First-time home buyers applying for an executive condominium (EC) may stand a higher chance of securing their dream home as 90 per cent of new EC units will be reserved for them, up from the current 70 per cent.The priority period — the time developers must reserve EC units for such buyers before they can sell to all eligible buyers — will also be raised from the current one month to two years. These are among changes to the EC scheme announced by Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat on Friday (May 8) to better support first-time home buyers.But new EC owners will have to wait 10 years before they can sell their units on the open market, up from the current five-year minimum occupation period (MOP).And they will have to make progressive payments based on construction milestones, and will no longer be able to defer payment till the development gets its temporary occupation permit (TOP).Currently, EC buyers can pay 20 per cent of the purchase price upfront while the remaining payment is deferred until the project obtains its TOP.

SINGAPORE — Louis Vuitton was awarded more than half a million dollars in damages from a Singapore Instagram seller accused of repeatedly peddling counterfeit luxury goods, after the nation’s highest court clarified how to calculate the trademark damages.In a judgment issued on May 6, the Court of Appeal more than doubled the damages payable to French luxury house Louis Vuitton Malletier (LVM) from $200,000 to $510,000, finding that the seller had blatantly infringed its logos through the online sale and promotion of counterfeit products.The seller was Mr Ng Hoe Seng, who operated online stores under the Instagram handles “emcase_sg” and later “emcrafts_sg”.Court documents showed that the accounts advertised products such as phone cases, watch straps, passport covers, pouches and cigarette cases bearing signs identical to well-known Louis Vuitton logos without the company’s consent. There were nine categories of offending goods in total.LVM made trap purchases of the products in 2022 and 2023 before suing Mr Ng for trademark infringement.In November 2023, the High Court ruled in favour of LVM. 

SINGAPORE — Amazon is cutting roles in Singapore as it ramps up expanding its international store selection in the city-state, it said in a post on its website on Thursday (May 7).The Business Times understands that less than 10 per cent of its workforce in Singapore will be affected.Amazon will help affected staff find new roles within the company. For those unable to be redeployed, transition support will include severance payments and career transition services.“Amazon remains deeply committed to Singapore and our investments across our retail, global selling, entertainment, devices and Amazon Web Services business lines, employing 2,500 people in the country,” said the company in the post.Andy Lim, secretary-general of the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU), said that the union was informed of the layoffs a day in advance.He added that the union “encourages all companies to provide a longer advance notice for the union to be able to provide better support to their workers”.

A feud between two online personalities has resulted in claims of criminal intimidation and the arrest of an online influencer.The Straits Times understands that Mr Mohammad Hussin Said, who is also known by his online moniker MangoBossKu, was arrested on May 4 at a car wash he operates in Yishun.Several witnesses said Mr Hussin, who is well known in the Malay/Muslim community for the food stalls he runs at various bazaars, was interviewed by plain-clothes police officers.This comes after a 56-second-long video clip was widely shared in WhatsApp chat groups and discussed on social media. The video shows the owner of a popular restaurant being threatened and made to strip.The victim, who is also well known online, is accused of being “too close” to the wife of the person recording the video.Mr Hussin was allegedly arrested after the victim made a police report at Bedok Police Division Headquarters. Police confirmed that a report had been lodged and that investigations are ongoing.The victim told ST that the video was shot around November 2025, but it was not shared online then.

A total of 19 motorists were caught for various traffic offences during stepped up enforcement operations at Woodlands Checkpoint during the Labour Day long weekend.The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a statement on Thursday (May 7) evening that the operations are intended to deter and detect motorists who commit traffic offences, engage in queue cutting, and display other dangerous road behaviour.At the departure lanes, motorists were found to have committed traffic offences such as crossing double white lines, making illegal right turns, stopping in positions likely to cause danger, obstruction and undue inconvenience, as well as queue cutting.Of these, 14 were directed to make a U-turn and re-queue, while the drivers of four foreign-registered vehicles were banned from entering Singapore for offences including crossing double white lines and queue cutting.All 18 have been referred to the Traffic Police for further action.ICA added that one motorist was caught at the arrival lanes for crossing double white lines and was also referred to the Traffic Police.

The crocodile seen in the waters off Sentosa Cove on Wednesday (May 6) evening has been trapped and removed by the National Parks Board (NParks).It was then sedated and humanely put down, NParks group director of wildlife management How Choon Beng was quoted by The Straits Times as saying.Water activities at Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong Beach could resume on Thursday, the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said in a Facebook post the same day. How reportedly explained on Thursday that the reptile could not be relocated to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve as it was not a suitable release site for it.

