The Police have arrested a 34-year-old man for his suspected involvement in online sales of counterfeit goods.

On 29 August 2022, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department conducted an enforcement operation at multiple premises along Yishun Ave 11 and Gambas Crescent, resulting in the arrest.

During the 14-hour operation, more than 4,100 pieces of purported trademark-infringing goods comprising wallets, pouches, bags and cosmetic products, with an estimated street value of more than $206,000 were seized. Police investigations are ongoing.

Under the Trade Marks Act 1998, the offence of selling or distributing goods with falsely applied trademarks carries a fine up to $100,000, an imprisonment term of up to five years, or both.

The Police take a serious view of intellectual property rights infringement and would like to remind the public that the distribution and sale of counterfeit goods are serious offences. The Police will not hesitate to take tough action against perpetrators who profit at the expense of legitimate businesses and consumers.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 August 2022 @ 11:19 PM

30-year-old Tan Chee Kiat, a former Certis Cisco officer, was fined $2,500 on 31 August after pleading guilty to causing grievous hurt after he caused a vehicle accident at the Istana on 23 August last year.

He had raised the bollards from the ground without noticing an oncoming car, and caused the driver to crash into the metal bollards.

As a result, the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Chee Wee Kiong, and his driver Mr Abdul Latif Karim, sustained multiple injuries.

The incident also happened during US Vice President Kamala Harris’ official visit to Singapore last year.

What happened?

Tan was deployed to a security post at the Istana on 23 August 2021, and he was tasked with operating the bollards in the ground, that are raised to block access to cars.

The Permanent Secretary For Foreign Affairs, Chee Wee Kiong, was being driven by Abdul Latif Karim after clearing the security checks.

Tan then raised the bollards at about 9.15am, failing to notice that a vehicle had yet to pass through the bollards, resulting in the car crashing into the bollards.

The car in question was travelling at about 10km/hr at the time, and the driver Abdul Latif said that he was unable to stop the car in time despite seeing the bollards being raised.

Abdul Latif and Chee both suffered multiple injuries, with the latter suffering multiple fractures that included a broken sternum and tooth.

He was hospitalised for 2 days.

Abdul Latif sustained a sternum fracture as well, and a contusion o his left knee and was hospitalised for one day.

The Central Narcotics Bureau issued a reminder to Singaporeans that consumption and use of cannabis overseas is a crime.

This is after Thailand legalised the use of cannabis and delisted it from their narcotics lis.

“(Under) the Misuse of Drugs Act, any Singapore citizen or permanent resident found to have consumed controlled drugs outside Singapore will also be liable for the drug consumption offence.”

CNB also added that checks are regularly done at various checkpoints, and those convicted of drug consumption face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $20,000.

CNB spoke to the Straits Times saying that the liberal drug laws in some countries were brought about by a strong push by parties with vested interests and intense lobbying.

They (CNB) also rejected the notion that cannabis is a soft drug with medical benefits, saying that studies have shown that cannabis is addictive and harmful.

They also added that cannabis edibles like cakes, are irresponsibly marketed as harmless consumables.

The Ministry of Manpower said in a press release that all full time local workers that are hired by companies that employ foreign workers, must be paid at least $1,400 per month, under a new local qualifying salary requirement that takes effect from today (1 September).

Ministry of Manpower’s statement

1.     From 1 September 2022, 197,000 full-time lower-wage workers will benefit from new Progressive Wage moves. This includes the new Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) requirement, and the introduction of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for retail workers, as well as for in-house cleaners, security officers and landscape workers. Including workers in the cleaning, security, landscape, and lift & escalator sectors, a total of 221,000 full-time lower-wage workers will benefit from these Progressive Wage moves.

2.       This milestone is part of the broader set of Progressive Wage moves announced by the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers last year.  

New Progressive Wage Moves from 1 September 2022

3.      Firms that employ foreign workers must pay all their full-time local workers at least the LQS of $1,400. A total of 159,000 full-time lower-wage workers who are not in PWM sectors will benefit from this new LQS requirement, and be assured that their wages will not fall below $1,400. Part-time local workers will also benefit from this new LQS requirement, as they will need to be paid at least $9 in gross wages per hour.  

4.      The Retail PWM will be implemented to raise wages, spur training, and improve the productivity of full-time lower-wage retail workers. About 19,000 full-time retail workers will benefit, with the entry-level PWM wage growing 18% over a three-year period.

5.     The PWM for Cleaning, Security and Landscape sectors will be extended to encompass in-house workers. Currently, the PWMs for these sectors only apply to outsourced workers. The extension of these PWMs to cover in-house workers will mean thatworkers who undertake the same job roles as outsourced workers, such as those employed in-house by hotels, facility management firms, food services firms and other businesses, must be paid at least the PWM wage corresponding to their respective job roles. This move will benefit about 19,000 full-time lower-wage workers.

Progressive Wage requirements for employers

6.       Employers are required to assess if their workers are performing a job role covered by a PWM by referring to the PWM job descriptions on MOM’s website. They should update and submit their workers’ PWM job roles, if any, through MOM’s Occupational Employment Dataset (OED) portal.

7.       During the first six months, from September 2022 to February 2023, tripartite partners will focus on educating employers on the various Progressive Wage requirements. Employers will be given time to adjust and comply. Employers who do not comply with the requirements during this transitional period will not face enforcement action.

8.      To support employers as they adjust to the Progressive Wage requirements, the Government is co-funding the wage increases given to lower-wage workers through the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme. The PWCS will run for five years from 2022 to 2026. The Government’s co-funding support for 2022 wage increases was recently enhanced from 50% to 75% for wages up to $2,500, and from 30% to 45% for wages above $2,500 up to $3,000. Employers are urged to use this period of support from the Government to accelerate firm-level productivity improvements, so that the wage increases remain sustainable for employers in the long run.

Continued support for lower-wage workers

9.       To foster a more inclusive society and ensure no worker is left behind, the Government will continue to build on tripartite efforts to uplift lower-wage workers. The Progressive Wage Mark, which recognises eligible firms that pay Progressive Wages, will be launched by end 2022. More lower-wage workers will also be able to benefit from the Food Services PWM and Occupational Progressive Wage which will be implemented from March 2023. We encourage all employers to continue supporting their lower-wage workers to upskill and upgrade.

Alexander Lee Jia Jun, a 23-year-old Singaporean man, was arrested on 28 August for raping a Russian woman in India, according to a report by Mothership.

He had reportedly raped the victim on 26 August in Manali, a resort town that is popular with backpacking tourists in the Indian Himalayas.

According to Ajit Weekly News, Lee is being accused of raping a 38-year-old Russian woman who was staying at the resort with her mother.

Gurdev Chand Sharma, the Superintendent of police, said that the victim had reported that Lee had assaulted her after calling her to his hotel room.

She had befriended the 23-year-old man a few days before the alleged rape and had been at the resort town since April, according to The Hindustan Times.

Lee was on a tourist visa at the time and arrived in July.

He is currently in police remand until 2 September after standing before a local court on Monday, and at the time of writing, the embassies of Singapore and Russia have been informed and investigations are ongoing.