Terror attacks cannot be prevented totally, but what matters is never to stop trying and learning how to respond when they do happen, terrorism experts at the Milipol Asia-Pacific homeland security conference said yesterday.

They also told The New Paper that temporarily shutting down Hougang MRT station on Sunday after an unattended bag was found was the right move and not an overreaction.

Professor Alexander Siedschlag, who chairs the Pennsylvania State University’s homeland security programme in the US, said: “There can be no total homeland security if we maintain a value-based, democratic approach that doesn’t intrude on our privacy and freedom. Even then, we have (the problem of) limited resources.

“So what we can do is to improve the capabilities of our people in how they respond,” he told TNP, citing how the US has trained its people to treat injuries in the event of an attack.

He was among about 30 speakers at the trade conference, which brought together delegates and exhibitors from across the world to discuss and showcase homeland security issues and technology.

Referring to Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam’s comment that a terror attack “can take place any time, any place”, Professor Rohan Gunaratna, who heads the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said this is why Singapore should not take any chances if there is a sign of an attack.

Describing the closure of Hougang MRT station as appropriate, he said: “The security of Singapore is non-negotiable.

“Each terror attack is a failure of intelligence and a lack of public awareness. If the public is fully alert, no attack can take place.”

Mr Koh Hong-Eng, Huawei Enterprise Business Group’s global chief public safety expert, agreed.

Mr Koh, who was a policeman for 10 years, said it was vital that government agencies, private sector companies and the people work together to ensure public safety.

“The police can’t be everywhere. When an attack happens, it’s the first 10 minutes before they arrive that is crucial,” he said.

Prof Siedschlag said Singapore’s national service system is one key area in keeping citizens vested in the country’s public safety.

He also noted that Singapore youth are exceptionally savvy in using the Internet and the Government could look to tap on their potential to help detect and stop extremist ideologies from spreading online.

“Instead of warning everyone to be careful of extremist propaganda being spread online and pulling everyone back, you could use them to help fight against this.

“Every risk could be turned into an opportunity,” he said.

rloh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Apr 05, 2017.
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The mindsets and operation methods of terrorists are changing, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said yesterday.

“Terrorists are no longer interested in taking hostages,” he said.

“They want to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, and then keep a small number for reasons of publicity and getting international attention.

“So essentially… a terror attack can take place any time, any place, and they can attack and impact on anyone.”

Mr Shanmugam gave the warning during his opening address at the 2017 Milipol Asia-Pacific Conference at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

The three-day international homeland security trade conference, now in its seventh edition, involves international delegates and more than 270 security exhibitors.

On the changing nature of terror attacks, Mr Shanmugam said that nowadays, anything can become a weapon – from a knife to a car – as in the recent Westminster attack in London.

“How do security agencies deal with that kind of attacks? Assault by weapons, rifles, we can identify,” he said.

Focusing on the options, the minister said technology will play a critical role in counter-terrorism efforts.

This would involve collaboration with like-minded countries, the private sector and industry to develop smart technology and artificial intelligence and nurture a pool of technologically-savvy officers.

He said: “It is going to require a fundamental change in the way security agencies think and operate, because they have to keep trying to stay ahead of the terrorists.”

Mr Shanmugam also said that much more could be done using robots or automations to support enforcement officers in carrying out routine or even dangerous activities.

As Singapore progresses into a smart nation, more will need to be done to protect its infocommunications infrastructure, he added.

“The transport (system), communications and your work environment – all of that is now at risk. Really, you have to bulletproof the entire system, which is a massive undertaking,” he said.

APPS

Even crowdsourcing apps could play a role in the fight against terror, he said.

Citing the SGSecure mobile app, which has more than 380,000 users since its launch last September, he noted how it was used to alert residents near Hougang MRT station after its closure following the discovery of an unattended bag on Sunday.

Mr Shanmugam also said closing the station was “the right thing to do”.

After a station camera picked up someone leaving a bag behind and walking off, the “immediate response was to close the station down”, he said.

“There were questions as to whether we overreacted, but if it were really a bomb, then the question will be why we did not, so closing it was the right thing to do.”

rloh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Apr 05, 2017.
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The police arrested a 45-year-old woman after she lost her temper and started shouting and hitting staff in a optical shop at Tiong Bahru Plaza.

Her angry outburst was captured in a video clip that circulated on Facebook on Tuesday (April 4).

According to OWNDAYS, the incident took place on Monday evening.

In the video, the woman was seen flaring up at the store’s female staff for taking videos of her.

She then told them that she had “had enough” while she hit them. Her bracelet also flung off her wrist during the attack.