A total of 225 people are being investigated by the police for their alleged involvement in scams as scammers or money mules, following a two-week operation between April 23 and May 6.The operation involved officers from the police's Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions.Police said in a news release on Thursday (May 7) night that the 225 people comprises 166 men and 89 women, and are aged between 16 and 75.They are believed to be involved in more than 564 scam cases, comprising mostly e-commerce, friend impersonation, job, government official impersonation, investment and rental scams, which have resulted in losses of more than $4.8 million, the police said.They are now being investigated for various alleged offences including cheating, money laundering, or providing payment services without a licence.If found guilty of cheating, an individual may face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine, while those convicted of money laundering may be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $500,000.

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a 14-year-old boy, Quintus Lim Zhi Jun. In a news release on Thursday (May 7) evening, the police said he was last seen in the vicinity of Block 299B Tampines Street 2 at about 9.40pm on Tuesday.The said address is part of a HDB precinct near Tampines East Community Club.According to the police, the boy was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black shorts and carrying a black bag.Those with information are urged to contact the police hotline at 999 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.All information will be kept strictly confidential, the police said.[[nid:735166]]editor@asiaone.com 

A 29-year-old man will be charged in court on Friday (May 8) for his alleged involvement in a case of loan shark harassment in Pasir Ris.Police said in a news release on Thursday night that they were alerted to such a case at about 8.10pm on Monday. The alleged incident took place at a residential unit along Pasir Ris Street 72.A photograph of the alleged crime scene provided by the police shows loan shark-related graffiti scribbled on the wall beside the victim's unit.The graffiti reads: «O$P$!! Last warning!! Don't make me paint house!!» Officers from Bedok Police Division and the Police Operations Command Centre established the identity of the man through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, arresting him on Thursday.A red marker and mobile phone were seized from him as case exhibits.The offence of loan shark harassment carries a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000, imprisonment of up to five years, and up to six strokes of the cane.Members of the public are advised to stay away from loan sharks and not work with or assist them in any way. [[nid:735240]]

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) removed 959 online listings of illegal health products and warned 152 sellers in a joint operation led by Interpol from March 10 to 23.Eighty-nine other countries joined the clampdown, dubbed Operation Pangea, which targeted products such as unregistered medicines and medical devices and as well as pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.HSA said on Thursday (May 7) that over 82 per cent of the listings taken down in Singapore were selling unregistered contact lenses that have not been certified to have met the required safety, performance and quality standards.Other illegal listings were selling products such as prescription-only skin creams for acne and eczema, sexual enhancement medicines, nasal aspirators and nasal sprays, and oxygen concentrators.At Singapore's checkpoints, 6,641 units of illegal health products were seized, with most items brought in through international mail.Prescription medicines such as painkillers or sedatives made up 36 per cent of the confiscated products, with anti-parasitic medicines such as ivermectin coming second at 30 per cent.

A Singaporean and a Singapore Permanent Resident, who were passengers on the cruise ship MV Hondius which is currently at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak, are currently isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Thursday (May 7) that it is awaiting test results for the rare disease.«One has a runny nose but is otherwise well, and the other is asymptomatic. The risk to the general public in Singapore is currently low,» the public health authority said in a media release.According to the CDA, the two Singapore residents were on board the cruise ship at its point of departure from Argentina on April 1.Both men had left the ship at St Helena after a Dutch passenger died.They had taken the same flight as a confirmed hantavirus case, the Dutch passenger's wife, from St Helena to Johannesburg on April 25.The confirmed case died in Johannesburg.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.1. Wildlife feeders, including those who feed birds, to face stiffer penalties under proposed amendmentsThose found illegally feeding wildlife, including those who feed birds, will face increased fines and potential imprisonment under proposed amendments to the Wildlife Act... » READ MORE2. Huang Yiliang seen getting into argument with neighbouring hawker

Australia's Chief of the Defence Force Admiral (ADML) David Johnston has been conferred Singapore's highest military award — the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera), or Distinguished Service Order (Military) — by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.ADML Johnston, 64, was presented the award at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Thursday (May 7) morning.It was given for his «significant contributions» in strengthening defence ties between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said Mindef in a statement.The statement added that the frequent bilateral exercises and professional exchanges have deepened cooperation, strengthened interoperability and fostered closer people-to-people ties between the two armed forces.He is also credited with being a trusted partner in enhancing regional security cooperation through multilateral platforms such as the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the Asean Defence-Ministers Meeting Plus.

