aseanpr

Man allegedly cheated companies of over $4m, conspired to dupe them of another $400k

aseanpr 22 7 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A 46-year-old man allegedly duped two companies into paying a total of more than $4 million to two other firms - one of which he was a partner. Hussain Naina Mohamed is also accused of conspiring with the director of a fifth company to trick the victim companies into paying more than $400,000 to it. Hussain and the director, 66-year-old Eldo Thottungal Mathai, were each charged with six counts of conspiring to cheat on Thursday (July 22). Both men are Indian nationals. Hussain faces another 20 charges - 18 of cheating and two of money laundering. He was an assistant shipping manager of engineering firm Utracon Structural Systems at the time of the alleged offences between June 24, 2009 and Jan 2, 2019. Hussain allegedly concealed that he was the registered partner of Al Rahman Enterprises and Trading, when recommending to Utracon Structural Systems and another related firm, Utracon Overseas, that freight-forwarding and marine insurance jobs be awarded to his company. He is said to have concealed that his father was the sole proprietor of another company, SM Enterprises, when recommending that Utracon purchase plastic components from it. His alleged actions resulted in t...

Wet markets, hawker centres, coffee shops go quiet on Day 1 of stricter Covid-19 rules

aseanpr 22 7 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The usual din was missing at wet markets, hawker centres and coffee shops as tighter Covid-19 safety rules kicked in on Thursday (July 22). When The Straits Times (ST) visited wet markets at Telok Blangah, Geylang Bahru, Amoy Street, Toa Payoh West and Potong Pasir in the morning, many fishmongers had closed their stalls. Stallholders have to receive a negative polymerase chain reaction test result before they can open for business. This follows the detection of Covid-19 cases linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster at several wet markets here. The cluster recorded a total of 454 linked cases as at Wednesday. Some of these markets have also made it mandatory for visitors to use the TraceTogether (TT) contact tracing app or token, among other stricter rules rolled out from Thursday. For instance, Geylang Bahru market has been fenced off with an orange plastic mesh, leaving only an entrance and an exit. At the entrance and exit points, a safe distancing officer was seen enforcing the use of TT to check into the venue. It was a similar set-up at two other wet markets that ST visited: Block 201C Tampines Street 21 and Telok Blangah Crescent Block 11 Market and Food Centre...

Queues continue on last day of collection for free DIY Covid-19 test kits

aseanpr 21 7 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Queues for free rapid antigen self-test kits continue to form at several venues across Singapore on the last day of their collection on Wednesday (July 21). The test kits are meant for individuals who had visited four markets and food centres - Cheng San Market and Cooked Food Centre, Chong Boon Market and Food Centre, Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre and Haig Road Market and Food Centre - in the last 14 days. They include residents living in the vicinity of these places. Distribution of the test kits had started on Tuesday at 22 community centres and residents' committee (RC) centres. Locations of these venues can be found at this website. The Straits Times understands that the centres will close at 6pm on Wednesday. There was a queue of about 20 people at Geyland Serai RC centre at around 10am on Wednesday (July 21) when ST checked the venue. The process was quick, with individuals taking about five minutes to receive their test kits. Resident Kolim Sim said that her neighbour had informed her about the collection. Ms Sim, who is waiting to receive the second shot of the vaccine, said she had not been to the Haig Road Market and Food Centre for several months. Cov...

Solidarity in River Valley High School incident shows we are fellow S’poreans: Chan Chun Sing in Racial Harmony Day post

aseanpr 21 7 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - In the wake of the alleged murder of a 13-year-old at River Valley High School, several religious groups have come forward to pray with the bereaved and for the well-being of students, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday (July 21). "These heartfelt gestures of solidarity, transcending race and religion, have brought light in our nation's hour of darkness. They embody the inherent understanding that before all else - we are fellow Singaporeans," he wrote in a Facebook post to mark Racial Harmony Day in the country. Schools, community groups and other politicians also took to the social media platform to commemorate July 21, a date set by the Ministry of Education since 1998 to remind students of the 1964 race riots and importance of racial harmony. The riots resulted in 36 deaths and injuries to 556 people. Mr Chan said the shared, multiracial Singaporean identity was not about the cultures of minorities being subsumed by the culture of the majority. "Neither is it about all of us giving up our own identities," he said. "Instead it is about building a shared and forward-looking identity based on a common set of values, with the foundation steeped in our r...

