Foreign Talents? - Please Contribute

[Vultan]

Re: Tax Free Hub?


18 Vietnamese contraband cigarette peddlers nabbed

Singapore Customs have smashed a Vietnamese peddling ring dealing in contraband cigarettes and arrested 18 Vietnamese.

Vietnamese contraband cigarette peddlers nabbed in nine-hour operation in Kaki Bukit, Tampines and East Coast Park (Photo: Singapore Customs).Over 1,500 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth more than S$15,300 were seized in the pre-dawn operation. The duty and GST evaded exceeded S$12,600 (Photo: Singapore Customs)

SINGAPORE - Singapore Customs have smashed a Vietnamese peddling ring dealing in contraband cigarettes and arrested 18 Vietnamese.

Over 1,500 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth more than S$15,300 were seized in the pre-dawn operation. The duty and goods and services tax (GST) evaded exceeded S$12,600.

Officers arrested three men in Kaki Bukit and Tampines Place. Two of them were sentenced on 4 April for their involvement in peddling contraband cigarettes. They now face a S$37,000 court fine or in default three months' jail.

Officers also raided a chalet at East Coast Parkway which was used by the peddling ring as a "nest" and arrested 15 Vietnamese there.

Over at Lorong 17 Geylang, the peddling ring had concealed more than 1,020 packets of contraband cigarettes in a manhole. Officers had earlier spotted one of the peddlers retrieving cigarettes from the manhold.

Investigations showed that these Vietnamese peddlers had been hired by their fellow Vietnamese to peddle contraband cigarettes in Kaki Bukit, Tampines and Geylang.

Seven of the Vietnamese were referred to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for investigation into immigration-related offences.

Court proceedings are still on-going for other Vietnamese involved in this peddling ring.

Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act.

Offenders will be severely dealt with. Repeat offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.

The minimum court fines for first-time and repeat offenders of tobacco-related offences are S$2,000 and S$4,000 respectively. Repeat offenders who are caught with more than two kilogrammes of tobacco products will also face mandatory imprisonment.

- CNA/ck

 

[Vultan]

Man jailed for firearm robberies committed more than 20 years ago

Published on Apr 10, 2013
By Elena Chong

A Malaysian man was jailed a total of six years on Wednesday for firearm robberies he committed more than 20 years ago. Lim Kian Hock, 50, admitted to robbing businessman Low Beng Yuet of a briefcase containing $58,397 and cheques amounting to $112,238 while armed with a revolver at the carpark of Goldhill Plaza, Thomson Road, on May 9, 1989. His accomplice Tan Seng Heng, then 26, was given four years and 12 strokes of the cane in 1990.

A district court heard that one Eng Kah Kian, 67, tipped off Tan in April 1989 that Mr Low, then 39, would collect cash from his office to the bank daily in his Mercedes Benz which was parked at Goldhill Plaza. Tan shared the information with Lim. Both men went to recce the place. Lim asked a Malaysian friend to help steal a motorcycle which he used as a getaway vehicle.

On May 9 that year, armed with a revolver, Lim rode the stolen motorbike to Goldhill Centre and parked it along the main road next to the carpark. Tan took over the motorcycle and waited for Lim. Lim robbed Mr Low of his briefcase and ran to Tan who was waiting on the motorcycle. They abandoned the motorcycle and fled to Malaysia in Tan's car. They shared the loot with Eng, now 68. He has also been dealt with.

Lim also admitted to robbing then 36-year-old housewife Lee Neen Nyet of her handbag containing $35,000 at the ground floor of Block 332 Jurong East Street 31 on Oct 29, 1988.Madam Lee was walking towards her car when Lim and Tan robbed her of her handbag. Both she and her husband were said to be operating as bookies and would carry $50,000 and $60,00 to the former Bukit Timah Turf Club during race days. Lim was arrested by the Malaysian police in June 2007 and served seven years for various offences before he was extradited to Singapore in February last year.

 

[Vultan]

Re: Man gropes her, then punches her


2 charged with living off earnings of prostitutes

By Leong Wai Kit
POSTED: 17 Apr 2013 4:35 PM

Two India nationals have been charged with living off the earnings of four India national women who worked as prostitutes in Singapore.

SINGAPORE: Two India nationals have been charged with living off the earnings of four India national women who worked as prostitutes in Singapore.