Those found illegally feeding wildlife, including those who feed birds, will face increased fines and potential imprisonment under proposed amendments to the Wildlife Act.The stiffer penalties come amid increased incidents of illegal wildlife feeding and aim to strengthen deterrence, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi while speaking in Parliament on Thursday (May 7).According to data from the National Parks Board (NParks), the number of cases where enforcement action was taken against illegal wildlife feeding has almost doubled — from close to 150 cases in 2021 to over 380 cases in 2025, with the majority involving pigeon feeding.Additionally, repeat offenders accounted for about 42 per cent of the cases in 2025.Up to a year in jailPersistent wildlife feeding in Singapore particularly involves invasive pest bird species like rock pigeons and house crows, which results in public disamenities and risks to public hygiene.As such, the maximum fines for both first-time and repeat wildlife feeding offences are set to double, said Dr Syed Harun.

The Government is not intending to expand the use of CDC vouchers to e-commerce or online transactions so as not to deviate from the intention of supporting hawkers and heartland merchants whilst helping Singaporeans cope with daily expenses, said Minister for Law Edwin Tong on Thursday (May 7).He was responding to a parliamentary question by MP Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik (Sengkang GRC), who noted that the vouchers currently cannot be used for e-commerce or online transactions.The first-term Workers' Party MP then asked if the Government will consider expanding the scheme to allow residents to use their vouchers for delivery orders from participating hawkers and heartland merchants.Abdul Muhaimin said this could benefit elderly, homebound, and less mobile residents who may face difficulties visiting physical outlets.In his written reply as Deputy Chairman of the People's Association, the minister reiterated that the CDC Vouchers Scheme, introduced in June 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, is intended to help Singaporean households cope with daily expenses.

After nearly three weeks of holding pump prices unchanged, fuel companies here have reduced diesel prices over the past two days, with Caltex the latest to do so on Thursday (May 7). The last significant round of pump price adjustments involving all fuel companies here were made on April 6 and April 7, as Parliament discussed measures to help businesses and households cushion the impact of war in the Middle East.In a price board update published at 11.30am on Thursday, Caltex announced that it had reduced its posted price for diesel by 10 cents to $4.58.This was preceded by Shell's 10-cent diesel price drop on Wednesday evening.Meanwhile, SPC posted the biggest diesel price reduction — by 30 cents — to $4.32. This was announced in its price board update at 5.30pm on Tuesday.

The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) 2.0 system could possibly be used to detect traffic offences such as speeding, said Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow.Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Edward Chia asked on Monday (May 5) if the new satellite-based system could be used to monitor and enforce Silver Zone & School Zone speed limits.In a written parliamentary reply, Siow said ERP 2.0 is designed primarily for payment and ERP charges, and the on-board unit (OBU) installed on vehicles provides real-time traffic updates and situational alerts to support road safety.«ERP 2.0 can also be used for enforcement, including for traffic offences like speeding, but further enhancements will be needed,» he added.«The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs are studying the implementation details.»Singapore is set to fully transition to the ERP 2.0 system at the start of 2027, and about 93 per cent of vehicles in Singapore have already installed the new OBU as of Jan 31.

A durian seller in Aljunied has been accused by a customer of using dishonest methods to pressure customers into making a purchase. A post made in Facebook group Complaint Singapore on May 1 by user Brad Lee, with a photo of the stall and titled «dishonest durian seller», warned of their alleged «unethical sales tactics» and advised people to avoid at all cost.Lee and his mother had visited a durian stall at Block 113 Aljunied located next to Geylang East Market & Food Centre when Lee asked the durian seller if it was possible to open up one of the fruits for checking before purchasing, to which the seller allegedly agreed.  Lee wrote: «First durian I opened was okay, ripe and soft. I told him I wanted two more.» Lee then picked a smaller durian to open but claimed that the seller put it back and insisted on opening the one he picked, which was visually bigger. «I was a bit sceptical but he reassured me that bigger (meant) more meat (which I know wasn't true),» Lee recounted.«He opened it and the meat was super hard with very big seeds. I told him, 'I'm rejecting this.'» 

