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Articles by David Sun
askST: What are deregistered vehicles, and why are they a problem?
SINGAPORE – The fatal Tampines crash on Oct 29 involved a blue Audi that ploughed through the road divider and slammed into a motorcycle and another car along Tampines Avenue 12, killing the motorcyclist and his pregnant wife who was riding pillion. Although the Audi driver and his passenger fled the scene, they were arrested the next day. The driver, Muhammad Zulfiqar Abdul Aziz, 30, was handed nine charges on Oct 31, including one for using a deregistered vehicle.
Man charged in Telok Blangah murder taken back to crime scene
Suspect brought back to murder scene at 57 Telok Blangah Heights on Nov 2. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Gabriel Foong Shi Cheng, 32, was taken back to Block 57 Telok Blangah Heights on Nov 2, where he is accused of killing Tham Nam Poh, 73. Police received calls for help on Oct 5 after a bloodied man ran to a coffee shop; Tham was found motionless and later declared dead. Foong surrendered to police, was charged on Oct 7, and is remanded. Murder carries the death penalty.
Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society opens new campus in Bras Basah-Bugis arts district Original
SINGAPORE - The new campus of the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) was officially opened on Oct 31. Located at 250 and 252 Middle Road, the opening also marks 77 years for the non-profit Indian cultural organisation. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was the guest of honour at the event, said SIFAS has come a long way and has contributed much to Singapore’s cultural life. He noted how its first classes in 1949 involved just six students meeting in a private home.
Fatal Tampines crash: Driver charged with fleeing scene where 2 people died
SINGAPORE - The driver who fled the scene of the Tampines crash that killed a motorcyclist and his pregnant wife was charged on Oct 31.
Police arrest driver, passenger who fled from Tampines crash that killed motorcyclist, pregnant wife
Police arrested the Audi driver and his female passenger after a Tampines crash that killed motorcyclist Mohd Emirul Danial Mohd Zulkifly and his pregnant wife, Nursyarafana Norazman. The 30-year-old driver will be charged on Oct 31 with dangerous driving causing death and eight other offences, including using a deregistered car and driving while disqualified. Police said he fled after the crash and did not help the injured.
Autism therapist fined for dragging 4-year-old boy onto floor
SINGAPORE – A behavioural therapist was fined after she dragged a boy with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, from a chair onto the floor. Tricia Lee Hsien, 29, was fined $5,000 on Oct 28 after pleading guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt to a person below 14. She was employed by Autism Recovery Network Singapore in January 2024. The next month, she was assigned to conduct lessons with the four-year-old boy in his home.
2 weeks’ jail for man who agreed to take blame for uncle’s driving accident
SINGAPORE – When asked to take the blame for a driving accident his uncle said caused a “minor” injury to a person, Ng Inn Kiat, 42, agreed and made a police statement to that effect. But Ng later came clean to the authorities after realising the accident was more severe than described by his uncle. On Oct 28, he was jailed for two weeks after pleading guilty to one count each of obstructing the course of justice and giving false information to the police.
Jail, caning for account mule who vandalised police toilet with vulgarity and anti-police slogan
SINGAPORE - An account mule who vandalised a toilet at Ang Mo Kio Police Division Headquarters was sentenced to six months’ jail and three strokes of the cane on Oct 27. Emirqhul Haqiem Mohamed Fadil, 24, was also fined $1,000. He pleaded guilty in September to vandalism and selling a bank account that was later used for crime. Another two charges for handing over the login details of the account and possessing obscene films were taken into consideration for sentencing.
Man charged over Prinsep Street knife attack that left two injured
A 24-year-old man, Jabez Gunasekaran, was charged over a knife attack at Club Vendetta in Prinsep Street that injured two men. Police said one victim, aged 36, had cuts to his head, forearm and wrist, while a 25-year-old had a cut on his left forearm. He faces a charge of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon and may get double jail time because he was under a police supervision order.
LawSoc council gets 4 new members after election
SINGAPORE – The Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) Election 2027 saw four new members elected to the council, while two current executive committee members were dropped. It was held on Oct 22 amid ongoing police investigations into matters raised in a report by LawSoc’s audit committee.
The tragically short life of Trevor Neo
Trevor Neo Yu Hin was born on Dec 9, 2023. His parents, Neo Jia Ming, 24, and Chloe Gan Ci Xuan, 20, had married just four months earlier. But little Trevor did not live to see his first birthday, having suffered abuse at the hands of his parents within weeks of his birth. On one occasion, his mother shook him so violently that his fragile neck was bent almost 180 degrees against his little body. On another occasion, his father squeezed his tiny hands so hard that he was left with a purple bruise.
