Man who stole e-vaporisers to sell for profit is one of eight prosecuted by HSA
SINGAPORE - A 23-year-old man hatched a scheme with two others to steal electronic vaporiser pods from a delivery man so they could resell the illicit items for a profit. But it all went up in smoke when the delivery man called the police and the trio were caught. Justin Yeo Kiong Swee was sentenced to two weeks' jail and a fine of $2,000 on Oct 27. His accomplices' cases are pending. Yeo was one of eight people prosecuted by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) between July and October this year for the illegal sale of e-vaporisers and components. The youngest offender was aged 19. More than $70,000 worth of e-vaporisers and components, which they bought from abroad and sold online, were seized from them. The eight offenders were fined $57,000 in total. The 19-year-old, Tang Wee Meng, was arrested by a police officer while trying to smuggle the goods across Woodlands Checkpoint. He had been selling e-vaporisers on messaging platform Telegram. Tang was sentenced to 15 months' probation in July for his offences. Another offender, Yew Chee Sian, 32, was caught trying to smuggle more than 7,000 pieces of e-vaporisers and components through parcel post to sell them. Of the eight, Yew wa...
13 people convicted for illegal online sale of e-vaporisers
SINGAPORE - Thirteen people were convicted for selling electronic vaporisers, or e-vaporisers, and their related components illegally online, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Wednesday (July 28). They were convicted in Court from March to June. A total of $164,500 in fines was handed out. Electronic vaporisers are battery-operated devices that deliver vaporised nicotine for users to inhale. They come in the form of e-cigarettes, e-pipes and e-cigars. Those convicted were between 20 and 40 years old. HSA noted that they had purchased the e-vaporisers and related components from overseas suppliers and sold them illegally on various local social media and e-commerce platforms. "HSA conducts active surveillance on these platforms and will take enforcement actions against those who buy or sell such products online," it said. More than $20,000 worth of e-vaporisers and related components have been seized. One of the offenders, Goh Yew Teck, 40, was fined $13,000 in May for offences relating to importing, advertising and offering to sell e-vaporisers, related parts, and e-liquids with nicotine. He was also selling unregistered medicine like cough syrup and sleeping pills, by bu...
Man jailed and fined $61,000, one of 8 found guilty of selling e-vaporisers online
SINGAPORE - Eight people were prosecuted for selling electronic vaporisers and related items in Singapore between November 2020 and February this year. Goods worth more than $50,000 were seized from them. The eight, aged 26 to 41, whose cases were unrelated, were fined a total of $172,500, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Monday (April 5). The highest penalty of one week's jail and a fine of $61,000 was meted out to repeat offender Akmal Syafiq Marzuki, 33. He had bought the illegal items from suppliers overseas and sold them through four accounts on online platforms Instagram and Carousell. His activities were detected and disrupted by HSA officers. E-vaporisers, which include e-cigarettes and e-cigars, are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid containing nicotine to produce a vapour which is inhaled. Another online seller, Sarah Davinia Ng See Mun, 32, was fined $11,000 for selling e-vaporisers on Carousell and Whatsapp. She advertised the devices as "Shisha Time Disposable Electronic Hookahs" which came in flavours such as menthol, blueberry and grape. Interested buyers would message her on the platforms. She operated the business with her husband, who assisted i...
Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Jan 22
Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Friday, Jan 22. 3 new Covid-19 cases in BS Industrial & Construction Supply cluster for a total of 7 The new patients included the wife of the cluster's first case and another of the firm’s employee. READ MORE HERE Help is on the way: Biden unveils Covid-19 plan but says US death toll could top 500,000 next month Biden’s plan includes mounting an aggressive vaccination campaign, requiring masks on interstate travel and international travellers to quarantine. READ MORE HERE Singaporean music director behind J.Lo's performance at US President Biden's inauguration Mr Lenny Wee produced, arranged, orchestrated and directed the songs for Lopez's segment. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Joe Biden's inauguration sends a message of resilience His inaugural speech, stressing unity, tolerance and humility, drew praise across the political spectrum. READ MORE HERE Fighting the unknown: Covid-19 task force co-chairs Gan Kim Yong, Lawrence Wong sum up challenges These included dealing with uncertainty and implementing their ideas. READ MORE HERE Malaysia extends Covid-19 movem...
Licences suspended for eight retailers who sold cigarettes to underage buyers
SINGAPORE - Eight tobacco retailers have had their licences suspended for selling cigarettes to underage buyers between July and September. Caught for selling tobacco products to persons below the age of 20 by the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) ground surveillance and enforcement team, the outlets will not be allowed to sell tobacco products for six months as it was their first offence. The eight retailers are Sin Tong Hong Eating House, Fresh Foods Supermarket, G& G Gambas, HNH, Happy Grocer Trading, Reshmi Mini Mart, Superluck Food Court and U Stars Supermarket, the authority said on Wednesday (Nov 11). The current minimum legal age to use, possess or buy tobacco products is 20 years old. It will be raised to 21 years old from Jan 1, 2021. "All tobacco retail licensees are reminded to educate their employees on the law pertaining to the sale of tobacco products and for sellers to verify the age of those who wish to buy tobacco products," HSA said. Those caught selling tobacco products to underage buyers can be fined up to $5,000 for the first offence and up to $10,000 for the second or subsequent offence. Their tobacco retail licence will be suspended for six months for the fi...
20-year-old among 14 charged for selling electronic vaporisers online
SINGAPORE - From June to August 2020, 14 people were charged for selling electronic vaporisers (e-vaporisers) and related items in Singapore. More than $50,000 worth of goods were seized from them, and they were fined a combined total of $255,500. All 14 cases were unrelated. The youngest offender, aged 20, was sentenced to a 15-month supervised probation, while the rest were fined between $5,500 and $47,500. Aged between 20 and 43, the offenders bought e-vaporisers and related accessories from suppliers overseas and sold them illegally on social media and e-commerce platforms, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a statement on Monday (Nov 9). E-vaporisers, which include e-cigarettes and e-cigars, are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid containing nicotine to produce a vapour which is then inhaled. E-vaporisers and accessories seized from the peddlers. PHOTO: HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY HSA said that the offenders were caught as part of its cyber-surveillance and enforcement activities against to the illegal import and sale of e-vaporisers and related accessories in Singapore. From 2018 to today, HSA has prosecuted 35 people for selling e-vaporisers and related accesso...