the following charges:

a) Thong Chee Kong

i. One charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act; and

ii. Four charges for offences punishable under Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

b) Tan Seng Cheh

i. One charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act; and

ii. Three charges for offences punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

c) Wong Kok Seng

i. One charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

6. Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence under Section 6 of the Prevention of Corruption Act can be fined up to S$100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years or both.
7. Companies are strongly advised to put in place robust procedures in areas such as procurement and internal audit to prevent falling victim to corrupt acts by their employees. Guidance for companies on measures to prevent corruption can be found in PACT: A Practical Anti-Corruption Guide for Businesses in Singapore, which is available on CPIB’s website. Companies are also strongly encouraged to obtain certification under the Singapore Standard (SS) ISO 37001 – Anti-Bribery Management Systems, which is designed to help companies implement or enhance an anti-bribery management system to reduce corporate risk and costs related to bribery.

A 27-year-old man was arrested for suspected possession of cloned payment cards and the equipment to make the cloned cards.

The Singapore Police Force said on 17 February that they received a report on 7 February about a cloned metal card being used to make a cash withdrawal at an ATM machine.

The identity of the culprit was then established through follow-up investigations by the officers from the Commercial Affairs Department, and he was arrested on 16 February.

The man is believed to have copied payment card details from the magnetic stripes of more than 60 original payment cards, then encoded the information into blank metal cards that he bought online.

He also removed and transferred the Visa, Mastercard, and Europay chips onto the blank metal cards.

The police seized a laptop, 2 notebooks, an assortment of blank metal cards, an engraving machine, a card encoder, a point-of-sale reader machine and some cloned metal cards from him.

If convicted of possessing a machine and equipment that has been made to create false instruments, he faces a jail term of up to 5 years and/or a fine.

If found guilty of possessing forged valuable security, he faces a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine.