Foreign Talents? - Please Contribute

[Vultan]

Re: Tax Free Hub?


Welder jailed for fracturing colleague's head with beer bottle

Published on Jan 21, 2013
By Khushwant Singh

A welder, who hit a colleague on the head with an empty beer bottle for calling him insane, was jailed for a year on Monday.

Li Xin Xia, 27, had been working with the victim, Mr Li Jing, 33, for the past 3 1/2 years.Police investigations revealed that the workers had attended a wedding banquet at their employer's home on the evening of Oct 20. Both men, who are Chinese nationals, had drank a lot of beer by the time they boarded the chartered bus to go back to their company premises in Sungei Kadut. An argument ensued as the victim kept calling Li insane. He continued to goad Li even after they arrived in the room they shared.

In a sudden fit of anger, Li picked up an empty beer bottle and smashed it on his colleague's head who suffered a depressed skull fracture as a result.

Other workmates helped to drive the victim in a company vehicle to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where he was warded for five days. He received treatment for the skull fracture, had to have a 5cm cut in his scalp stitched, and an operation to remove blood clots from his brain.

 

[Vultan]

Tipper driver jailed 7 weeks for causing cyclist's death

Published on Jan 21, 2013
By Elena Chong

A tipper truck driver was sentenced to seven weeks' jail and banned from driving for five years on Monday over a hit-and-run accident last November.

Sun Xiangjian, 37, was driving along the roundabout at Fort Road on Nov 17 when failed to keep a proper lookout ahead while approaching the slip road of East Coast Parkway.

The Chinese national hit a cyclist, Mr Li Jinwei, 46, also from China, who fell and was then run over by the the vehicle ran over him and his bicycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene about 20 minutes later. It was raining then.

Sun admitted to causing the death of Mr Li by negligence and failing to render help after the accident.

Two other charges of failing to stop after the accident and removing his vehicle without police authority were taken into consideration. His sentence was backdated to Nov 19.

 

[Vultan]

Re: Man gropes her, then punches her


Australian man cleared of molestation charge after public apology
By Claire Huang | Posted: 23 January 2013 1559 hrs

SINGAPORE: An Australian man has been cleared of a charge of molesting a purchasing officer.

This came after Mr Kevin Francis D'arcy, 59, made a public apology in a local English daily on January 19 as requested by the woman.

The incident happened on August 31, 2012 in Boat Quay.

Mr D'arcy apparently squeezed the buttock of the 32-year-old woman, who was clubbing with her sister and friend.

-CNA/ac

 

[Vultan]

Unlicensed busker from China leaves Singapore

Published on Jan 24, 2013
By Goh Shi Ting

Chinese busker Liu Mei Yuan was performing in Orchard Road for about two weeks, when he was told by the police that he needed a licence to busk. -- ST PHOTO: GOH SHI TING

THE frequent tropical rain did not deter travelling busker Liu Mei Yuan from belting out erhu tunes on Orchard Road.

But it did affect his earnings - about $100 on rainy days, against $200 in clear weather.

The Chinese national's stay was, however, cut short last Thursday after it came to the attention of the authorities that he did not have approval to busk.

"I think another busker complained to the police, who then told me I need to get a licence to perform on the streets," the 23-year-old Sichuan native told The Straits Times before he left for home.

He had planned to stay here for a month, until early February.

[email protected]

 

[Vultan]

Vietnamese woman stole jewellery from infants at the zoo

Published on Jan 28, 2013

People at the entrance of the Singapore Zoological Gardens. A Vietnamese woman would steal the jewellery of infants at the Singapore Zoo in Mandai when their parents were not paying attention. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE ZOO

By Khushwant Singh

A Vietnamese woman stole jewellery from infants at the Singapore Zoo in Mandai when their parents were not paying attention. Nguyen Thi Tot Mot, 43, was jailed for 14 months for the theft of a $1,000 gold necklace and the attempted theft of a $300 gold chain the next day.

On Dec 23, Mot ripped the necklace off a two-year-old who was standing alone at the otter enclosure at about 3pm. But her mother, who was nearby, noticed that the necklace was missing. She confronted Mot who then dropped the jewellery and fled.

Unperturbed, Mot who was here on a social visit pass, went back to the zoo the next day. At about 1pm, she approached a 16-month-old boy at an ice-cream kiosk.

She tried to steal the gold necklace from the infant's neck but the mother grew suspicious and took a picture of Mot. Realising she had been found out, Mot ran off without the necklace. She was arrested when she returned to the zoo on Dec 30.

 

[Vultan]

Chinese national jailed for theft onboard
Posted: 31 January 2013 1621 hrs

SINGAPORE: A Chinese national has been sentenced to two weeks' jail for stealing from another passenger during a flight from Medan to Singapore.