The men - Balakrishnan Tamil Selvan, 28, and Kannaiya Ananthaprabu, 25 - are believed to have committed the offences between February and April this year.

Balakrishnan is also accused of procuring two of the women in February 2013 to work as prostitutes in Singapore.

The maximum penalty for procuring women to Singapore for prostitution is five years' jail and a S$10,000 fine.

For living off the earnings of a prostitute, each man faces up to five years' jail and a S$10,000 fine.

The case will be heard again on 29 April.

- CNA/ck

 

[Vultan]

Russian denies making bomb threat on SIA flight

Published on Apr 22, 2013

Russian national Vlada Vitaly (above) was charged on Monday, April 22, 2013, with threatening to blow up a Singapore Airlines plane. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

By Khushwant Singh

A RUSSIAN national was charged on Monday with threatening to blow up a Singapore Airlines plane.

A district court heard tax consultant Vlada Vitaly, 26, was on board the flight from Moscow to Singapore on April 16 this year.

At about 4.30am, he had asked flight steward Isaac Joseph Pragasam for water and then told him: "You better get back to me. If not, I will blast this aircraft."

Through the Russian interpreter, Vitaly agreed that he had requested for a glass of water.

He said he then turned to his friend seated next to him to say in Russian that if he does not get water to drink, he might vomit.

He added that the Russian word 'vomit' sounds very much like 'blow up', and this may have created a misunderstanding.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

Jobless man who slapped and punched elderly woman fined

By Claire Huang
POSTED: 23 Apr 2013 4:07 PM

SINGAPORE: An unemployed man who slapped and punched a 61-year-old woman in the bus has been fined S$4,000.

Twenty-eight-year-old Luah Kok Boon was also ordered by the district judge to compensate Madam Eunice Sim Kee Koon S$1,000 within seven days.

On Tuesday, the bespectacled Luah admitted to two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to Madam Sim on 9 July 2012 at about 10pm on board SBS bus 143.

The incident happened while the bus was travelling from Orchard Turn towards Toa Payoh Interchange.

Madam Sim boarded the bus and saw Luah with his feet resting on the seat facing him.

She told him he should not be doing that as other people might want to take those seats but Luah ignored her.

Seeing Luah's refusal to budge, Madam Sim decided she could take a photo of him.

As she took her mobile phone out of the bag, the accused lunged towards her and slapped her across the face several times.

Luah also punched the woman causing her to suffer from a bruised cheek and swollen lower lip.

In submissions, prosecution showed the court a video clip of the incident.

The prosecution said Luah not only slapped but also punched the victim several times.

It added that the accused offered to compensate the victim S$1,000.

Speaking through an interpreter, Luah said he was very remorseful and that he was willing to compensate the victim.

Representing himself, Luah said for the past eight months, he had been "living in hell" and is out of a job.

He pleaded for leniency, saying the incident has been hard on his family.

Looking nervous, Luah added that he did not want a "reputation as an ex-convict".

District Judge Lim Tse Haw took these into consideration but said during sentencing that Luah ought to be ashamed of himself.

The judge said the bus was crowded yet Luah took up other seats by putting his feet on them.

He added that while it was a relatively minor incident, "a sufficiently high fine" was warranted as such conduct is not to be tolerated.

The highest penalty for voluntarily causing hurt is a jail term of up to two years and a maximum fine of S$5,000.

- CNA/ck

 

[Vultan]

Man sentenced 6 weeks' jail for attempted theft on plane

By Claire Huang
POSTED: 29 Apr 2013 8:42 PM

A Chinese national was sentenced to six weeks' jail on Monday for attempting to steal from a fellow passenger while they were in on board a plane.

Travellers at Singapore Changi Airport (photo: Francine Lim, channelnewsasia.com)

SINGPORE: A man was sentenced to six weeks' jail on Monday for attempting to steal from a fellow passenger while they were on board a plane.

Xu Changkai, 47, was convicted of attempted theft while on board a SilkAir flight from Singapore to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 19 April this year.

The Chinese national had rummaged through a duffel bag belonging to British passenger Betts Eliott James, 46.

Xu was caught doing so by flight attendants.

In the prosecution's submissions on sentencing, prosecutor Caleb Tan said thefts on Singapore-controlled aircrafts and aircrafts in general have become more prevalent recently.

