Saturday, May 10, 2025
27.1 C
Singapore
type here...
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 1883

Singapore: Two men cheat & falsified applications under the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCP) to get Government grants

The Independent
-
0
Singapore: Two men cheat & falsified applications under the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCP) to get Government grants

The Police said that on May 6, 33-year-old Xu Shaowen and 32-year-old Lim De Xian of 7W Consultancy Pte Ltd (“7W Consultancy”) were charged in court for their suspected involvement in cheating and falsification related offences with respect to grant applications made under the Professional Conversion Programmes (“PCP”).

The PCP is offered by Workforce Singapore (“WSG”) and administered by the Singapore National Employers Federation (“SNEF”), a programme partner appointed by WSG. PCPs help mid-career professionals, managers, executives, and technicians undergo skills conversion and move into new occupations or sectors with opportunities for progression. The grant pay-outs include course fee subsidies and a salary support grant, which is computed based on the employee’s monthly salary.

In December 2017, Lim De Xian, who is the sole director and shareholder of 7W Consultancy, allegedly conspired with Xu Shaowen, a shareholder of the company, to cheat SNEF into disbursing grants amounting to $13,995 through the submission of a false PCP application in Xu Shaowen’s name. The duo had allegedly falsified the employment contract and payslips in the PCP application to falsely represent that Xu Shaowen was paid a monthly salary of $5,800.

In April 2018, the duo had also allegedly conspired with a former employee of 7W Consultancy to submit another PCP application which falsely represented that the latter was paid a monthly salary of $5,600. Xu Shaowen is also alleged to have falsified an employment contract to support the application. This application was subsequently withdrawn, and no disbursement was made.

The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine. The offence of falsification of accounts is punishable with an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, or a fine, or both.

The Police said they take a serious stance against the abuse of Government grants and that offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.

The post Police charge two men with cheating and falsification of accounts offences to get Government grants appeared first on The Independent News.

‘Suddenly we seem to see many lawyers in trouble with the law’ — Netizens react to unauthorised lawyers & trainee lawyers cheating in exams

“No wonder items received damaged/broken” — Netizen witnessed courier staff tossing parcels around at void deck

The Independent
-
0
“No wonder items received damaged/broken” — Netizen witnessed courier staff tossing parcels around at void deck

A group of men were caught on camera tossing items around while seated across a void deck, sparking concern in the manner they were sorting out the parcels for a courier service company.

“No wonder items received damaged/broken,” wrote Facebook page Complaint Singapore member Jasmine Kaur on Thursday (May 12).

She attached a video of several men picking up packages, looking at the label, and then tossing them into designated piles.

Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore

“Not sure which company. But staff appointed to deliver our items simply throw around our parcel,” noted Ms Kaur.

“I have been noticing this almost on a daily basis from 8-10 am,” she added.

Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore

Ms Kaur said in a comment that customers should be able to request refunds for damaged items “as we know how is their handling process.”

However, Facebook user Joyce Zhuang explained that shopping platforms and courier services “just point fingers at sellers or senders when items are damaged.”

“Sellers or senders have to ensure their protective layers of bubble wrap and carton box can withstand throwing, kicking, stepping, driven over by transport vehicles (yes, I’ve seen photos of parcels with TYRE MARKS across them),” she said.

Meanwhile, Facebook user Chong Gwee Cheong wondered why the staff were doing such tasks at an HDB void deck, while another netizen asked if this was allowed.

The video gave netizens a glimpse of what parcels go through before reaching their destination.

In other news, packages are mishandled right before they reach the doorstep or even after delivery.

On Feb 23 this year, a Shopee delivery staff was caught on camera throwing a parcel from outside the fence about four metres into the customer’s front yard.

Shopee’s delivery staff caught throwing parcels on netizen’s front yard

In another incident, a man steps out of his residence and deliberately steps on a parcel that belonged to his neighbour.

“Hopefully, with more of such parcel handling being observed, recipients will be more aware that it’s not that sellers or senders purposely send defective items or never do QC,” Ms Zhuang continued. /TISG

Mean Neighbours: man caught on camera deliberately stepping on neighbour’s parcel

Woodlands HDB executive flat selling for over S$1M, Netizen says, ‘Then town area HDB flats S$2M or more. How can my children afford it?’