$18k fine for elderly man whose massage business offered sex services amid circuit breaker

aseanpr 21 7 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - An elderly man continued operating his massage business during the circuit breaker and it was found to offer sexual services. As part of a move to address the Covid-19 outbreak, non-essential businesses such as massage establishments were ordered to be shuttered during the circuit breaker period from April 7 to June 1 last year. Too Seng San, 81, was fined $18,000 on Wednesday (July 21) after he pleaded guilty to operating a business offering massage services without a proper licence. The Singaporean also admitted that he failed to ensure that one of his workers did not offer sexual services at its premises. Two other charges, including one under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act were taken into consideration during sentencing. This was his second conviction for offences linked to massage establishments. In 2019, he was dealt with in court after another business he had operated - Monte Aesthetic in Sims Avenue - was found to offer sexual services. Details about his earlier sentence were not revealed in court documents. At the time of his latest offences, Too was the owner of Tai Kang Yang Sheng TCM Therapy at the ground floor of Block 201, Hougang Street 21. The Sin...

SingPost issues Olympic sports stamps to celebrate Tokyo 2020 Games

aseanpr 21 7 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - SingPost will launch a commemorative set of six stamps featuring Olympic sports on Friday (July 23) to celebrate the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The stamps feature some of the sports that Singapore athletes will be participating in for the upcoming Games. These include swimming, shooting, sailing, diving, badminton and table tennis. The Olympic sports-themed stamps, which will be available from July 23, are priced between 30 cents and $1.40. Pre-cancelled first-day covers are at $6.05 and presentation packs at $7.10. The stamp set can be bought at all post offices, philatelic stores and online at SingPost's website. The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics will be held in the city in Japan from July 23 to Aug 8. Originally scheduled to take place last year, the event was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, making it the first time the Games have ever been postponed in history. This is Japan's second time hosting the Summer Olympics, with the first held in 1964. Japan has also hosted the Winter Olympics twice - in 1972 and 1998. This is the 18th time that Singapore is taking part in the Olympics since it first participated in 1948. This year, Singapore will be represented by 23 a...

Istana Open House on Aug 1 postponed amid tightening of Covid-19 measures

aseanpr 21 7 月

1 minute

SINGAPORE - The Istana Open House, slated for Aug 1, has been postponed, amid a tightening of pandemic measures here. The event was meant to celebrate National Day, and guests who had tickets for a previous scheduled open house on May 13 had been invited to return. That occasion - to mark Labour Day and Hari Raya Puasa - was cancelled due to a worsening Covid-19 situation then. "We apologise for any inconveniences caused," said the President's Office in a statement on Wednesday (July 21). The Istana has closed its grounds to the public since February last year due to the pandemic. The open house is popular among Singapore residents, with more than 12,000 visitors turning up on Jan 26 - the second day of Chinese New Year - last year. More on this topic Related Story NDP to continue as planned; Mindef to review scale of parade, safety measures Related Story Inside the Istana: An immersive guide to the President's official residence

Hari Raya Haji prayers a quiet affair at S’pore mosques, conducted with safe management measures in place

aseanpr 20 7 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - More than 18,000 people flocked to mosques across Singapore on Tuesday (July 20) for their congregational Hari Raya Haji prayers. It was a quiet affair compared with pre-pandemic times, when more than 66,000 congregants across the 66 mosques - 1,000 per mosque on average - here would mark the day. Prayers were conducted with full safe management measures in place. Nineteen mosques offered multiple zones of 50 spaces for congregants who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have undergone pre-event testing, while 47 mosques could only take 50 people in a single zone. Congregants had to make bookings online, since last Friday, to secure a space. At Al-Istighfar Mosque in Pasir Ris, 750 slots were snapped up in minutes, said its chairman Azman Mohd Ariffin. There were three sessions at the mosque, each with 250 people spread across five zones. The Straits Times visited the mosque and observed that two zones were designated for women. All five zones had separate entry points, walkways and toilet facilities. Congregants started to trickle in about 10 to 15 minutes before each session began. In the prayer zones, individual boxes were demarcated on the floor for each congre...