Ren Guanglun, 33, committed the offence when he was flying on SilkAir on 21 January 2013.

A flight attendant saw him taking a bag from the overhead compartment to his seat, located a few rows away.

He was seen meddling with some money in the bag and then putting the bag back in the compartment.

The attendant noticed that he did not take the bag with him when he left the aircraft.

She alerted the passenger seated below the compartment where the bag was placed.

The passenger, who turned out to be the owner of the bag, discovered that more than S$1,000 was missing.

Some of the money was later found in Ren's possession.

- CNA/ck

 

[Vultan]

7 nabbed for assault and immigration offences

AsiaOne
Friday, Feb 01, 2013

SINGAPORE - Police arrested 7 male Indonesian nationals, aged between 17 to 40, in a forested area off Woodlands Road in the wee hours of this morning.

On Jan 29, 2013, at about 7.54 pm, police were informed that an Indonesian man had been attacked by a group of people near the forested area off Woodlands Road.

The victim sustained injuries to his arms, head and facial areas.

Officers from Jurong Police Division conducted intensive follow-up investigations and determined that the assailants, who are believed to be immigration offenders, were likely to be hiding out in the forested area off Woodlands Road.

In a raid conducted at about 5am on Feb 1, all seven assailants involved were apprehended in the forested area off Woodlands Road. It is believed that the assailants and the victim were acquainted and a dispute had arisen before the assault.

The suspects will be charged in Court on Feb 2 for the offence of Rioting Armed with Deadly Weapons under Section 148 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, they face a jail term of up to 10 years and shall also be liable to caning. Investigations into possible immigration offences are on-going.

[email protected]

 

[Vultan]

Former private banker gets 20 weeks' jail for forgery
By Claire Huang | Posted: 04 February 2013 1238 hrs

SINGAPORE: A former private banker has been sentenced to 20 weeks' jail for forgery, involving losses of about S$2 million.

Jegathes V Baradan, 50, was convicted of 12 counts of forgery. The prosecution proceeded on four of the 12 charges.

He committed the offences between 2008 and 2010, when he was a banker with Merrill Lynch International Bank Limited, and later with Credit Industriel et Commercial.

The Malaysian citizen issued fraudulent letters to his clients, which stated promises of the bank extending credit financing services, among other things.

The letters deceived third-party companies into paying his clients and suffering losses totalling about S$2 million.

-CNA/ac

 

[Vultan]

12 months' jail for Thai woman who acquired criminal proceeds
By Claire Huang | Posted: 05 February 2013 1633 hrs

SINGAPORE: A Thai woman has been sentenced to 12 months' jail for acquiring criminal benefits of S$452,100.

Thanyarat Jarutraveevit, 35, was convicted of three counts of acquiring criminal proceeds, one count of attempting to acquire such benefits and one count of removing another person's criminal benefits.

The prosecution proceeded on two of the charges.

Thanyarat was asked in July 2012 by two acquaintances of her boyfriend to collect money from people in Singapore and bring it back to them in Malaysia.

She agreed to do so as she was compensated for the travel expenses and received S$500 for the job.

In July 2012, an email was sent from the account of a Mr Alvaro Bermudez to his bank, Credit Suisse AG, instructing the bank to transfer money to the bank accounts of a Michael Ong Thiam Hock and a Ramachadran Rajendran in Singapore.

Mr Bermudez and the bank are based in Zurich, Switzerland.

A week after the transfers, totalling US$218,000 were made, Credit Suisse established that the email payment instruction wasn't made by Mr Bermudez.

The money transferred was thus deemed "stolen property".

On 24 July in 2012, Mr Ong withdrew S$98,600 and handed it to Thanyarat, while Mr Rajendran handed over S$170,000 to the accused the next day.

So far, S$76,472 seized from the accused has been returned to the victim.

- CNA/ck

 

[Vultan]

Security guard at Bukit Timah condo jailed, caned for molesting, restraining maid

Published on Feb 06, 2013
By Khushwant Singh

Nearly naked, a security guard at a Bukit Timah condominium climbed through an unlatched window to molest a Filipino maid who was asleep on Jan 17.

Sivaram Jengham Thevudoo, 34, a Malaysian, was sentenced to three years in jail and four strokes of the cane on Wednesday. He had pleaded guilty on Monday to assaulting the 29-year-old maid by attempting to kiss her and by restraining her when she woke up.

District Judge Wong Choon Ning noted that although it was Sivaram's first brush with the law, it was a very serious offence, punishable by imprisonment of between two and 10 years and caning or a fine.