Young Singapore bodybuilder died from taking illicit drug to lose weight: Coroner
SINGAPORE – His parents had plans to open a gym for him to pursue his passion for bodybuilding. But in his pursuit of his goals, the 20-year-old polytechnic student had turned to an illicit drug that ultimately killed him. On Oct 16, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda found that the youth, who cannot be named due to a gag order, had taken 2,4-Dinitrophenol, or DNP.
Company director jailed for role in corruption case involving DSO National Laboratories
SINGAPORE - A company director who indirectly bribed a staff member of DSO National Laboratories was sentenced to 10 months and two weeks’ jail on Oct 16. Jason Chua Aik Leng, 67, previously pleaded guilty to one charge of abetting the corrupt giving of gratification. He was the senior executive director and shareholder of Wah Loon Engineering (WLE).
Man jailed for offering bribe to site manager to illegally dump 10 lorries of chicken compost in Tuas
Kee Yuet Ting, 40, the director of KYT Transport, was sentenced to five days’ jail on Oct 15 after he pleaded guilty to a corruption charge. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG KYT Transport director Kee Yuet Ting, 40, was jailed five days for trying to bribe a man so he could dump 10 lorry loads of chicken compost illegally in Tuas. Kee collected compost from two egg farms, then offered $50 per lorry load to use a site near an NEA waste facility after a vegetable farm refused it.
Teen conspired with ‘John Wick’ to launder money for Malaysian syndicate
The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to three charges on Oct 14. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG A 19-year-old Singapore teen helped a Malaysian syndicate launder money after taking orders from a Telegram user called “John Wick”. He and a friend withdrew $19,000 from six ATMs and passed it to an unknown “money changer” for cash commissions. He was also involved in a Tampines fight over a girl, and the court sentenced him to reformative training for at least a year.
Teen conspired with ‘John Wick’ to launder money for Malaysian syndicate
SINGAPORE – A teen who helped launder money for a Malaysian syndicate on the instructions of a person with the nickname “John Wick” has been sentenced to reformative training for at least a year. The 19-year-old cannot be named as he had committed some of the offences before he turned 18. On Oct 14, he pleaded guilty to three charges – conspiring to access a computer to commit theft, transferring benefits from crime, and being in the company of a person with a karambit knife.
‘My wife is gone, I need to be strong for our daughter’: Husband of Singaporean lost in Nepal floods
October 14, 2026 SINGAPORE – When his wife went missing in the Nepal floods on Aug 26, he hoped that she would have somehow survived and return safely. But Selvaganesh, who wanted to be known only by his first name, says he has since accepted that his spouse, Shalinny Deavy, is gone. Said the 43-year-old: “There were many people who contacted me saying they believed she would come back safe. But I know she is gone.
‘My wife is gone, I need to be strong for our daughter’: Husband of S’porean lost in Nepal floods
SINGAPORE – When his wife went missing in the Nepal floods on Aug 26, he hoped that she would have somehow survived and return safely. But Selvaganesh, who wanted to be known only by his first name, says he has since accepted that his spouse, Shalinny Deavy, is gone. Said the 43-year-old: “There were many people who contacted me saying they believed she would come back safe. But I know she is gone.
National Youth Council mistakenly leaks personal data of 600 SG Youth Forum participants
SINGAPORE – The names and NRIC numbers of about 600 participants of the SG Youth Forum were mistakenly sent to a private e-mail address by the National Youth Council (NYC). Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo said the incident on Aug 25 was caused by a human error, and NYC is now looking to strengthen safeguards for its data handling processes. He was responding to a parliamentary question from Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang GRC) on Oct 7.
Gambling regulator fines Singapore Pools, MBS and RWS total of $275,000 for non-compliance
SINGAPORE – The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has fined Singapore Pools, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) a total of $275,000 for non-compliance. In its annual report released on Oct 6, GRA said Singapore Pools had inadvertently allowed a self-excluded person to place bets, breaching licensing conditions under the Gambling Control Act. MBS and RWS had breached the Casino Control (Advertising) Regulations, which restrict gaming promotions and activities.
News report on Israeli meeting in May to discuss death penalty in S’pore is false: Shanmugam Original
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - Claims by a news outlet that an Israeli security delegation visited Singapore and discussed the death penalty with Singaporean officials were false, said Senior Minister K. Shanmugam. And while a direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) has not been issued, it does not mean it cannot be issued later should circumstances change, he added.