River Valley High School death: Early investigations suggest axe bought online, says Shanmugam

aseanpr 20 7 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - After a 16-year-old River Valley High School student was charged with murdering a schoolmate three years his junior on Tuesday morning (July 20), Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam posted about the incident on Facebook, calling it "one of the worst things that can happen to parents". "It's completely shocking because safety is assumed and normally (in Singapore anyway) assured," he wrote. "The attacker is also a young boy, (16), he has been charged today. As (the Attorney-General's Chambers) told the court, there is some history of mental health issues." Preliminary investigations suggest the 16-year-old had purchased the axe online, he said. "But we will know the full facts only after investigations are completed." The police had said on Monday that they had seized an axe at the school. The minister added: "We all grieve with the parents of the boy who was killed. It's difficult to even describe the true extent of their grief." The 16-year-old appeared in court via video link on Tuesday morning at about 10am and was accused of murdering the 13-year-old at a level four toilet in the school between 11.16am and 11.44am on Monday. The accused cannot be named as he ...

Action taken against 66 firms over Covid-19 breaches: MOM

aseanpr 20 7 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Enforcement action has been taken against 66 firms which did not comply with Covid-19 workplace safe management measures. This comes after the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) received more than 3,500 cases of feedback relating to workplace safe management measures. The ministry has been receiving such feedback since the start of phase two (heightened alert) on May 16, when employers were required to implement work-from-home as the default arrangement. All employees whose roles can be performed at home must do so. The most common violation of safe management measures at workplaces is failing to ensure that employees who are able to work from home do so, the ministry said, noting that companies which violate such measures can be fined, or even ordered to cease operations for serious breaches. First-time offenders can be fined up to $1,000 and repeat offenders up to $2,000. MOM reminded employees that they must also observe a safe distance of at least 1m when they are in office. Social gatherings at the workplace are not allowed, and employees must take their meal breaks individually and at staggered times. Clear safe distancing markers should also be placed at common areas to ...

River Valley High School student, 16, charged with murder of schoolmate, 13

aseanpr 20 7 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - A 16-year-old student from River Valley High School (RVHS) was charged with the murder of a fellow student, 13, in a district court on Tuesday (July 20) morning. The accused cannot be named as he is under 18 years of age. He appeared in court via video link to face one count of murdering the 13-year-old at a level four toilet in the school between 11.16am and 11.44am on Monday. The 16-year-old was in a red polo T-shirt and wearing a mask. His hair was dishevelled and his eyes darted around the room as the charge was read out. The accused, whose parents were not in court, was represented by lawyer Peter Keith Fernando. The prosecution asked that the accused be remanded at Changi Medical Centre (CMC) for psychiatric observation. The police prosecutor told the court that preliminary investigations revealed that the 16-year-old had been previously assessed at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in 2019 after he had attempted to commit suicide. He had been taken into custody for his safety, referred to IMH for assessment, then discharged, the prosecutor said. “Given the circumstances, we are submitting that he requires psychiatric evaluation,” said the prosecutor. Mr Fernan...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on July 20, 2021

aseanpr 20 7 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, July 20. River Valley High School death: How the day unfolded Several messages went out on social media as staff and students tried to make sense of what was happening. READ MORE HERE 10 more markets and food centres, 2 KTV clubs linked to Covid-19 cases: MOH Covid-19 self-test kits will be given to those who visited 4 markets in Geylang Serai, Ang Mo Kio and Haig Road. READ MORE HERE Links to KTV cluster, lax mask wearing behind Covid-19 spread at Jurong Fishery Port: Workers It is understood that a KTV hostess who recently tested positive for the virus had worked at the port. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Spike in Covid-19 cases raises disturbing questions, but also carries lessons for S'pore People who want to see more measures eased should first help convince any older acquaintances to get vaccinated, says Salma Khalik. READ MORE HERE Eateries in S'pore implement dine-in rules based on Covid-19 vaccination status in different ways With the onus falling on F&B operators to do the checking, many are setting their own policies. READ MORE HERE Wall Stre...