The police conducted enforcement operations against illicit activities in Jurong between March and April, leading to the arrest of 19 women aged between 24 and 55.The operations targeted beauty and wellness premises, including beauty parlours and massage establishments along Jurong East Avenue 1 and Jurong East Street 31, said the police in a news release on Thursday (May 7)Of the 19 women arrested, 14 were for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities, while the remaining five were arrested for breaches of work-permit regulations.During the operations, which also involved officers from the Ministry of Health and Housing and Development Board (HDB), vice-related activities were uncovered in two Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) outlets and three massage establishments.A total of eight operators of such establishments are also under police investigation for alleged offences including providing massage services without a valid licence, and failing to ensure that their employees do not provide sexual services.

For the minority of SAF full-time national servicemen (NSF) that stay out of camp, the monthly NS allowance already provides for their basic personal upkeep, including the cost of meals, said Chan Chun Sing, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence.He was replying to a parliamentary question by Workers' Party MP Kenneth Tiong on Wednesday (May 6), who had asked if NSFs at non-camp locations without cookhouse facilities receive meal allowances during duty hours. These non-camp locations include the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), MINDEF and Defence Science and Technology Agency.Tiong also asked whether the ministry will publish these rates on the CMPB website, as is currently done for SCDF and SPF national servicemen.Chan said in his written response that the SAF does not provide additional meal allowances for NSFs beyond the monthly NS allowance.The minister also highlighted the differing operational contexts between the SAF and the Home Team.

If you are a frequent user of the PIE (Tuas) exit on Central Expressway (CTE), do note that it will be temporarily closed on five days in May.This closure is to facilitate ongoing bridge launching works for the new pedestrian-cum-cycling link across the Pan Island Expressway (PIE). Exit 8A will be temporarily closed to traffic from 12am to 5am on the following dates:May 15 (Friday)May 20 (Wednesday)May 22 (Friday)May 24 (Sunday)May 29 (Friday)This link is set to improve connectivity between Potong Pasir and Bendemeer as part of the Bishan-to-City Links project.Similar closures, affecting Exit 8B, were made earlier on seven days between April and May for the same Bishan-to-City Links project.

A 26-year-old Malaysian man, and a Malaysian woman, aged 29, were arrested on May 4 for attempting to smuggle drugs into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.In a joint statement on Thursday (May 7), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said they seized about 261g of methamphetamine, also known as Ice, and 2,261g of cannabis — with a total estimated value of over $71,000.ICA said its officers directed the Malaysia-registered car for enhanced checks where they found a backpack in the boot of the car. There, search and examination officers found a plastic bag and two black bundles believed to contain drugs.CNB officers were then alerted to conduct further checks.Following the checks, CNB said they found 261g of Ice in the plastic bag, while the black bundles contained about 2,261g of cannabis.«The drugs seized have an estimated worth of more than $71,000 and could potentially feed the addiction of about 470 abusers for a week,» CNB and ICA said.

A dispute between two employees at a LiHo outlet in Jurong turned physical and subsequently resulted in a police report being filed.CCTV footage of the incident was uploaded on Tuesday (May 5) by Rodney Tang, the owner of bubble tea chain, showing two staff members arguing.Speaking to AsiaOne, a LiHo spokesperson said that the incident took place at LiHo's outlet at JEM at around 12pm on April 6.The two staff members are seen behaving hostilely towards each other in the clips, before one staff member escalates the situation and roughly shoves the other across the store.Tang, who is also the founder of Royal T Group, also spoke to another staff member, who appears to be a manager at the JEM outlet.At the time, she had been at the Star Vista outlet, assisting an intern, and only found out about the incident through another employee.The two staff involved in the conflict had been full-time employees, and the newer staff member had allegedly pushed the senior staff during the dispute, she told Tang. The incident subsequently led to a police report being made by the senior staff.

A crocodile was sighted in the waters off Sentosa Cove on Wednesday (May 6) evening, said Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC).In a Facebook post at about 6.25pm, the agency said it was alerted to the sighting in the evening, adding that a joint search team with the National Parks Board (NParks) has been activated to search for the crocodile.As a precautionary measure, SDC said it has suspended water activities such as swimming and kayaking at Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong beaches, following discussions with NParks.The suspension is in place until further notice.Meanwhile, SDC said it has stepped up patrols and monitoring across the island's beachfront areas. It advised members of the public to adhere strictly to safety signages and instructions on the ground.Those who encounter a crocodile should stay calm and back away slowly. They should not approach, provoke, or feed the animal.To report crocodile sightings or encounters, members of the public may contact NParks' Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.[[nid:734915]]editor@asiaone.com 