News report on Israeli meeting in May to discuss death penalty in S’pore is false: Shanmugam
SINGAPORE – Claims by a news outlet that an Israeli security delegation visited Singapore and discussed the death penalty with Singaporean officials are false, said Senior Minister K. Shanmugam. And while a direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) has not been issued, it does not mean it cannot be issued later should circumstances change, he added.
‘Not the time to go soft’: Shanmugam signals tough laws for young scam mules after High Court ruling Original
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - New laws will be introduced soon to ensure deterrent sentences on those who facilitate scams regardless of age, following a recent High Court ruling that gave young scam mules probation and community sentences. The legislation will make clear that the court’s ruling in that case is not to be followed, said Senior Minister K.
First Kpod smuggler sentenced under Misuse of Drugs Act jailed 3 years and caned
On Feb 6, officers found two packages labelled as laundry detergent powder that contained the two vapes and over 200 Kpods. PHOTO: HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY Png Swee Sheng was sentenced to three years' jail and five strokes of the cane for smuggling over 200 Kpods and consuming etomidate, an anaesthetic used in e-vapourisers. Etomidate was temporarily classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in September 2025 to combat its abuse, previously regulated under the Poisons Act.
1 dead, another injured at Telok Blangah; man arrested: Police
SINGAPORE - A 32-year-old man will be charged on Oct 7 with killing a 73-year-old man following an incident at Telok Blangah Heights on Oct 5. The police said in a statement they received calls for assistance near Block 61 Telok Blangah Heights at about 6pm. When they arrived, a 73-year-old man was found lying motionless at the scene, while a 53-year-old man was injured at the ground floor of the block. Both men were taken to Singapore General Hospital, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
First Kpod smuggler jailed 3 years and caned, after being caught with over 200 pods
On Feb 6, officers found two packages labelled as laundry detergent powder that contained the two vapes and over 200 Kpods. PHOTO: HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY Png Swee Sheng was sentenced to three years' jail and five strokes of the cane for smuggling over 200 Kpods and consuming etomidate, an anaesthetic used in e-vapourisers. Etomidate was temporarily classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in September 2025 to combat its abuse, previously regulated under the Poisons Act.
AI humanoid robots to be deployed with Home Team officers by 2028: Edwin Tong Original
SINGAPORE - Hazmat, prison and forensics officers will soon have new teammates in the form of humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. These robots are to work alongside Home Team officers in real operational settings by 2028, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong. Speaking at the launch of the Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC) in One-North on Sept 30, he said the aim is to support, not replace officers.
AI humanoid robots to be deployed with Home Team officers by 2028: Edwin Tong
SINGAPORE – Hazmat, prison and forensics officers are set to have new teammates in the form of humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. These robots are to work alongside Home Team officers in real operational settings by 2028, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong. Speaking at the launch of the Home Team Humanoid Robotics Centre (H2RC) in one-north on Sept 30, he said the aim is to support, not replace officers.
Drug arrests at checkpoints surge by over 50% in 2025 as ICA, CNB ramp up operations
SINGAPORE - The number of drug arrests at the checkpoints have surged, with the authorities saying drug traffickers have been trying new ways to avoid detection. On Sept 29, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said they made 975 drug-related arrests at the checkpoints in 2025, which is an increase of about 53% compared to 635 in 2024.
Singapore Red Cross commits another $2m for Nepal flood aid; public campaign has raised over $6.2m
The floods that swept through parts of Tibet and Nepal on the morning of Aug 26 have taken more than 1,450 lives. PHOTO: REUTERS The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has committed an additional $2 million to aid Nepal flood victims, focusing on winter essentials like warm clothing, food, and hygiene products for vulnerable groups. The floods in Nepal and Tibet on Aug 26 killed over 1,450 people and left more than 5,700 missing, with many families losing breadwinners and children traumatised.
Jail for man who stopped lorry on PIE and opened door, causing motorcycle and car to crash
On Sept 24, Chua, 54, was jailed for six weeks and disqualified from driving for three years. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG A lorry driver abruptly stopped on the PIE and opened his door, causing a motorcycle and car to crash during morning rush hour, injuring the motorcyclist, pillion and car driver. The lorry driver, Chua Thiong How, initially denied opening the door but later admitted lying out of fear; he was jailed for six weeks and disqualified from driving for three years.