All quiet at markets, food centres as more Covid-19 cases are detected among stallholders and assistants

aseanpr 19 7 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Markets and food centres were quiet on Monday (July 19), following the detection of Covid-19 cases among stallholders and their assistants. Some of the wet markets The Straits Times visited were closed, as part of their regular weekly schedule. Those that remained open, such as Yew Tee Market and Hougang Village Wet Market, had their stalls selling seafood shuttered. Safe distancing ambassadors from the National Environmental Agency (NEA) were seen at some food centres, keeping a watchful eye over patrons eating there. Stallholders told ST that sales had dropped, expressing concerns that their businesses would suffer from lower footfall. Mr Noor Abdul Aziz, who sells chicken and mutton at Cheng San Market and Cooked Food Centre, said he had made almost no sales since opening at6am. "I usually rest on Mondays but decided to open today because it is Hari Raya tomorrow and people might want to buy meat. But I have had almost no business today," said the 74-year-old, who is fully vaccinated. Another stallholder, who wished to be known as Mr Koh, said his business has dropped by about 20 per cent since the market, which is located at Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10,was report...

Tesla sets up electric vehicle charging points in Orchard Central; condos may apply for grant to install chargers

aseanpr 19 7 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Users of electric vehicles (EVs) will have easier access to chargers soon as Singapore steps up its push to get more motorists to choose this less polluting option. Applications open this month (July) for a grant that subsidises the installation of charging points in non-landed private residences. Electric car maker Tesla has set up three charging points at the carpark located on the ninth level of Orchard Central. It will set up more in the coming months. Transport Minister S. Iswaran said on Monday (July 19) that Tesla's charging points were installed under a regulatory sandbox by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Mr Iswaran, who was speaking at a media event held by Sembcorp, said LTA launched the scheme this month to accommodate technologies that are on track to be included in Singapore's national charging standard. He said LTA has been engaging companies to submit specific sandbox applications for case-by-case assessment. Mr Iswaran said the Tesla V3 supercharger, which is only for Tesla vehicles, is expected to shorten charging time to 15 minutes. The grant to subsidise the installation of EV chargers in condominiums and other non-landed private residences will ...

Singaporean businessman charged with funding terrorist attacks in Syria

aseanpr 19 7 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean businessman has been charged in a district court with helping to fund terrorist attacks in Syria. Mohamed Kazali Salleh, 50, appeared in court via video link with a shaved head and a blank expression as three charges of terror financing were read out to him in Malay on Monday (July 19). The court heard that Kazali intends to plead guilty and is intending to get his own lawyer. He is currently detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). The prosecution asked that no bail be offered to Kazali as this would be "prejudicial to the security of Singapore" and "special arrangements" have been made to remand him. No bail was offered and Kazali’s case will next be heard on Aug 11. According to court documents, on three occasions between December 2013 and early 2014, Kazali allegedly provided money to a "Wan Mohd Aquil Wan Zainal Abidin" intending for the money to be used to facilitate terrorist acts in Syria. On one occasion, he is accused of handing over RM1,000 to Wan Mohd Aquil at a bus terminal in Johor Bahru. The other two occasions involve Kazali allegedly remitting US$351.75 and RM500 through Western Union in Singapore and in Malaysia respectively. Under...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on July 19

aseanpr 19 7 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Monday, July 19. Fencing, mandatory SafeEntry to be implemented at more markets amid rise in Covid-19 cases: MOH The added access control will better enable contact tracing to ring-fence cases, MOH said. READ MORE HERE Reduced capacity for physical sports and dance CCAs in schools; group sizes down from 5 to 2 MOE said group sizes should also be reduced from five to two people. READ MORE HERE Seniors not vaccinated against Covid-19 should stay at home as much as possible, go out for only essential reasons: Lawrence Wong By doing so, they will reduce risk of catching the virus and developing severe illness, he said. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 3 more markets and food centres, 4 more KTV clubs linked to Covid-19 cases Fishmongers at Haig Road Market and Cooked Food Centre, Jurong Central Plaza and Shunfu Mart are affected. READ MORE HERE Years 1-4 students at Raffles Institution, P2 pupils at Yangzheng Primary to be on HBL after positive Covid-19 tests A stall assistant at RI's school canteen tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. READ MORE HERE 'It’s terrify...