The Independent
-
0
Woodlands HDB executive flat selling for over S$1M, Netizen says, ‘Then town area HDB flats S$2M or more. How can my children afford it?’

After hearing that a Housing and Development Board (HDB) executive flat in Woodlands recently sold for over a million dollars, parents expressed concern that their children would never have the means to afford housing in the future.

HDB resale prices continued on their upward trajectory since 2020, with one flat in Woodlands reselling for S$1,040,000, the highest price of its kind in the last six months.

According to Uchify blog site, the executive flat is located at Block 832 Woodlands Street 83, with 71.5 years left on the lease.

The property is around 2,034 sq ft (189 sq m), the larger than average size justifying the price tag. The block is also near the Woodlands Park Connector, Causeway Point, 12 childcare centres and two kindergartens.

Executive apartments were first introduced in the 1980s and phased out in 2005, noted Uchify.

A jumbo flat in Yishun also made news in March this year as it went for S$1,038,000, a first for this HDB town in northern Singapore.

The nearly 2013 sq ft (187 sq m) flat is the second non-mature HDB estate to cross the S$1 million thresholds.

Prices in Singapore’s residential property sector are expected to continue growing given the tapering supply and increasing interest rates in 2022, the popular property website PropertyGuru predicted last December.

The property sector has displayed incredible resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic but may need to contend with developing macroeconomic and property supply trends in 2022, said the website in its annual report of the country’s property market outlook.

The Yishun jumbo flat surprised residents in the area since the apartment is around 30 years old with a remaining lease of 69 years and four months.

Some expressed concern that prices of flats will continue to escalate, putting them out of reach of their children and grandchildren.

Netizens responded similarly to the Woodlands executive flat. “Even Woodlands HDB flat sold for million dollars. Then town area HDB flats will start selling for S$2M or more. Xiao liao. How can my children afford it?” asked Facebook user Ande Liew.

Others wondered why HDB flats attract such high prices. “Isn’t condo worth more?” asked Facebook user Jaishri.

“I really don’t understand why people would want to pay S$1 Million for an HDB flat,” added netizen Fel Mic. /TISG

30-year-old jumbo flat in Yishun brings million-dollar bonanza for sellers

Woman screams & kicks young boy in public at Boon Keng, netizen says, “If she can do this in public, imagine what happens behind closed doors” 

The Independent
-
0
Woman screams & kicks young boy in public at Boon Keng, netizen says, “If she can do this in public, imagine what happens behind closed doors” 

A video of a woman screaming and kicking a young boy in public along McNair Road got netizens concerned about a possible case of child abuse, urging the witness to report the incident promptly.

“The way he flinched looks like he gets hit on a regular (basis),” wrote Facebook page Complaint Singapore member Anama O’Reilly, referring to the boy who was screamed at and kicked by a woman.

She included a video of a woman and child standing by the kerb while an SBS Transit made a stop nearby.

Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore

The woman began screaming at the boy and kicked him on the thigh.

Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore

The boy quickly stepped back, lifting his hands up as a gesture of surrender.

At one point, the woman pointed her finger at the boy, causing him to flinch involuntarily.

Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore

Ms O’Reilly witnessed the alleged child abuse outside her window and asked the Facebook community where she could report the incident.

Netizens responded to the post, urging Ms O’Reilly to file a police report with the video as proof.

“Pls file a report to police. The boy needs a hand with him to get out of this condition. It’s obviously child abuse,” noted Facebook user Tieu Linh.

“If she can do this in public, imagine what happens behind closed doors. Hopefully, her karma will come swift and decisive,” said Facebook user Douglas Kwok.

Ms O’Reilly said in an update that due to everyone’s attention and tagging, investigators from the Singapore Police Force reached out to her. “They will investigate the situation! Thank you!” she added.

The Independent Singapore has reached out to SPF for a statement and will update the article accordingly. /TISG

Child abuse in S’pore continues to rise following record high cases in a decade in 2020; majority cases of neglect

Ong Ye Kung: COVID-19 cases rising, public express concern if it will trigger changes to Safe Management Measures (SMMs)

The Independent
-
0
Ong Ye Kung: COVID-19 cases rising, public express concern if it will trigger changes to Safe Management Measures (SMMs)

Despite Covid-19 community cases in Singapore doubling in a week, from 1,638 cases on May 4 to 3,890 on May 11, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Thursday (May 12) that this is not a new wave.