About 13,4000 accounts suspected of bot activity were suspended by the three driving schools in Singapore last year, said Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Wednesday (May 6).The schools are: Singapore Safety Driving Centre in Woodlands, ComfortDelGro Driving Centre in Ubi, and Bukit Batok Driving Centre He was responding to a parliamentary question by MP Gabriel Lam (Sembawang GRC), who asked whether the Government has data on how widespread the use of bots or third-party services is in securing driving lesson slots.Lam, a first-term MP, also asked whether a centralised or queue-based booking system will be considered to ensure fair access for learners.The issue of bots being used by learners to reserve and book lesson slots is not new. Since 2024, services for «camper» bots or booking bots have popped up on e-commerce platforms such as Carousell. Those interested in such services would be directed to a Telegram or Discord link.There, learners can pay for bot services to book free slots, or be notified when a slot becomes available for booking.

The Government will not allow Singaporeans to become «helpless passengers» as artificial intelligence (AI) propels our country into the future, Manpower Minister Dr Tan See Leng said in Parliament on Wednesday (May 6).He was sharing his perspective on the parliamentary motion of no «jobless growth» put forward by labour chief Ng Chee Meng on Tuesday, where the latter highlighted that Singapore's AI-driven economic growth does not equate to more or better jobs for workers.After seven hours of speeches and debates by 24 MPs, the motion tabled by Ng was unanimously passed.Highlighting the concerns that Singaporeans are feeling amid the AI transition, Dr Tan said that many may «sense that the ground is shifting beneath their feet».Not only is the world rapidly changing due to conflict in the Middle East, AI is also a source of anxiety as Singaporeans worry over what it could represent amid large tech firms announcing layoffs due to AI adoption«These are legitimate concerns, and we take it seriously,» he said. «And the change of this magnitude is indeed unsettling.»However, there are early signs for cautious optimism, he added.

Former People's Action Party (PAP) MP Ong Ah Heng died on Monday (May 5), aged 84.The four-term Nee Soon Central MP served the constituency between 1997 and 2011 before retiring from politics. Dubbed «Kopitiam (coffeeshop) MP», Ong earned the nickname because of his ease of mixing with ordinary workers.He was the executive secretary of the National Transport Workers' Union between 1981 and 2006, and later rose to become NTUC's assistant secretary-general. In a 1996 interview, Ong attributed his grassroots approach to his past: «I owe a lot to the meritocratic system. There are very few countries where you could start as a construction worker and end up with a master's degree. »It is right that I repay society by involving myself in community work with the labour movement and in grassroots organisations." He later became a non-executive independent director at ComfortDelGro before retiring from the board in 2020. Ong's wake is being held at Block 204 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, and his funeral ceremony will take place there at 1pm on Sunday (May 10).

Singapore's workforce may not yet be ready for a transition to artificial intelligence (AI), but is well-positioned for it, Sembawang West SMC MP Poh Li San said in Parliament on Wednesday (May 6).She was speaking in the debate on AI transition with no «jobless growth», raised by labour chief Ng Chee Meng on Tuesday.Ng had put forward a parliamentary motion, stressing the need to put workers at the centre of Singapore’s AI-driven economic growth, as it can no longer be assumed that the latter would translate automatically into more or better jobs.Poh expressed that Singapore's AI transition should be focused on customising AI solutions for industries to empower Singaporeans, highlighting the four key pillars of the national AI strategy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shared in his May Day Rally speech last Friday (May 1).PM Wong had targeted four industries — advanced manufacturing, connectivity, finance and healthcare — for AI transformation.«AI-powered robots will indeed be the force multiplier,» Poh stated. «Are we ready for this transition? Not yet. We are well-positioned for it, but we must move fast.»

