Along Telok Ayer Street, shophouses have lined narrow lanes for more than a century.

The terraced structures, which once housed provision shops on the ground level and cramped quarters above, have been converted into bars and bistros which serve workers from nearby offices.

With the bustle of activities that permeates the street daily, it is almost easy to miss the cream-coloured building. Make no mistake though, the Al-Abrar Mosque has an unwavering presence.

Built in 1827, it has stood the test of time, even as its neighbours have changed. The mosque began as a small thatched hut, and was nicknamed Kuchu Palli – “hut mosque” – in Tamil. “It was where the Chulia or South Indian immigrants gathered to pray,” said Mr Mohamed Sulaiman Mohamed Arif, the mosque’s secretary.

The Chulias were among Singapore’s earliest immigrants. They worked as traders and money changers in Chinatown, hence the mosque’s other nickname: Chulia Mosque.

The hut was upgraded into a brick mosque over five years from 1850 and underwent a series of major renovations more than a century later. Today, it has expanded to take the space of three shophouses.

Flanked by two large minarets, the main entrance leads past a five-foot-way and up some steps into the main prayer hall.

Former postman Hasan Kutus recalls raised platforms at the entrance where worshippers would gather in their free time.

“This was where the thinnai (raised platforms) used to be,” said the 69-year-old retiree, pointing to the steps. “Food was served, people would sit and talk. After the HDB blocks were built and the community scattered, the place became more quiet at night.”

As a young man, Mr Hasan frequented the mosque daily during his time working for Singapore Postal Services at the nearby Fullerton Building from 1969. He remembers performing his ablution, or ritual cleansing, at a large pond next to the prayer hall. “During the 70s, there was no room to cleanse and wash, so people would take their wudhu (ablutions) at the pond before praying,” he said.

Worshippers prayed on straw mats laid on the cement floor. While the hall has since been fitted with carpet flooring, Mr Hasan recounts the joy of the simple days. “It is a simple mosque but when we came here, we found happiness,” he said.

Mr Abdul Latiff Syed Mohamed, 67, who has worshipped there since the 1970s, said praying at the mosque is special to him too. “When you pray here, the feeling is different from other, newer mosques,” he said. “The energy level is different.”

Mr Latiff, director of a trading firm, visited the mosque every night during his teens.

Added the mosque secretary, Mr Arif: “Other than a spiritual refuge, the mosque served as a social venue where people met up.”

Together with the Nagore Dargah, a former Indian Muslim shrine down the street, the Al-Abrar Mosque became an important religious monument for the Chulias. Both buildings were gazetted as national monuments by the National Heritage Board in 1974. Within the historic vicinity are three other national monuments: Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, Thian Hock Keng temple and the former Keng Teck Whay Building.

The mosque went through a series of major renovations between 1986 and 1989 during which an additional storey was built and the courtyard at the entrance gate covered to create more space.

It also acquired the adjacent shophouse and converted it into a prayer hall for women. After the upgrading works, the mosque could cater to 800 worshippers, up from about 60 in its original space.

Today, the mosque stands out from the other shophouses along Telok Ayer Street with its Indo-Islamic architectural style. Six minarets line the entrance, two of which are crowned with the Islamic symbol of a crescent moon and star.

Inside is an eclectic mix of East and West. The mosque weaves its history into the architecture with coloured glass panels fitted in the fanlights above large French louvred windows. Wooden parapets line the sides of the mosque and its interior is held up by Doric columns.

Then, there are the familiar features of a prayer hall that distinguish it as an Islamic place of worship – such as the mihrab, a niche that points towards Mecca in the direction that Muslims pray.

Sunlight pours from a blue glass panel inscribed with a verse from the Quran. “During sunrise and sunset, you can see the shadow of the verses on the carpet,” said the mosque’s Mr Arif.

Less familiar is the newly mounted television on the wall in front. “A lot of Malay office workers come here during lunchtime. The TV is to help translate the Friday sermons, which are in Tamil,” Mr Arif said.

While Al-Abrar Mosque continues to serve a predominantly Indian Muslim group, it sees more Malays during weekday afternoons, many of whom are office workers from the nearby business district.

“The mosque is open to all,” said Mr Arif – even tourists and other visitors who are not Muslims.

“Old people say that when they have problems and they feel down, they come here and they will find peace,” he added.

“That is why we hope that we can preserve the mosque until the end of time.”

rahimahr@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 29, 2016.
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A primary school teacher unzipped his pupil’s shorts to look at the underwear he had bought him, and on a separate occasion asked the boy to unzip his trousers, exposing his underwear to the pupil, a court heard yesterday.

Colin Ting Fook Mun, 41, who quit teaching 1½ years ago, pleaded guilty to three of eight charges of committing an indecent act with a child, and was jailed for 12 months. The acts occurred at the primary school between March and September 2014 and in January last year.