The woman demanded that the staff to retrieve her bracelet and even physically pulled one girl by her jacket.

The whole time, she called them “bloody idiots” and continued to hurl vulgarities at them.

OWNDAYS said in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening (April 4) that a shopper had gone into its store to hide from the agressive woman.

And despite the assault, its staff “maintained their professionalism” throughout the encounter, OWNDAYS said.

In the video clip, the person filming the incident could be heard telling a security guard that she didn’t know the woman and that “she just started hitting people for no reason”.

The enraged woman then threatened them to call the police, ‘black cats,’ and MP (Minister of Parliament).

Even when passers-by intervened, she did not calm down and continued to shout at the girls. She also attempted to hit them again.

One passer-by managed to get her to sit down by the end of the video and told the staff to call their manager and close the shop.

In its Facebook post, OWNDAYS said the safety and well-being of its staff have “always been a priority” after receiving messages from members of the public.

It also commended its staff “who stood up for others in this unfortunate incident” and said that it is seeking legal advice.

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SINGAPORE – An end to what has been a marathon trial could be in sight, with the six City Harvest church (CHC) leaders convicted of misappropriating millions in church funds due back in the High Court on Friday (April 7).

An outcome of the appeals by the six, including CHC founder and senior pastor Kong Hee, and the prosecution is expected to be delivered at around 9.30am.

At the close of a five-day appeal hearing in September 2016, Justice Chan Seng Oon had called the Crossover Project, a church mission that used the funds to fuel the pop music career of Kong’s wife Ho Yeow Sun, a “very extravagant” way of spreading the gospel.

The prosecution, which is calling for harsher sentences, said during the hearing that the six had not shown remorse for their actions.

Here’s a recap of Singapore’s largest charity financial scandal.

Read also: City Harvest Church leaders return to court for appeals

1. Who are the six church leaders?

Six church leaders were found guilty in October 2015 of misusing around $50 million in church funds. All six were handed jail terms of between 21 months and eight years in November.

Kong Hee, 52, CHC founder

Convicted of: Three charges of criminal breach of trust

Sentence: Eight years

Chew Eng Han, 55, former CHC fund manager

Convicted of: Six charges of criminal breach of trust and four charges of falsification of accounts

Sentence: Six years

Tan Ye Peng, 43 , founding member and deputy senior pastor

Convicted of: Six charges of criminal breach of trust and four charges of falsification of accounts

Sentence: Five and a half years

Serina Wee, 39, former CHC finance manager

Convicted of: Six charges of criminal breach of trust and four charges of falsification of accounts

Sentence: Five years

John Lam, 47, former CHC finance committee member

Convicted of: Three charges of criminal breach of trust

Sentence: Three years

Sharon Tan, 40, former CHC finance manager who took over from Wee

Convicted of: Three charges of criminal breach of trust and four charges of falsification of accounts

Sentence: 21 months

2. What did they do?

They were convicted of misusing church funds, in a project called Crossover, to further the music career of pastor-singer Ho Yeow Sun, the wife of Kong.

This was done by funnelling $24 million into sham bonds to bankroll Ms Ho’s career. The accused then misused a further $26 million to cover their tracks.

Read also: City Harvest accused, prosecution file appeals

3. How did it work?

The Crossover project was conceived by Kong as a way of spreading his church’s message through popular culture.

The project was initially funded directly by the church, but in 2003 church member Roland Poon alleged that the church’s building fund had been used to finance Ms Ho’s music career. Mr Poon later retracted the allegations and apologised.

Music production company Xtron was then set up to manage Ms Ho. It had its own directors, but it was allegedly Kong alone who made decisions regarding his wife’s music career and how much to spend.

When auditors raised concerns about Xtron, funds began to be directed to another company – glass manufacturer Firnas.

A total of $24 million was invested in bonds from Xtron and Firnas that were in fact used to fund the Crossover Project, the court found.

Another $26 million from church funds were later used to offset the bonds.

4. What is the prosecution calling for?

The prosecution had called for stiffer sentences than those passed.

They are appealing for sentences ranging from five to 12 years for the six.

Lawyers said that this move by the prosecution forced the defence to submit appeals for lighter sentences.

5. How long was the trial?

Criminal investigation into the case began in 2010.

The trial stretched over 142 days, from its start in 2013 to sentencing in November 2015. It is one of the longest criminal cases in history, beaten only by a drug trafficking case in the 1990s that went on for 168 days.

The case is also likely to be the costliest criminal trial here. Legal fees for the six church leaders could exceed $10 million, said lawyers.