In 2012, 18 individuals were prosecuted for theft and related offences on board Singapore-controlled aircraft.

In the first quarter of this year, 10 Chinese nationals have been investigated for such offences.

To send a message out to the public, Mr Tan asked for Xu to be jailed for at least six weeks.

- CNA/jc

 

[Vultan]

Man jailed, fined for hurting taxi driver

By Claire Huang
POSTED: 29 Apr 2013 7:48 PM

A Norwegian man has been sentenced to six weeks' jail for hurting a taxi driver after he thought he was cheated of a midnight surcharge of S$4. He was also ordered to compensate the victim S$1,699.

SINGAPORE: A Norwegian man has been sentenced to six weeks' jail for hurting a taxi driver after he thought he was cheated of a midnight surcharge of S$4.

He was also ordered to compensate the victim S$1,699.

Shipping charterer, Sindre Christian Myhrhagen, admitted to one count of using criminal force to grab Mr Lee Chin Chye, 49, by the neck and shoving him across a hotel lobby into a lift.

The 27-year-old was convicted of another charge of causing hurt to the taxi driver by pushing him against a lift wall.

The incident happened on 7 March this year, close to 4am.

Myhrhagen had drinks before the incident and Mr Lee had driven the accused back to Grand Park Orchard Hotel, where he stayed.

The accused paid the fare of S$8 but did not realise there was an additional midnight surcharge of S$4.

The taxi driver followed Myhrhagen to the hotel and got the concierge staff to ask the accused to pay him the surcharge.

The court was shown a video clip where Myhrhagen, dressed only in boxer shorts, came down, handed the money to Mr Lee and grabbed his neck and started pushing him across the lobby, into the lift.

The taxi driver suffered a back injury as a result.

The prosecution said in its submissions that the victim was not the aggressor, despite defence's claim.

It added that although a hotel staff tried to intervene, Myhrhagen continued to shove the cabby.

Even if the accused felt the cabby had overcharged him, the prosecution said Myhrhagen could have lodged a complaint with the hotel staff.

Given all these aggravating factors, the prosecution asked for a global sentence of more than four weeks.

But this was met with strong objection by the defence, which said Myhrhagen clearly thought he was being ripped off by Mr Lee.

The defence explained that its client had paid the fare, and as he was a foreigner, he did not realise there was a midnight surcharge.

It added that Myhrhagen was overcharged by a taxi driver a day before the incident.

The defence stressed that its client is utterly remorseful and regrets his action. These cut no ice with the district judge, who described the acts as shocking and deplorable.

The judge said the accused behaved in a thuggish and violent manner, which warranted a custodial sentence higher than what the prosecution asked for.

- CNA/xq

 

[Vultan]

Director fined, jailed for breaching Employment of Foreign Manpower Act

By Claire Huang
POSTED: 29 Apr 2013 7:07 PM

The director of a cleaning firm has been sentenced to four weeks' jail and fined S$2,500 for hiring phantom workers and other offences.

SINGAPORE: The director of a cleaning firm has been sentenced to four weeks' jail and fined S$2,500 for hiring phantom workers and other offences.

Zhang Xinyan, 40, had falsely declared to the Controller of Work Passes the Central Provident Fund contributions of her firm, Spark N Brite Pte Ltd.

She had lied that she hired 20 workers who received CPF contributions but in reality, 13 were phantom workers who did not work for her.

This happened between August 2009 and December 2010.

Zhang did so she could hire more foreign workers. With every local employed, Zhang could hire five foreigners.

For these offences, she was handed a four-week jail term.

For other offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, including contravening the condition of the work pass and failing to keep proper wage records of her workers, Zhang was fined S$2,500.

- CNA/xq

 

[Vultan]

2 Malaysians caught trying to smuggle drugs into Singapore

AsiaOne
Thursday, May 02, 2013

SINGAPORE - Two Malaysians were caught attempting to smuggle drugs into Singapore through the Tuas Checkpoint yesterday.

At about 6.30am, a Malaysia-registered vehicle driven by a 34-year-old Malaysian male pulled up at the checkpoint for arrival clearance. Eagle-eyed Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers noticed that the rear seat of the vehicle could be lifted.

Upon lifting the seat, officers found four bundles hidden. The bundles were found to be cannabis, weighing approximately 2.1kg with an estimated value of $69,300.