Investigations showed that some time in September 2014, Ting asked the boy to help him carry some class materials to the staffroom after class. When they were walking back to the classroom, Ting stopped outside the male toilet and gave the boy a plastic bag containing three pairs of underwear.

He told the pupil to try the black underwear. The boy complied.

When the boy came out from the toilet, Ting told him that he wanted to see the underwear he was wearing. The boy remained quiet.

Ting then unzipped the boy’s shorts and looked at his underwear for a short while before zipping them up again. Later that day, after school, Ting gave the other two pairs of underwear to the victim.

Some time around January last year, Ting bought about six pairs of underwear for himself and told the victim. He would wear a different pair of underwear each day, and ask the boy to stay back after school each day to look at them.

On Jan 5 and 6 last year, when Ting was alone with the boy, he told him to unzip his trousers so that the victim could see his underwear. The boy did what he was told.

Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew said the boy did not tell anyone about these incidents as he was scared, and Ting had told him not to.

The episodes came to light only in April last year when the victim’s aunt asked him why he had to stay back in school.

“The victim’s aunt had jokingly told him to be careful as there are some ‘pervertic’ (sic) teachers, and the victim replied that there was ‘only one, not a lot’,” said DPP Chew.

Ting’s lawyer Philip Lam said his client was very remorseful. Over 15 years, Ting had taught more than 600 pupils without incident, he added.

Mr Lam said Ting was suffering from avoidant personality disorder and depression at the time. But an Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist said he did not suffer from any mental illness during that period.

DPP Chew said Ting’s indecent acts over a prolonged duration were serious and should not be trivialised. He added that the accused had abused his position of trust and committed the acts within school premises where he found ways to isolate the victim.

He noted how these episodes “must have had a very adverse impact” on the victim’s mental state. The victim said he felt “disgust” about the incidents, and that if other teachers asked him to help carry things, he would get his other classmates to do so instead.

District Judge Mathew Joseph said this was a gravely disturbing case as there was an abuse of trust, and because it involved a very young and vulnerable victim.

He commended Ting for taking responsibility for his actions. He hoped that he could continue to be a useful and contributing member of society.

“Your acts have brought a stain on the profession as a teacher. This is highly regrettable,” the judge said.

Ting could have been fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to five years on each charge.

elena@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 29, 2016.
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An Indonesian domestic worker who was awoken by a crying baby grabbed the 10-month-old boy by the leg and dragged him forcefully towards her on the mattress they were sharing.

Atmi Sana Sulaeman ill-treated the child twice on the night of June 22.

Her actions were caught on a closed-circuit television camera installed by her employer in the child’s bedroom.

Her employer, who cannot be named because of a court order, made a police report on June 29. He said he had video evidence of the maid abusing the baby at the family’s home in Woodlands.

The court heard that Atmi was awoken by the victim’s cries at about 2am on June 22. She got up to get a fresh diaper, then grabbed the baby’s left leg and dragged him towards her.

About two hours later, she was again awoken by the infant.

She turned to her side, grabbed him roughly by his arm and flung him back on the mattress.

She grabbed his arm a second time to lift him up and rearrange his head on the pillow.

Earlier, on June 19, after feeding the child, Atmi flung him back on the mattress. However, no injuries were found on him when he was examined by a doctor.

Atmi admitted to three of five charges of ill-treating the child by wilfully carrying out an act which was likely to cause him unnecessary physical pain, suffering or injury.

Sentencing her to 16 weeks’ jail, District Judge Kessler Soh told the mother of two that what she did was wrong. “I note that you are sorry for what you have done, and I am happy to note that. But it is a very serious thing to abuse a child, even when you are tired.

“You have your own children. I am sure that is not how you want to treat them.

I hope you learn from this and when you take care of a child, you must exercise more patience, understand?” he said, as she nodded .

In her written mitigation plea, she said she would not repeat her actions.

Atmi, who had her sentence backdated to when she was taken into remand on July 1, could have been fined up to $4,000 and/or jailed for up to four years on each charge.

This article was first published on September 29, 2016.
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Update: Blogger Amos Yee, 17, has been sentenced to six weeks’ jail today (Sep 29), after he pleaded guilty to six charges for wounding religious feelings.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 for defying two notices to turn up at a police station to give his statement.

Amos Yee pleads guilty to 3 charges

Teenage blogger Amos Yee has again thrown in the towel on charges he is facing, pleading guilty yesterday to three counts of wounding religious feelings.

The 17-year-old admitted putting a photo and two videos online, between April 17 and May 19, with the intention of wounding Muslim feelings.

Yee’s admission of guilt marks the end of his trial, which began last month. His defence had yet to be called during the four-day trial, in which he represented himself.