Sivaram was on the night shift from 8pm to 8am. While patrolling at 11pm, he noticed that the window to a ground floor apartment was not latched properly.

He also saw the maid getting ready for bed. After a nap, he woke up at 5.30am, removed his uniform and clad only in his underwear, climbed through the maid's window.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

Man charged with stealing baby milk powder
By Leong Wai Kit | Posted: 08 February 2013 1439 hrs

SINGAPORE: A 45-year-old man has been charged with stealing baby milk powder at a supermarket in the Upper Bukit Timah area.

Rico Bahara, a Singapore permanent resident, is accused of stealing about S$450 worth of baby milk powder on January 24.

He also allegedly stole a baking tray worth about S$15.

A week later, Bahara was accused of trying to steal more baby milk powder, worth nearly S$400, at the same supermarket.

If found guilty, Bahara faces up to seven years' jail and a fine.

- CNA/xq

 

[Vultan]

Bangladeshi jailed for cheating compatriots of work permits
By Claire Huang | Posted: 13 February 2013 1744 hrs

SINGAPORE: A Bangladeshi cleaner was on Wednesday sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment for cheating his fellow countrymen of their work permits.

Shobhan Haider Rupu Ayoub Ali, 29, admitted to 30 counts of cheating in January this year. Prosecution proceeded on eight charges.

Shobhan's modus operandi was to deceive fellow Bangladeshi workers that he had jobs for them at Marriott Hotel.

The cleaner would ask the victims for their work permits in order to exchange them for security passes at the hotel.

Court documents showed that he sold a total of 30 work permits for S$2,500 to another man in the Kallang area.

Shobhan could have been jailed up to 10 years and fined.

- CNA/xq

 

[Vultan]

Woman jailed for cheating colleague of $779k

Published on Feb 19, 2013

A stack of $100 notes. A former bank teller was jailed 50 months on Tuesday for cheating a colleague of $779,000. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

By Elena Chong

A former bank teller was jailed 50 months on Tuesday for cheating a colleague of $779,000.

Malaysian Ng Ni Ni had admitted to three charges of cheating Ms Phua Sok Gek, 61, of a total of $518,000 in July and August 2010.

Another three charges involving $261,000 were considered during her sentencing.

Ng, 35, was working at United Overseas Bank when she deceived Ms Phua into believing that she would be selling a plot of Malaysian land for $5 million to a US company and that she needed to pay processing fees to receive the sale proceeds, which she knew to be false.

Get a copy of The Straits Times

 

[Vultan]

Malaysian driver, Myanmar national arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint
Posted: 21 February 2013 1736 hrs

ICA officers found a man hiding in the boot of a departing Malaysia-registered car at the Woodlands Checkpoint on 21 February 2013. (Photo: ICA)

SINGAPORE: A Malaysian driver and a Myanmar national have been arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint.

They were caught at about 12.25am on Thursday after immigration officers checked a Malaysian-registered car that was leaving Singapore.

When the driver opened the car boot, the officers found a man hiding inside.

The driver, 26, and the Myanmar national, 62, were arrested and are being investigated.

The vehicle used in the commission of the offences has been detained and is liable for forfeiture.

The penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane, while the penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.

- CNA/de

 

[Vultan]

Vietnamese cigarette smuggling ring leader jailed, fined

Posted: 22 February 2013 0933 hrs

Duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the bags of the seven Vietnamese men who left the apartment at intervals (Photo: Singapore Customs)

SINGAPORE: A Vietnamese illegal immigrant has been sentenced to 16 months' jail and fined S$14,000 for coordinating the distribution of contraband cigarettes.

Tran Dinh Hieu, 33, was nabbed with 17 other Vietnamese nationals during a joint operation by Singapore Customs, police and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority in 2012.

If he can't pay the fine, he'll have to spend another three weeks in jail.

Tran, an illegal immigrant, was nabbed with 17 other Vietnamese nationals during a joint operation by Singapore Customs, police and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority in 2012.

About 2,100 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth more than S$22,000 were seized.

The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeded S$18,000.

Ten of the Vietnamese, excluding Tran, were sentenced to jail terms of between 12 and 22 weeks and fines of between S$5,100 and S$25,000 each.

- CNA/ck

 

[Vultan]

Lorry driver jailed for causing cyclist's death along Loyang Avenue

Published on Feb 25, 2013

Former lorry driver Wang Weiguan, who negligently caused the death of a cyclist along Loyang Avenue, was jailed for four weeks on Monday. He was also banned from driving for five years. -- ST PHOTO: EDWARD TEO

By Elena Chong

A Chinese national, who negligently caused the death of a cyclist along Loyang Avenue, was jailed for four weeks on Monday. Former lorry driver Wang Weiguan, 31, was also banned from driving for five years.

