A teenager went to a supermarket amid the Covid-19 outbreak in early February and took two bottles of fruit juice from a refrigerated shelf.
Nigel Pang, 18, then sampled both drinks before replacing them on the shelf.
Quek Xuan Zhi, 17, recorded his friend’s antics and posted the video on Instagram, via an Instastory, with the caption “How to spread Wuhan virus”.
Wuhan, a city in China, was the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak at the time.
In an earlier statement, the police said an acquaintance recorded a copy of the video and circulated it online. This caused public alarm and concern.
The two Singaporean teenagers each pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of being a public nuisance.
Around 6.45pm on Feb 6, they had gone to a FairPrice outlet in Bukit Batok West Avenue 7 and Pang helped himself to the drinks. Quek posted the video on Instagram using an account that had more than 1,300 followers at the time.
SINGAPORE – A 29-year-old man who forced his wife to prostitute herself to pay for their baby son’s diapers and milk powder, and sexually abused his daughter and niece failed in his appeal on Thursday (July 16) for a lighter sentence.
The man, who is unemployed, was sentenced to 25½ years’ jail and 24 strokes of the cane last year by the High Court.
On Thursday, his lawyer, Mr Mohammad Shafiq Haja Maideen, criticised the judge, who had described the man’s acts as “monstrous” in his written judgment.
The lawyer argued that the judge was wrong to have allowed his own disgust over the man’s actions to influence his judgment on the appropriate sentence.
Mr Shafiq, who sought a sentence of 18 years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane, also argued that the offender had sexually assaulted his six-year-old daughter only once.
These arguments were rejected by a three-judge Court of Appeal, which said the sentence was not manifestly excessive.
Delivering the apex court’s decision, Judge of Appeal Judith Prakash said the criticism of the High Court judge was unwarranted and that his description was “reflective of the general societal view”.
SINGAPORE: Several new locations have been added to the list of places visited by COVID-19 cases in the community during their infectious period, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday (Jul 16).
The new locations include the Resorts World Sentosa Casino on three different occasions, Mustafa Centre and Tekka Centre on two different occasions.
Several shopping malls were also added to the list – New World Centre, Sembawang Shopping Centre and Northpoint City on two different occasions.
The Traffic Police’s headquarters was also added to the list.
Those identified as close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases would have been notified by MOH, said the ministry.
It added that people who have been at these locations during the specified timings should monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit.
“They should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history,” said MOH.
“There is no need to avoid places where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been.”
The National Environment Agency will also engage the management of affected premises to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfection.
Singapore reported 248 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 47,126.
Eleven of the new cases are community infections, involving two Singaporeans, five work pass holders, two work permit holders and two dependant’s pass holders.
There were also four imported cases who had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.
The remaining cases are work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.
This year’s official NPD theme has finally dropped. Performed by Nathan Hartono, Everything I Am is an ode to the Singapore spirit of togetherness. Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, it encourages Singaporeans to be appreciative and kind to each other, even as we reflect on how far we have come as a nation.
It’s certainly a departure from the usual rah-rah energy that typifies classic NDP songs. With its poignant tone powered by Nathan’s melancholic crooning, it’s certainly more Home than Stand Up For Singapore.
Here’s a list of local songs that also capture the Singapore spirit while remaining unabashedly different and unique:
While some Singaporeans expressed frustration at the long queues at polling stations this general election, it was a much more arduous process for Singaporeans living overseas.
Nonetheless, 4,794 of them turned up at the designated overseas polling stations to cast their votes. This is 72.97 per cent of the number of registered overseas electors, the Elections Department (ELD) said in a press release.
Several members from the Workers’ Party (WP) witnessed the counting of overseas ballots at the ELD Training Centre yesterday (July 15).
After the votes were tallied, they took to social media to share some behind-the-scenes photos and express their gratitude to overseas electors who took the trouble to cast their votes.
SINGAPORE: A manufacturer of metal tins and containers was charged on Thursday (Jul 16) over workplace accidents that led to the deaths of two employees in separate incidents six months apart.
M C Packaging faces two counts under the Workplace Safety and Health Act for failing to ensure the safety and health of its workers.
Its former factor manager Hew Poh Leong, 48, was charged last month over the two fatal incidents. He pleaded guilty on Thursday and was fined S$1,900.
The accidents occurred in June 2016 involving 33-year-old Chinese national Wang Meifang, and in December 2016 involving 53-year-old Singaporean See Ley Heo.
ACCIDENT ON JUN 16, 2016
In the first incident, Ms Wang was cleaning an empty can palletiser machine on the morning of Jun 16 when she was caught in between parts of the machine.
Ms Wang was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital where she died from her injuries on the same day.
An overview of the palletiser machine and the Jun 16, 2016 accident scene at M C Packaging. (Photo: MOM)
The company, located at Gul Circle, is accused of failing to implement safe work procedures for cleaning and sanitising the machine.
According to court documents relating to Hew’s case, workers are not allowed to climb into the palletisers during sanitisation works, but its employees were not aware of these procedures.
A “lock-out tag-out” procedure to be done by trained technicians before sanitisation was also not implemented at the time.
In addition, Ms Wang and a co-worker were working unsupervised – their supervisor and Hew only reported to work after cleaning and sanitising works were done.