Business as usual at S’pore’s wet markets, but seafood in short supply

aseanpr 18 7 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Fishmongers at several wet markets around the island were closed but it was business as usual at meat and vegetable stalls as residents largely stuck to their regular Sunday grocery run. Crowds at Yuhua Village Market, for instance, formed long but orderly lines and observed social distancing when The Straits Times visited. Stallholder Mariati Rahim, 44, who sells halal beef, lamb and poultry, said business was brisk at her wet market stall. "This is because of Hari Raya Haji, and we are the only halal stall open now in this wet market," she said. The Muslim festival of Hari Raya Haji is on Tuesday, which is also a public holiday. Other stallholders, like the one selling pork and run by a lady who wanted to be known only as Madam Goh, said crowds were slightly better than they were on Saturday (June 17) likely because fishmongers there are all closed today, and people are less worried. However, Madam Goh, 69, said she is worried that someone in the wet market and food centre will test positive, and she would have to close. "If business is affected further, we just have to put up the white flag," she said. A 63-year-old sundry shop owner, who wanted to be known only as M...

KTV, Jurong Fishery Port Covid-19 clusters a reminder why everyone must get vaccinated, says PM Lee

aseanpr 18 7 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The recent large clusters of Covid-19 cases from the KTV lounges and Jurong Fishery Port are a reminder of the need to get everyone vaccinated, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. This is especially so for seniors who can become seriously ill if infected, he said in a Facebook post on Sunday (July 18). All of those working at Chong Boon Market & Food Centre in Ang Mo Kio will be tested and quarantined to prevent further spread of the virus, said PM Lee. He also urged all visitors to the market since July 3 to monitor their health closely and see a doctor immediately if unwell. The market and food centre at Block 453A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 has emerged as one of 12 markets with confirmed Covid-19 cases. It is likely linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster. "The most important way to keep ourselves safe is vaccinating everyone," said PM Lee. He added that Singapore is on track to reach the goal of fully vaccinating two-thirds of the population by National Day, which falls on Aug 9. "Meanwhile, please keep up our regular habits of wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining safe distancing. This will slow down the spread of the virus, and help to bring outbreaks like the...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on July 18

aseanpr 18 7 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, July 18. Businesses scramble for alternative supplies of fresh seafood as Jurong Fishery Port shuts over Covid-19 cases Consumers snapped up seafood amid growing concern over impending shortage after the Jurong Fishery Port was closed until July 31. READ MORE HERE S'pore's F&B operators fear falling into a deeper hole with new Covid-19 restrictions on dining in Some in industry say there’s not enough time to react, while others call for more government assistance. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 12 more markets and food centres linked to Covid-19 cases: MOH Most cases are fishmongers who came into contact with stallholders at Jurong Fishery Port. READ MORE HERE URA seeks ideas from Singaporeans for long-term land use plans The long-term planning review will focus on resilience, flexibility and inclusiveness. READ MORE HERE He's 34, she's 51: More couples in Singapore bridging the age gap Age gap is less of an issue now due to changing gender norms, say experts. READ MORE HERE A time to repair, build and make things better The Straits Times has seen its for...

ISD watching social media, gaming platforms for terror-related activity

aseanpr 18 7 月

1 minute

SINGAPORE - The online platform Roblox, popular with young gamers who assume avatars and play games similar to Minecraft, looks like any other online resource. But tucked behind the building blocks and make-believe scenes are advocates of far-right ideologies seeking followers. With children spending an inordinate amount of time online, especially on gaming, security observers are concerned that extremist groups may be espousing propaganda and indoctrinating young recruits through online platforms. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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