Singapore Home Team uses NVIDIA’s latest AI chips to supercharge public safety robots Original
SINGAPORE - A future where firefighters tackle chemical plant blazes alongside hazard-sensing robots is one step closer to reality, as Singapore’s Home Team deploys NVIDIA’s latest artificial intelligence chips to supercharge its robotic capabilities. The Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) is the first organisation in Singapore to deploy NVIDIA’s latest GB300 chip, which was commercially available in the first half of 2026.
3.6m ‘shell pages’ on Facebook, Instagram found primed for scams after S’pore police tip-off: Meta
SINGAPORE – The pages lie dormant, appearing silent, empty and harmless with no advertisements or harmful posts. But in an instant, scammers could make millions of them come to life, orchestrating massive scam campaigns across Facebook and Instagram to trick thousands of unsuspecting victims. With information from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Meta, the parent company of the two social media platforms, took action against 3.64 million such “shell pages” in July.
Payroll system of mosques, madrasahs hit by ransomware; staff details potentially compromised
SINGAPORE - The payroll system of mosques and madrasahs overseen by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has been hacked and held for ransom, The Straits Times has learnt. The SmartHRMS human resource (HR) system is supplied by Singapore-based software vendor Avelogic. The latest cyber security incident notice on Avelogic’s website, which was last updated on Sept 14, stated that threat actor activity was first detected on Aug 30 and 31. Avelogic did not name the customers affected.
Online account mules face jail under new anti-scam laws; online harms order fine up from $1m to $10m Original
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Those who supply online accounts on Carousell, TikTok, Telegram and Meta’s platforms to criminals will face potential jail time under new anti-scam laws. The Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill was passed on Sept 9, making it an offence to provide one’s personal details for the creation of such accounts, and to supply or buy such accounts for crime.
Government open to using chemical castration to tackle sex crimes if proven effective: Shanmugam Original
Senior Minister K. Shanmugam said the Government takes a serious view of sexual crimes and imposes stiff penalties, especially when the victims are minors. PHOTO: ST FILE The Government is open to chemical castration if proven effective in reducing sexual crimes, but current evidence is inconclusive, said Minister Shanmugam. Singapore enforces heavy penalties for sexual offences against minors, including long jail terms and caning, with recent laws enhancing protection.
Government open to using chemical castration to tackle sex crimes if proven effective: Shanmugam
SINGAPORE – The Government is open to considering measures including pharmacological anti-androgen treatments, also known as chemical castrations, if it is clear these are effective in bringing down crime rates. Home Affairs Minister K.
New laws give SCDF powers to target suppliers of non-compliant bomb shelter products Original
SINGAPORE - Errant laboratories, suppliers and installers of non-compliant bomb shelter products will be liable under new offences. The Civil Defence Shelter and Fire Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill was passed on Sept 8. Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming said while the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has not observed any non-compliance regarding shelter products, the changes are anticipatory.
More than $1.3 million in auction bids for luxury items seized in $3b money laundering case
SINGAPORE - Potential buyers registered over $1.3 million in auction bids for luxury items seized in the $3 billion money laundering case. The items are being put up by local auction house Hotlotz in a series of 15 timed, online-only auctions. The first two in the series, featuring luxury handbags and accessories in one, and fine jewellery in the other, were opened for bidding at 10am on Sept 7.
Singapore must never allow prejudice against any community to become accepted or normalised: PM Wong
[SINGAPORE] The Republic must never allow prejudice against any community to become accepted or normalised, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Singapore has held together because it has consistently rejected attempts to divide it along racial or religious lines, and chosen instead to recognise one another as fellow Singaporeans, he said in a post on Facebook on Sep 6.
黄总理：新加坡绝不能允许对任何社群的偏见被接受或正常化
【新加坡】总理黄循财 (Lawrence Wong) 表示，我国绝不能允许对任何社群的偏见被接受或正常化。 他在 9 月 6 日的一篇 Facebook 帖子中表示，新加坡之所以能保持团结，是因为它一贯拒绝基于种族或宗教路线分裂国家的企图，并选择承认彼此都是新加坡同胞。 他敦促新加坡人坚守国家信约的理想——“不分种族、言语、宗教”，并表示：“我们必须继续做出这样的选择。” 他指出，总会有人试图利用新加坡的差异，但国家如何回应则取决于新加坡人自己。 他补充道，虽然无法阻止网上的每一条仇恨言论，“但我们可以拒绝这类观点，不给它们更多的空间或合法性”。 他是在回应网上出现的反印言论。此前，尼泊尔发生毁灭性洪水，导致九名新加坡人至今失踪。在新加坡航空公司 (SIA) 投资 Air India 一事上，也出现了类似的评论。 Get insights into businesses across South-east Asia Get the free report 黄总理表示，虽然新加坡可以也应该有激烈的辩论，但不应将看似合理的论点作为掩护，来煽动对任何社群的偏见或对外国人的敌意。...