He had originally denied all eight charges that he faced – two for failing to turn up at a police station and six for wounding religious feelings.

However, on the third day of the trial, on Aug 23, Yee pleaded guilty to two charges.

He had failed to show up at Jurong Police Division at 9am on Dec 14 last year, despite a police officer’s notice. He also did not turn up at the same place at 9am on May 10, in spite of a magistrate’s order.

The maximum penalty for each of these charges is one month’s jail and a $1,500 fine.

On the fourth day of the trial, on Aug 24, Yee pleaded guilty to three more charges.

He had made a Facebook post and a blog post, which wounded Muslim feelings.

He had also posted a video online, which wounded Christian feelings.

These crimes were committed between November last year and April this year. The maximum penalty for each charge of intending to wound religious feelings is three years’ jail and a fine.

The prosecution and defence lawyer N. Kanagavijayan will argue for an appropriate sentence before Principal District Judge Ong Hian Sun today.

Yee first came to the attention of the authorities when he uploaded an expletive-laden video on March 27 last year, four days after the death of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. He later also posted an obscene image on his blog.

He was convicted on May 12 last year, and sentenced on July 6 to four weeks’ jail.

He was released the same day as the punishment was backdated to include his time in remand. He had spent about 50 days in prison after repeatedly breaching bail conditions.

Amos Yee sentenced to 4 weeks in jail

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper, Reuters, AFP, Lianhe Zaobao

amirh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 29, 2016.
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Update: Yang Yin has been sentenced today (Sep 29) to 26 months’ imprisonment for falsifying receipts, as well as for immigration and cheating offences. He was also convicted for criminal breach of trust, for misappropriating $1.1 million from the widow Chung Khin Chun, 89. He will be sentenced for these charges on Friday.

Yang Yin trial: Prosecution seeks 2.5 to 3 years’ jail

Permanent resident (PR) status is given only to people who contribute to Singapore but former China tour guide Yang Yin, who duped the authorities into granting him the status, did no work at all.

“Throughout his entire stay in Singapore, both before and after obtaining SPR (Singapore PR) status, the accused determinedly did no work whatsoever, made no significant economic contributions to Singapore,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Tan yesterday.

“Instead, he has directed his considerable energies towards committing offences involving dishonesty and fraud on government agencies and individuals, and by so doing necessitated the expenditure of further state resources to investigate, prosecute and punish his crimes.”

DPP Tan pressed for a deterrent sentence of 2½ to three years’ jail for Yang, who had pleaded guilty in May to 120 charges.

Tussle over widow’s $40m assets turns ugly

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The Straits Times, Madam Hedy Mok, Lianhe Wanbao, Madam Chang Phie Chin, Court Documents

He said Yang, 42, who has been in the news since 2014 for allegedly misappropriating the money of wealthy widow Chung Khin Chun, was the opposite of what a PR should be – a qualified, hard-working and productive individual.

DPP Tan said the case warranted a deterrent sentence as it has caused “palpable public disquiet”.

“The present offences threaten Singaporeans’ faith that our immigration policies are fair and that there are robust procedures and checks in place to safeguard against such fraud,” he added.

In May, Yang had pleaded guilty to 110 charges for the falsification of receipts made to his company, Young Music and Dance Studio.

Tussle over widow’s $40m assets: A look at Madam Chung’s bungalow

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The Straits Times, Raymond Tan

The remaining were for immigration and cheating offences, as well as for breaking Companies Act laws. The rest of the 227 charges were taken into consideration.

Deputy Presiding Judge of the State Courts Jennifer Marie said yesterday that the sentencing for these charges will take place today.

Separately, Yang has pleaded guilty to misappropriating $1.1 million from Madam Chung whom he came here to live with in 2009.

He claimed he wanted to stay in Singapore to look after the childless widow, but the prosecution said he wanted to obtain PR status to benefit himself and his family instead.

During his stay here from 2009 to 2014, Yang duped five public institutions by falsifying financial statements and lying about his income, for example.

He falsified receipts to create the appearance that his firm was a profitable business with revenues totalling more than $450,000.

Using documents that showed his company revenues and pay figures, he applied successfully for an Employment Pass and got his PR status in 2011 before deceiving the authorities into granting his wife a long- term visit pass. Had he not been caught, he would have tried to get citizenship, the prosecution said.

“This is a foreign national who spent almost his entire five years in Singapore either offending or preparing to offend,” said DPP Tan.

“Although this epic tale is nearly at its conclusion, at this final chapter, we still see a lack of remorse, a lack of any genuine remorse on the part of the accused,” he added.

Yang’s lawyer, Mr Irving Choh, asked that the Chinese national be given one to two years’ jail for his offences as he has a wife, young children and aged parents to support.

kcarolyn@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 29, 2016.
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