The driver, along with his 31-year-old fellow Malaysian male passenger, were handed over to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for further investigations.

They are being investigated for drug importation and if convicted, may face the death penalty.

[email protected]

 

[Vultan]

3 lose more than $43,700 on SilkAir plane

By David Sun and Rennie Whang, The New Paper | Thu, May 2 2013

Some fly for business. Others for pleasure.

Then there are those who fly so they can steal.

On April 19, three men lost more than US$3,000 (S$3,700) collectively in just two hours, on a flight from Singapore to Cambodia.

Mr Steven Ng, 46, a creative consultant, was one of the victims.

The Singaporean had taken SilkAir flight MI 602 to Phnom Penh.

He said that when the plane landed, an announcement was made by a crew member that a theft had occurred in the aircraft, and that the passengers should check their belongings.

Mr Ng said: "I never expected it to be me. But when I went through my belongings, I found that my money pouch was empty."

About US$700 was missing. He notified the crew.

"Another Singaporean behind me also found his cash missing, and we were both led to the front of the plane," said Mr Ng.

"Two suspects who were Chinese nationals were then pointed out by eyewitnesses."

Three witnesses, three victims and the two suspects were then led by Cambodian police to a station.

He said the suspects were searched but nothing was found on them.

Mr Ng said: "I believe their accomplice had already left the plane before that, as there were two people who had disembarked before the theft was discovered."

A 47-year-old Chinese national, Xu Chang Kai, was later arrested and charged with the theft on Monday. The New Paper understands that the man had taken a flight back to Singapore on the same day, and was arrested upon arrival.

Mr Ng had to cut short his trip and flew back on Tiger Airways.

When contacted, a SilkAir spokesman confirmed the incident. He said SilkAir takes a serious view of thefts.

The spokesman said: "In the event that any suspected thefts take place on board our flights, we are always ready, upon request, to assist any customer who wishes to file a report with the authorities.

"We would like to remind our customers to always safeguard their valuables. Our crew are advised to remain vigilant and to alert authorities of any suspicious behaviour on board our flights."

This is the third reported theft on SilkAir flights this year.

The Singapore Police Force said 43 cases of inflight theft occurred last year, and six by March this year, with eight Chinese nationals arrested.

In contrast, there was only one case in 2011, which occurred in December.

The Singapore police told TNP in February that Singapore-bound flights from Hong Kong, Jakarta, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Bangkok were targeted.

Not just a local trend

It's not just a local trend. Hong Kong police told TNP last month that 71 cases of overhead compartment theft were reported last year, up from 21 in 2011.

Vietnam newspaper Thanh Nien Daily also reported in November last year that airport police in Hanoi arrested two Chinese nationals for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from a Japanese passenger's luggage during a flight from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong police said they had been closely monitoring such thefts, and maintain regular liaison with law enforcement agencies in mainland China, Macau and other jurisdictions to fight such crossboundary crimes.

The Singapore police said that all the culprits in the cases which were reported here were males in their 30s and 50s.

In most cases, the culprits would remove the victim's unguarded hand-carry bag from the overhead compartment and steal valuable items. This would be when the victims were asleep or in the toilet.

At times, the culprits worked in pairs or groups to pass the stolen cash to their accomplices, so the stolen items would not be traced to them when confronted.

Police advise that passengers exercise caution and keep their valuables with them instead of placing them unattended in the overhead luggage compartments.

Travellers should also keep an eye out for passengers who are seen opening overhead compartments and retrieving baggage and rummaging through them as the thieves would typically be looking for valuable items.

 

[Vultan]

Man jailed for pocketing $1.15m meant for ship purchase

Published on May 03, 2013

An Indonesian national was jailed for 21 months on Friday for misappropriating $1.15 million meant for the purchase of a vessel. -- ST POSED PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

By Elena Chong

An Indonesian national was jailed for 21 months on Friday for misappropriating $1.15 million meant for the purchase of a vessel.

Ng Tjeu Fen, 64, had been on the run since 2001 and was arrested at Changi Airport when he tried to enter Singapore last November.

He admitted to criminal breach of trust of three United Overseas Bank cheques totalling $1.15 million at Apollo Centre, Havelock Road, between Aug 30 and Sept 1, 2001.