Will Singapore provide free ride on public transport to full-time national servicemen (NSF)?The cost of transportation is included in the monthly base allowance that NSFs receive, said Chan Chun Sing, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence.He was replying to a parliamentary question by Workers' Party MP Kenneth Tiong on Tuesday (May 5), who had asked if the $81 monthly hybrid concession pass is «adequate for NSFs earning $790 per month», and whether free public transport will be provided for NSFs by default as in other countries.Chan said in his written response that the base allowance for all NSFs is «sized for their basic personal upkeep» and given in cash.«The cost of providing free transport for NSFs would need to be cross-subsidised by other commuters through higher fares, or by taxpayers,» he said.While some countries provide conscripts a national travel pass, the current allowance NSFs receive already takes into account the price of the monthly concession pass.«Either way, the costs are funded by the Government, and ultimately, by taxpayers,» he added.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will conduct an islandwide public testing of the SG Alert system for Singtel network users on May 10 (Sunday).During the testing, members of the public connected to the Singtel network will receive an alert on their mobile phones, even without being connected to the internet. This includes foreign visitors on data-only eSIM plans.Members of the public are advised not to be alarmed.The SG Alert will appear as a pop-up notification with the header 'SG Alert', and will be accompanied by a unique alert tone and distinct vibration pattern lasting up to 10 seconds, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on May 6.The alert will also appear if a mobile phone is on «do not disturb» or silent modes while those with older phone models may see the alert appear with a «Presidential alert» header instead of «SG Alert» due to compatibility issues.

A Malaysian driver was arrested on April 15 after attempting to smuggle over 270 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore. In a Facebook post on Wednesday (May 6) by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), officers at Woodlands Checkpoint profiled and directed the Malaysia-registered car for enhanced checks. They found more than 270 cartons and 1,600 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in various parts of the vehicle.The 35-year-old male Malaysian driver was subsequently arrested in connection with the case. The exhibits and suspect were referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.Under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act, buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are considered serious offences. If found guilty, offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.Vehicles used in the commission of such offences and proceeds of sales of duty-unpaid cigarettes are also liable to be forfeited.

A Bangladesh national was sentenced to 12 months' jail on Tuesday (May 5) for employing a fellow countryman who had overstayed in Singapore.Jahangir Mohammed, a work pass holder, had failed to duly verify the immigration status of Talukdar Md Pabel, before hiring him, the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Tuesday.Pabel, 26, had been in Singapore on a special pass, which expired on Jan 18, 2021. Three months later, he was arrested by ICA for overstaying.Investigations found that he had approached Jahangir for a job, and worked for his company Maa Trading as a rice packer from November to December 2020.In January 2021, Pabel was re-employed as a rice packer by Jahangir at Maa Trading, and also worked as a shop assistant at a minimart operated by Maa Trading until he was arrested on April 20.While investigations were ongoing, Jahangir had coached other employees at Maa Trading to give false statements to ICA officers.Pabel was given one month's imprisonment and three strokes of the cane. He has served his sentence and since been deported and barred from re-entering Singapore.

A Singaporean man allegedly linked to an organised crime group in Cambodia that scammed Singaporeans will be charged in court on Wednesday (May 5).Ngiam Siow Jui, 30, is purportedly in the initial list of 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians wanted by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) over their alleged involvement with the group.Police said on Tuesday that Ngiam was arrested by the Cambodian National Police (CNP) in Phnom Penh. He was repatriated to Singapore and arrested on his arrival on Monday.Ngiam will be charged with the offence of facilitating the commission of a serious offence, in furtherance of the illegal purpose of a locally-linked organised crime group.If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to five years, fined up to $100,000, or both.The 34 people's identities were uncovered through investigations and evidence gathering in Cambodia, after a joint operation with the CNP in Phnom Penh on Sept 9, 2025. 

The police received about 1,300 reports of missing persons annually between 2021 and 2025, with the majority of vulnerable missing persons found within the day, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam.Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, was responding to a parliamentary question by MP Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied GRC), who asked how many missing persons have been reported since 2021 and the number of such persons who were found within a month.He also asked if the Government had assessed the feasibility of using the new SG Alert system to send location-based notification of missing persons to mobile phone users in the vicinity of where they were last seen.In his written reply, Shanmugam said the police do not track the time taken to locate a missing person as this can vary significantly from case to case.He added that the police will accord priority to vulnerable missing persons, including young children, elderly persons and persons with intellectual disabilities.

A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of mischief by fire after a blaze broke out in an 18th-floor HDB unit at MacPherson on Monday night (May 4), with eight people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the blaze at about 9.40pm on Monday night. The fire engulfed the entire unit at Block 14 Joo Seng Road and was put out with two water jets.Three people had evacuated from the affected unit before SCDF's arrival. The eight injured were assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Two firefighters who felt unwell during the operation were also taken to SGH as a precaution.The police told AsiaOne that a 44-year-old man was arrested at the scene for mischief by fire and investigations are ongoing.