“We have been seeing an uptick in Covid-19 cases in recent days. Some members of the public have written to me expressing concerns, while others wonder if it will trigger changes to Safe Management Measures (SMMs),” he said in a Facebook post.

He provided an overview of the situation, noting that community cases are rising but not doubling every few days. “So there is no evidence of a new wave.”

Mr Ong also said that the rise is expected, “given that we opened up social activities almost fully since April 26.”

The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 3,645 new cases on Thursday, the weekly infection rate at 1.49, down from 1.76 on Wednesday.

The weekly infection rate measures the ratio of community cases for the past week over those in the week before; hence, a rate of more than 1 indicates an increase of new weekly Covid-19 cases.

Amid the surge in cases, Mr Ong said that most show mild symptoms and recovery “uneventfully at home.”

Furthermore, Singapore’s hospitals and intensive care units are not seeing a rise in severe Covid-19 cases.

“With strong resilience to the virus due to vaccinations and recovery from past infections, we should be able to see through this uptick of cases, without any adjustments to current SMMs,” he said.

Authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely, as it could change very quickly, especially if a new variant were to emerge, he added.

“So even as we enjoy this period of respite, we must not let our guard down and should continue to exercise personal and social responsibility at all times,” said Mr Ong.

According to MOH’s report, there are 265 patients in the hospital, including 30 needing oxygen supplementation and seven in ICU.

A week ago, on May 5, there were 231 patients hospitalized, including 18 needing oxygen support and six in the ICU.

Netizens commented on Mr Ong’s post, thanking the minister for the explanation. “Thank you for the explanation and assurance that the situation is under control and being monitored closely,” said Facebook user Yu Lik Ng.

Mr Ong listed some reminders on April 26 as the country further eased Covid-19 measures.

“As we go about our daily activities, here are five things to still remember:

1) Mask is still required indoors. Also a good idea to mask up in crowded outdoor areas.
2) Take your booster when eligible.
3) Test yourself before seeing someone vulnerable e.g. your grandparents.
4) Keep your TraceTogether app or token even if you may not use it very much.
5) Live life, exercise and stay healthy!” /TISG

TraceTogether tokens or apps may be needed in future, don’t discard them yet: Ong Ye Kung

Loud noise from HDB neighbour for about a dozen years, woman says authorities could not do anything

Anna Maria Romero
-
0
Loud noise from HDB neighbour for about a dozen years, woman says authorities could not do anything

The problems of one Hougang woman concerning the noise her neighbour has made for about a dozen years have been documented on TikTok, shared on Facebook, and even made it to the news.

And yet, she says her problems are ongoing, with the latest clip of the noise from her neighbour’s unit uploaded on Wednesday (May 11).

@myneighbourfromhellsg

Its so loud that tiktok video auto add noise reducer for me. 🌚

♬ original sound – Snippetsofmylife – Snippetsofmylife

And she is not the only one who has aired her grievances over the noise, as another Tiktoker featured the same noisy neighbour earlier this month.

@ahhua12345

#siaolangsg #hdbsg #crazyneighbourhood #crazyneighbour #headache #rsafsg #singaporesiaolang #no1siaolanginsg #ahpekmaikoon #ahpekkisiao #livinginsg

♬ original sound – lala – lala

The woman’s account is called “myneighbourfromhellsg,” which tells of her suffering. Many of the clips she’s been uploading on TikTok since April 2021 feature the loud repetitive banging noises, which she says occur at any time day or night, even in the early hours.

In her latest post, the woman, who lives at Block 552 Hougang Street 51, wrote, “Its so loud that TikTok video auto-add noise reducer for me. 🌚”

She also wrote that she has reached out to her Member of Parliament and the HDB, but this has not solved the problem.

However, she wrote an update to her post to say the police had spoken to her neighbour’s mother, who denied that there had been noises from her son’s unit.

Netizens commented that the mother might have a hearing issue.

Singapore Incidents also left a comment to say they had shared the video over Facebook, just as it did two years ago.

Mustsharenews also wrote about the woman’s predicament in May of last year, which seems to have stemmed from conflict between the neighbours. She told the news site that she has brought up the issue with the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) and HDB, made a magistrate complaint to the State Courts, as well as filed several police reports over the past years.

However, as no laws had been broken nor offences committed, there was little that authorities could do for her.