This article was first published on April 4, 2016.
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Indonesian prosecutors on Tuesday (April 4) tendered fresh charges against Singaporean fishing boat captain Shoo Chiau Huat.

He was charged with sailing in Indonesia’s waters in April last year without a permit under the country’s shipping laws.

The move came even though he pleaded guilty in January and recently paid a 50 million rupiah (S$5,300) fine for entering Indonesia illegally for the same incident which led to his arrest.

Shoo did not enter a plea on Tuesday but he will have to decide whether to go to trial or plead guilty to the offences which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.

Read also: Singaporean boat captain charged in Indonesia

Shoo had seven Singaporeans and six Malaysians on board MV Selin when the boat was stopped by the Indonesian Navy on April 16 last year in Tanjung Berakit waters, off Bintan island.

The 50-year-old has been in remand for almost a year, even though he was acquitted of the original offence of illegal fishing in July last year.

This was because he was slapped with immigration offences after his acquittal for illegal fishing.

He decided to plead guilty to the charge of entering Indonesia illegally in January and paid the fine last month in hope of being released – but he now faces what he fears would be another long trial.

His extended detention prompted Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to send a diplomatic note to their Indonesian counterparts late last year.

The MFA in a statement on Tuesday after the hearing said that it was deeply concerned over the long-drawn judicial process against Shoo and his prolonged detention in Indonesia.

The ministry said it has been in constant contact with the Indonesian authorities since Shoo’s detention to ensure that he is accorded his due legal rights under Indonesian law.

“The Singapore Government respects the laws and judicial process of Indonesia in connection with Mr Shoo’s case, but remains deeply concerned over his prolonged detention and long-drawn judicial process,” said the MFA spokesman. “We will continue to reiterate to the Indonesian authorities that Mr Shoo’s case be processed expeditiously, so that he can return to Singapore without further delay.”

MFA also said its officers from the Singapore Consulate in Batam will continue to render all necessary consular assistance to Shoo and his family.

It also reminded Singaporeans operating pleasure crafts, recreational fishing vessels and yachts, as well as Singaporeans engaging in business activities in Indonesia, to familiarise themselves with Indonesian laws and the judicial process.

This article was first published on April 4, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – Two of her son’s friends are not only abusing drugs – they had even invited her 18-year-old boy to join them in smoking cannabis, said Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio GRC).

He “sensibly declined” the offer, she said in Parliament on Tuesday (April 4).

Dr Intan also revealed how one of her son’s polytechnic mates has been smoking cannabis in school and how another friend of his – an ITE student – was caught smoking the drug.

“While he (the ITE student) is undergoing follow-up checks through routine urine tests, he continues to take synthetic weed, which he claims cannot be detected through the urine tests,” she said, adding that the drug abusers are quite nonchalant about their habit and seem to think it is no big deal.

Dr Intan was among several MPs who debated in Parliament over a motion tabled by Mr Christopher De Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) to strengthen the fight against drugs in Singapore, as she urged the authorities to do more in schools.

“While I must state that these are only two of his many friends who otherwise lead drug-free and healthy lives, I am calling for the CNB (Central Narcotics Bureau) , the police, the Health Promotion Board, and our institutes of higher learning to go all out to stop such drug use and abuse in our educational institutions, even if the numbers are small and seemingly insignificant,” she added.

Several MPs also warned against an international trend of legalising drug use, with Dr Intan decrying what she labelled as “callous” claims by some pro-cannabis proponents that small amounts of cannabis use is perfectly alright.

She said these proponents also claim there are medical conditions such as glaucoma or Parkinson’s disease that can be managed through daily doses of cannabis or marijuana.

Said Dr Intan: “We would also need the help of medical professionals and research experts to verify such claims, and more importantly to curb the incorrect perception that small doses of drug use on a daily basis is perfectly fine.”

In his speech on Tuesday, Mr De Souza also warned of how cannabis is growing in popularity in Singapore, citing recent figures from the CNB.

He pointed out that the amount of cannabis seized for first six months last year was almost the same amount seized for the whole of 2015. He also said that in 2015, for the first time, cannabis became the second most commonly abused drug in Singapore.

Mr De Souza stressed that cannabis can be a gateway drug to heroin and cocaine, especially among young abusers, and also that using cannabis as rare as once a week may irreversibly lower one’s IQ.

“Compared to the general population, there is a four-fold higher risk of mortality among those with cannabis-use disorder,” he added.

“So you want to call cannabis soft? To do so is plain foolish.”

This article was first published on April 4, 2016.
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