He had admitted to causing the death of Mr Freddy Khoo Boon Hai, 48, a bank employee, at about 6.50am on Aug 18 last year. Wang failed to keep a proper lookout ahead while travelling straight along the left lane of the road, resulting in the lorry hitting Mr Khoo's bicycle, and causing his death.

Mr Khoo, an avid triathlete, was cycling behind two other friends in a single file at a distance of about 1.5m between each bicycle when he was hit. Wang had failed to notice Mr Khoo's and in his friends and in his panic, he tried to swerve to the right but could not avoid colliding with Mr Khoo.

The other two cyclists - Mr Eugene Low Ju-Sen, 37, and Mr Kevin Quek Weng Yew, 26 - were flung off their bicycles.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

Kiwi boss of Clarke Quay restaurant fined for working here illegally

February 25, 2013 - 1:17am

By: Judith Tan

TNP PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

The founder and director of New Zealand-themed restaurant Fern & Kiwi Bar and Eatery in Clarke Quay turned out to be an illegal worker.

Mr Shane Hausler was fined for working illegally and hiring foreigners without work visas when he opened his restaurant in Singapore last year.

Mr Hausler, who has since left Singapore, did not have an Entrepreneur Pass or EntrePass, introduced in 2004 to allow foreigners to start and run their businesses in Singapore.

This was not the first time the restaurant had got into trouble with the law here.

Three days before its official debut here on Sept 5 last year, staff from the restaurant had staged a flash-mob-style Haka -- the traditional Maori ancestral war cry and dance -- at Orchard Road without a proper public-entertainment licence from police.

 

[Vultan]

3 Mongolians arrested for stealing from shop

AsiaOne
Friday, Mar 01, 2013

SINGAPORE - Police have arrested three Mongolian men aged between 25 and 38 for theft in dwelling with common intention and fraudulent possession.

Police were alerted after three pairs of sunglasses worth $1,050 were stolen from a shop in Sentosa on Feb 26.

Officers arrested one suspect in the vicinity of River Valley Road, while the other two were caught as they attempted to leave Singapore.

The stolen loot was recovered with other items also suspected to be stolen.

They will be charged in court on Mar 2 and may be jailed up to seven years, and also be liable to a fine.

The police advise retailers to take measures against shop theft by displaying expensive items in locked display shelves that are only accessible by staff, and avoid displaying such items near the store's entrances and exits.

Retailers should also install working surveillance cameras, and have staff to monitor these items.

 

[Vultan]

Man gets 14 months' jail, driving ban for stealing SUV
By Claire Huang | Posted: 05 March 2013 1952 hrs

SINGAPORE: A Malaysian man has been sentenced to 14 months' jail and banned from driving for 18 months for stealing an SUV and driving it to Ipoh, Malaysia. He was convicted of stealing the vehicle, worth S$76,000.

The man, Phillip Lim Chee Shong, said he was upset after a tiff with his wife on January 10, 2012. Later that day, Lim sent a friend home and noticed the SUV parked at the basement carpark of a condominium.

He saw the keys in the driver's armrest and decided to drive it to Malaysia. Lim drove for about six-hours to his house in Ipoh. On his way there, he threw away two child car seats and documents that were in the vehicle.

Lim continued to drive the SUV until he met with an accident in February. He then sent it for repair at a car workshop in Ipoh.

Lim then returned to Singapore to retrieve his own car, which was parked at the same condominium.

District Judge Eddy Tham said this was more than a joy ride. He also dismissed Lim's argument with his wife as a defence, and said that the accused did not learn from his previous offence, which was also theft.

While the judge noted that it was a spur of the moment act and not premeditated, he dismissed the mitigation that Lim committed his offence as he had an argument with his wife prior to the incident.

Lim could have been jailed a maximum of seven years and fined.

-CNA/ac

 

[Vultan]

Woman caught for trying to enter Singapore illegally
Posted: 07 March 2013 1418 hrs

The woman was found hidden under various items in the boot of the car. (Photo: ICA)

SINGAPORE: A Chinese female national who tried to enter Singapore illegally was caught at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Wednesday.

The woman had some help from a Singaporean male driver, who hid her in the boot of his car.

The lone driver was asked to step out of the car so that officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) could examine his vehicle.

The car boot was loaded with common items such as a tricycle, shopping bags and toys.

ICA officers spotted two black trash bags lying adjacent to each other in the boot and suspected something could be hidden beneath them.

They found the woman crouched underneath the trash bags.

The driver and the woman were arrested.

The ICA takes a serious view of attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally.

The penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane, while the penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to S$2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.

- CNA/xq