Safety inspections by an external safety consultant were also ineffective as they were only carried out when all the cleaning and sanitisation works had ended, said court documents.
Hew was charged for approving an inadequate risk assessment for the company, for not ensuring that safe work procedures were implemented and for failing to arrange for supervision.
ACCIDENT ON DEC 26, 2016
The second incident happened on Dec 26, 2016 at about 11.30am. Ms See was hit by a reversing forklift while walking across the production area for her lunch break.
She was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and died on Dec 28.
M C Packaging at 159 Gul Circle. (Photo: Google Maps)
According to court documents relating to Hew’s case, there had been four to five forklift accidents before this, but procedures for forklift safety were not reviewed.
Work activities related to forklift operations were identified in the company’s risk assessments, but they were “vague and inadequate”.
At the time of the incident, there were no fixed crossings for employees at the accident area and only “token barricades” were put up.
Companies found guilty under the Workplace Safety and Health Act can be fined up to S$500,000 for each charge.
In a media release on Thursday, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the families of both victims have each received compensation of around S$200,000 from the work injury insurer.
“Control measures such as lock-out tag-out for maintenance of equipment and traffic management plan for forklift operations are basic safety measures that every employer should be aware of,” said Mr Sebastian Tan, MOM’s director of the occupational safety and health inspectorate department.
“The company failed to put these in place and two lives were lost.”
SINGAPORE: Five Singaporeans, aged between 31 and 45, were arrested on Wednesday (Jul 15) for suspected drug activities.
In total, 4g of Ecstasy powder, 236 Ecstasy tablets and fragments, 13g of ketamine, two Erimin-5 tablets, about 386g of Ice and three bottles of liquid suspected to contain gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) were also seized.
The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said in a news release on Thursday that the drugs seized are estimated to have a street value of more than S$58,000.
Cash amounting to S$58,306 was also recovered during the operation that took place in multiple locations in Singapore.
On Wednesday morning, CNB officers raided the residence of a 45-year-old man near Yishun Avenue 4.
The man was arrested for suspected drug trafficking activities while another 38-year-old man was arrested in the same unit for suspected drug consumption.
The authorities also confiscated drug paraphernalia, 74 packets containing about 284g of Ice, 2g of Ecstasy powder, 49 Ecstasy tablets and fragments, three packets containing 3g of ketamine and three bottles of liquid suspected to contain GHB that were found inside the unit.
Drug paraphernalia seized from the residential unit located near Buangkok Crescent. (Photo: Central Narcotics Bureau)
The 38-year-old man was subsequently brought to his residence near Queen Street where CNB officers recovered a packet containing about 0.5g of Ice, other drug paraphernalia and cash amounting to S$28,150.
In a follow-up operation, a 37-year-old woman was arrested near Buangkok Crescent. She was taken to her residence nearby, where six packets containing about 6g of Ice and other drug paraphernalia were seized.
Subsequently, a 34-year-old man and 31-year-old woman were also arrested when they returned to the unit.
A total of 17 packets containing about 94g of Ice, 10 packets containing 10g of ketamine, about 2g of Ecstasy powder, 187 Ecstasy tablets and fragments and two Erimin-5 tablets were found on the 34-year-old man.
Officers also confiscated S$30,156 in cash from him.
Both the 34-year-old man and 31-year-old woman were then escorted to their vehicles, where a packet containing about 1.5g of Ice was recovered, along with other drug paraphernalia.
Investigations into the drug activities of all the suspects are ongoing.
Officers estimate that the total amount of Ice confiscated is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 220 abusers for a week.
SINGAPORE – There were 248 new coronavirus cases confirmed as of Thursday noon (July 16), taking Singapore’s total to 47,126.
They include 11 community cases and comprise two Singaporeans or permanent residents, seven work pass holders and two dependant pass holders, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday.
Epidemiological investigations are being done for the other cases.
There were also four imported cases who had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.
Migrant workers living in dormitories make up the vast majority of the other cases.
More details will be announced on Thursday night.
On Wednesday, MOH announced that Apple Orchard Road was among the new places visited by Covid-19 patients while they were still infectious.
Tekka Centre and Bugis+ were also new additions to the list of places visited by infectious patients.
Other places added were Tat Fong Paint at 492 Geylang Road, Singapore Pools outlet Cheng Chew Wah at 20 Frankel Terrace and All India Supermart at 41 Norris Road.
Even with the pandemic-induced dearth of customers, this is one passenger from hell that any cabby would be better off without.
A woman who allegedly boarded a taxi without wearing a mask, assaulted a taxi driver in his 70s and refused to pay her fare, has reportedly been identified by the police.
The incident first came to light when the driver’s son, one Kelvin Chua, took to Facebook to appeal for witnesses to the altercation, which happened on July 15.
Detailing his father’s ordeal, Chua said the woman had boarded the taxi at 11.25am at Ang Mo Kio Ave 10.
Right off the bat, things began to head south — the woman was not wearing a face mask and demanded to borrow his father’s handphone, he said.
His father, a “gentle and honest character”, agreed out of kindness. But the woman went on to make numerous calls throughout the 17-minute journey and refused to return the phone despite his repeated requests.
While she finally agreed to return the phone after reaching her destination at Prinsep Street, she ignored his father when he asked for payment, Chua said.
