Between February 25 and March 10, 2022, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven Police Land Divisions undertook a two-week operation against scammers.

Between February 25 and March 10, 2022, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven Police Land Divisions undertook a two-week operation. A total of 158 males and 78 women, aged 14 to 72, are now assisting in investigations for their alleged involvement in scams, money mules.

They are believed to be involved in over 787 scam cases

Types of scams they are investigated for:

• Internet love scams
• e-commerce scams
• business email impersonation scams
• China/Government Officials impersonation scams
• investment scams
• job scams
• loan scam

where victims lost more than $5.1 million

Penalties:

The suspects are being investigated for the alleged offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. If found guilty it carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.

The offence of money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes carries an imprisonment term not exceeding 10 years, a fine not exceeding $500,000, or both.

The offence of carrying on a business to provide any type of payment service in Singapore without a licence under Section 5 of the Payment Services Act 2019 carries a fine not exceeding $125,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding three years, or both.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a Facebook post earlier today that the Omicron wave seems to have peaked and started subsiding.

He then urged people to keep their guard up while planning family activities, and to continue to stay safe, with the March school holidays upon us once again.

Here is PM Lee’s Facebook post

It seemed like it was only last week when the new school term started, but here we are already sliding into the March school holidays.

I hope students and parents will have the chance to spend some time together, perhaps exploring our green spaces, or visiting our museums and attractions. Do continue to observe SMMs.

Though the Omicron wave seems to have peaked and started subsiding, we must keep our guard up while planning family activities.

Continue to stay safe, and to all students, have a good break in the week ahead! – LHL

(Children enjoying the nature playgarden at Admiralty Park / Photo by me)

Reaffirming Ong Ye Kung’s statement

PM Lee’s Facebook post comes following Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung’s statement earlier this week that there are indications that Omicron infections have peaked and are starting to subside.

Image source: Lee Hsien Loong Facebook

MP Koh Poh Koon, posted a video of himself speaking in parliament, saying that some have asked if Singapore still needs Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS).

He explained that the VDS was implemented to protect the unvaccinated and to minimise the infection risk for those who are ineligible for vaccination.

He also shared some data, that non-fully vaccinated adults who are infected with Omicron are up to 18 times more likely to require ICU care.

They are also 38 times more likely to die from the infection.

Here is his Facebook statement

With our high vaccination and booster rates, some have asked if we still need Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS).

We first implemented VDS to protect those who are unvaccinated, especially those who are ineligible for vaccination, to minimise their infection risk. This remains important today.

I shared some key data yesterday in Parliament. Compared to vaccinated and booster adults, non-fully vaccinated adults infected with the Omicron variant – which supposedly is milder than Delta – are:

• up to 18 times more likely to require ICU care; and

• 38 times more likely to die from COVID-19 infection.

During the recent Omicron wave, the 3% of adults who were partially vaccinated or unvaccinated contributed to 20% of our ICU cases, occupied two-thirds of our ICU beds, and made up about 30% of those who passed away.

Vaccination remains key to keeping us safe.

Images source: Koh Poh Koon Facebook and Btcprox via Wikipedia Commons

The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) announced on 11 March that with effect from 15 March onwards, travelers entering Singapore via the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) or are coming from Category 1 area, will be able to take a non-supervised ART test.

This will replace the current requirement for travelers to take a supervised self swab ART test, with the results needing to be submitted online through Sync.gov.sg within 24 hours, according to CNA and Today.

These incoming travelers will need to submit their results before they can go on with their activities in Singapore.

The new ruling applies to fully vaccinated travelers coming from Category 1 areas such as China, Taiwan, Macau and etc; as well as those entering Singapore via VTLS such as the US, Australia and etc.

They are still required to take a pre-departure test within 2 days before their flight for Singapore.

MOH said that the new ruling is in response to the numbers of imported infections staying very low over the last weeks, making up just 1% of total daily cases.