A district court heard that Ng, a director of PT Putra Majesindo Lestari (PML), managed to source a vessel for government officials from Sabang City in Acheh. The vessel cost eight million Indonesian rupiah.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

10 years’ jail for maid who caused lover’s death

Tharmalingam Punwaneswary. Photo: Singapore Police Force

BY KIMBERLY SPYKERMAN
-3 HOURS 55 MIN AGO

SINGAPORE — A former domestic helper was jailed today for 10 years by the High Court for causing the death of her lover.

34-year-old Tharmalingam Puwaneswary, a Sri Lankan national, struck her lover, 32-year-old project supervisor Murugaiyan Selvam, on the head with an improvised dumb-bell weighing more than 5kg.

According to court documents, Mr Murugaiyan, a Singapore permanent resident from India, would frequently pick Tharmalingam up from her employers’ home in the Serangoon Garden area after 10pm. They would have sex either at a hotel or in his bedroom, which was located at his company’s premises.

It was also heard that Tharmalingam would also lend Mr Murugaiyan money as well as buy him clothes and jewellery.

On the night of the incident in December 2009, an argument broke out between the couple in Mr Murugaiyan’s room — when he asked her to hand over her employers’ cheque book so he could forge a cheque and encash it at the bank. Tharmalingam then accused him of exploiting her for money and sex.

Mr Murugaiyan slapped her, and later fell asleep after the argument. Tharmalingam then noticed an improvised dumb-bell outside his room, and used it to hit Mr Murugaiyan on the head twice. She also used a sharp object to stab his groin area before leaving the room.

In mitigation, defence lawyers said Tharmalingam, who is married with two children back home, had suffered physical abuse by her husband, and continued to have a difficult relationship with him even while working in Singapore.

Noting that the act was not premeditated, they added that Mr Murugaiyan had used her for money — and estimated that Tharmalingam had given him some S$6,000 of her own money.

Tharmalingam also had four other charges involving theft and abetting forgery for the purpose of cheating, which were taken into consideration. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

 

[Vultan]

Five people assisting police investigations after illegal protest at Merlion Park

POSTED: 09 May 2013 11:57 AM

SINGAPORE: Five Malaysians are now assisting police in their investigations following an illegal outdoor protest on Wednesday night at Merlion Park.

Police said the individuals are believed to have organised the illegal outdoor protest.

Police said they received a call at about 9.50pm on Wednesday night about a group of people that had gathered to stage the illegal protest. About 100 people had gathered illegally in the park with placards and other paraphernalia.

The police advised the group that such an activity is illegal in Singapore. The group subsequently dispersed peacefully.

Police would like to remind the public that conducting an outdoor protest without a police permit is illegal in Singapore, and stressed that while foreigners -- including Malaysians -- are allowed to work or live here, they have to abide by the laws here.

Foreigners should not import issues from their own countries into Singapore, which can disturb public order as there can be groups with opposing views.

Police warned that authorities will act firmly, adding that those who break the laws will face action, which could include termination of their visa or work passes.

- CNA/ac

 

[Vultan]

Alleged MOM hacker faces 112 more charges

Published on May 10, 2013

Abdul Gafoor Jahangeer Basha, who has been accused of hacking into the Ministry of Manpower's computer system, was charged on Friday with 112 more charges. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

By Elena Chong

A man who has been accused of hacking into the Ministry of Manpower's computer system was charged on Friday with 112 more charges.

Abdul Gafoor Jahangeer Basha, 33, is said to have committed the computer misuse offences between October and December last year.

He was initially charged last December with one count of knowingly causing a computer to perform a function for illegally securing access to data.

This allegedly took place on Nov 17, and involved data from the e-appointment system for the ministry's Employment Pass Services Centre (EPSC).

On Friday, the prosecution tendered 112 more charges against him.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

Suspects in MBS gaming fraud charged and remanded for further investigations

Published on May 11, 2013

Seven Thai nationals and a Laotian were charged in court on Saturday morning for cheating at play, at the Marina Bay Sands casino. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

By Amelia Tan

Seven Thai nationals and a Laotian were charged in court on Saturday morning for cheating at play, at the Marina Bay Sands casino.

They are Thai nationals Namwong Pimrapat, Namwong Kanyapak, Prasing Jessada, Prasing Juthamas, Sangkaew Singha, Sornsirinam Piyapat, Bujatham Thanadet, and Laotian Sengmanivong Soum.