Missed classes, extended holidays: Passengers stranded after Mount Anak Krakatau disruptions
SINGAPORE - Indonesian student Zafran Aiman Kamil was all ready to fly from Jakarta to Singapore ahead of his first day of school at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. Instead, the 17-year-old was left trying to work out how to get there after his Singapore Airlines flight on Sept 6 was cancelled following the closure of Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Missed classes, extended holidays: Passengers stranded after Mount Anak Krakatau disruptions
Follow our live coverage. SINGAPORE - Indonesian student Zafran Aiman Kamil was all ready to fly from Jakarta to Singapore ahead of his first day of school at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. Instead, the 17-year-old was left trying to work out how to get there after his Singapore Airlines flight on Sept 6 was cancelled following the closure of Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Missed classes, extended holidays: Passengers stranded after Mount Anak Krakatau disruptions
SINGAPORE – Indonesian student Zafran Aiman Kamil was all ready to fly from Jakarta to Singapore ahead of his first day of school at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. Instead, the 17-year-old was left trying to work out how to get to his destination after his Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight on Sept 6 was cancelled following the closure of Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
‘How we respond is up to us’, says PM Wong as he calls on S’poreans to reject hateful comments
In a Facebook post, PM Wong was addressing anti-Indian comments that have emerged online following the devastating floods in Nepal. PHOTO: ST FILE PM Lawrence Wong urges Singaporeans to uphold the ideals of the National Pledge and reject hateful, racist comments online, especially following recent anti-Indian sentiments. Senior Ministers K. Shanmugam and Lee Hsien Loong condemn racist and xenophobic remarks, with police investigating and authorities demanding removal of such content from platforms.
Singapore gives Nepal $560,000 humanitarian assistance package
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang (left) symbolically hands over a humanitarian assistance (HA) package to Nepal’s honorary consul in Singapore, Helen Campos, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tanglin on Sept 4. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Singapore handed over a $560,000 humanitarian aid package to Nepal to support flood search and recovery efforts after devastating flash floods.
TikTok removes AI images of S’poreans missing in Nepal floods for spreading misinformation
SINGAPORE - A widely seen post on TikTok with AI images of Singaporeans missing in the Nepal floods has been removed after it violated the platform’s guidelines. The post uploaded on Aug 31 contained AI-generated photos of four of the nine missing Singaporeans, alongside real photos of three of the other missing Singaporeans. The Straits Times ran a story on the post on Sept 1, and TikTok removed it the next day.
Over $3 million raised for Nepal-China flood relief in Singapore Red Cross drive
Children walk among buildings impacted by a glacial flood near the Nepal-China border that killed hundreds, in Trishuli Bazar, Nuwakot, Nepal, on Aug 31. PHOTO: EPA Over $3 million has been raised by the Singapore Red Cross for Nepal-China flood victims. Flash floods on Aug 26 caused over 1,200 deaths and 4,200 missing, including nine Singaporeans.
Nepal flood: S’pore police getting DNA samples from relatives of missing S’poreans to identify bodies
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is collecting DNA samples from the next-of-kin of the nine Singaporeans still missing in the Nepal floods. Their DNA profiles will be sent to Nepal, where the authorities are doing DNA testing on recovered bodies. The nine missing Singaporeans have been identified as Rengarajan Prabu, Shalinny Deavy Elan Sozan, Subramaniam Diraviam, Rajesvaran Ayyavoo, Estee Loeh, Ghosh Aditi, Ng Kit Kuen, Shubakshi Rawla and Sumit Rawla.
Nepal flood: AI images of missing S’poreans may hinder rescue ops, says Singapore Red Cross
SINGAPORE – As search efforts continue for the nine Singaporeans missing in the Nepal floods, deceptive AI-generated photos of them are spreading across social media. In a TikTok post on Aug 31, the fake photos are shared alongside real ones, leaving social media users none the wiser. The post has already garnered over 140,000 views and close to 300 comments. Such images may hinder rescue operations, diverting attention away from credible information, said a Singapore Red Cross representative.
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