The eight of them, aged between 23 and 50 years old, had allegedly colluded to win cash chips worth some $1.2 million in a game of baccarat at the casino on Tuesday from 2.50am to 6am.

They apparently came up with a fraudulent scheme in which they knew the sequence of the cards in advance.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

Bukit Batok lift molester gets 4 1/2 years jail, nine strokes of the cane

Published on May 13, 2013

A factory worker from China who molested three women in lifts last August was sentenced to four years six months' jail and nine strokes of the cane on Monday. -- ST FILE PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

By Elena Chong

A factory worker from China who molested three women in lifts last August was sentenced to four years six months' jail and nine strokes of the cane on Monday.

Dong Liang, 22, who faced three charges, admitted to one charge of causing hurt to the victim while molesting her and another of poking the breast of a woman and patting her groin area.

On Aug 26, a 21-year-old woman was waiting for the lift at Bukit Batok Street 32 at 9.37pm on Aug 26 when Dong got into the lift with her.

As the lift was ascending, she felt him moving close to her, Suddenly, he stretched out his hand and grabbed her right arm. He also inserted his hand into her tank top and bra and gave her a tight and painful squeeze.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

Storekeeper jailed six weeks for attacking co-worker with metal shaft

Published on May 14, 2013
By Elena Chong

A warehouse storekeeper who was involved in a workplace dispute was jailed for six weeks on Tuesday for using a metal shaft to hit a colleague on the head.

Malaysian Phoon Mun Kit, 21, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of causing hurt to Mr Pang Khong You, 21, with the 74cm-long black metal shaft, causing him to suffer a 5cm-long cut on the right side of his head.

The offence took place at DB Schenker, a freight forwarding company, at Changi South Street 2 on Jan 14 this year.

The victim was given medical leave for a week and Phoon was ordered to pay $1,000 compensation to the victim.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

Deliveryman jailed 18 months for slashing fellow worker with a chopper

Published on May 14, 2013

Posed photo of a man in handcuffs. A deliveryman who slashed a fellow worker with a chopper was jailed for 18 months on Tuesday. -- ST FILE PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

By Elena Chong

A deliveryman who slashed a fellow worker with a chopper was jailed for 18 months on Tuesday.

Chinese national Chen Ningke, 38, admitted to grievously hurting lighting technician Du Kang, 27, who is also from China, causing him to suffer multiple injuries at SJ Lite at Ubi Link on Dec 12 last year. Both men shared a room at the company premises.

That evening, the victim was completing some work at the common work station when Chen came and borrowed his phone. He walked away, pretending to make a telephone call.

When the victim turned back to face the common work station, Chen whipped out a chopper and assaulted him from behind.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

 

[Vultan]

Pimp of Indian vice ring jailed for 6 months

Published on May 20, 2013
By Khushwant Singh

An Indian national, who managed three prostitutes from his country, was jailed for six months on Monday.

Kothandan Vinoth, 24, was in business here for less than a week. He had pleaded guilty to bringing in the women into Singapore and living on their prostitution earnings.

A district court heard that the women, all Indian nationals, were offered air tickets and promised a monthly salary of 30,000 rupees ($684) each to work as prostitutes in Singapore. Two of the women, Kasthuri Ramasamy, 21 , and Fathimal Ali Srinivasan, 42, flew in from Chennai with Vinoth on April 1 this year.

They all had social visit passes and the next day, the women solicited for customers at Lorong 22 Geylang from 10pm to 5am. The third woman, Padma Kadiya, 35, arrived here on April 6.

Get a copy of The Straits Times

 

[Vultan]

Lorry driver jailed for causing death and injuring 14 others

Published on May 21, 2013
By Elena Chong

A lorry driver was jailed for eight weeks and banned from driving for five years on Tuesday over a head-on collision with another lorry which claimed the life of one and seriously injured 14 others.

Periyasamy Jayaprakash, 25, an Indian national, admitted to causing the death of Mr Mathialagu Kathiravan, 19, a passenger in the rear cabin of the lorry, through his negligence along Tanah Merah Coast Road on July 3 last year.

Jayaprakash who came to court in a wheelchair also pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt to the other lorry driver and 13 passengers by doing a negligent act to endanger life at about 6.20am that day.

All the victims, aged 22 to 36, are Indian nationals.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.