In other posts, the TikToker documented some of the reports she filed, as well as the responses she got.

@myneighbourfromhellsg

ok SPF….. 😡 #tiktok #tiktoksg #trendsg #trend #fyp #fypsg #neighbourfromhell #rsaf

♬ Touch It (remix) – Wisdom Kaye

@myneighbourfromhellsg

Reply to @yuriandargento JUST ONE OF THE MANY STANDARD Replies i received. I wrote in to them alot of times 🙂 FOR MP, refer to my other post. #fyp #tiktok #tiktoksg

♬ original sound – Snippetsofmylife – Snippetsofmylife

/TISG

Neighbour puts flower pots in front of HDB service risers and block others’ path

Tay Ping Hui tells fans he’s just an actor, stop the obsession, stalking & suicide threats, pay more attention to those around you, especially your parents

Anna Maria Romero
-
0
Tay Ping Hui tells fans he’s just an actor, stop the obsession, stalking & suicide threats, pay more attention to those around you, especially your parents

Actor Tay Ping Hui said that a male fan attempted to see him recently and is probably the same one who, in 2016, wrote a suicide note that had bloodstains on it. The male fan, pretending to be a graduate from the same school as the actor, reached out to Tay’s friends and tried to get a basketball game going.

“Basically he wanted to know when we would play and then appear at the same place,” Tay, 51, told Shin Min Daily News in an article published on May 10 (Tuesday). The actor, who is known to be direct and outspoken, made a direct appeal to the fan, calling his actions a “waste of time.”

“There are many other things in this world to pay attention to and care about, please don’t waste time on people of no significance. If you can, pay more attention to those around you, especially your parents. I’ll give you my blessing,” he said, adding that he is “just an actor” and there is “no point” in going to such lengths to see him.

Interestingly, Tay also said that he has met this man and has told him to stop obsessing over him.

The man’s actions made him feel “very helpless,” he added.

“I hope fans don’t waste time doing such meaningless things.”

Should the man’s actions escalate, the actor said he’ll call the police, just like he did six years ago over the bloody suicide note incident.

At that time, a man named Luo sent a letter, written in Mandarin, to Lianhe Zaobao.

What made the incident both creepy and alarming is that the suicide note had bloodstains.

In the note, the fan wrote, “I miss you every night, I can’t sleep or eat because of you, this feeling is like loving someone to the point of infatuation.

If only I have a confidante by my side. How nice it would be to have someone support me mentally and care for me. Unfortunately, that’s not meant to be. I don’t have the good fortune to be your friend.

This blood that runs through my veins isn’t worth anything. I’m willing to leave this world in anticipation of a better world ahead. I am grieving but I hope that you will see me often in your dreams,” Luo wrote.

The fan harassed Tay for more than a year before the actor filed a police report.

This year, another email was sent to Shin Min Daily News, saying that Tay would “face harassment” again this year.

The actor told Shin Min that it could be the work of the same person who wrote the bloody suicide note. /TISG

Actor Tay Ping Hui blasts “pompous idiocy” of MRT anti-masker

Pritam Singh promises to keep working on his ‘limited conversational Mandarin’

Anna Maria Romero
-
0
Pritam Singh promises to keep working on his ‘limited conversational Mandarin’

After receiving a boost from a longtime Eunos resident to whom he spoke in Mandarin, Workers’ Party chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh said he will “keep working” on learning the language.

Mr Singh has made speeches and appeals in Mandarin and has been caught on video singing in Hokkien. He is of Punjabi ancestry and shared in an Instagram post last year that Punjabi is his two young daughters’ mother tongue. But the 45-year-old WP leader isn’t done with learning yet, based on his Facebook post on Wednesday night (May 11).

Mr Singh wrote that he had come from house visits that night, which was a “very humid one.”

The weather notwithstanding, he had “a good meeting” with some residents, he said, as the Aljunied GRC MP met people who are new to the Eunos neighborhood, as well as some longtime residents, with whom he spoke in Mandarin.

“Like the Tan family, whose patriarch Mr Tan had some encouraging words for me on my limited conversational Mandarin! I will keep working at it!”

Mr Singh also had a fanboy moment, writing that it had been “cool meeting a famous person (and her daughter)” during the house visits.

“Siti Hajjar stars in the current Channel 5 TV shows Sunny Side Up and 128 Circle. I shared some plans about the estate with her,” he wrote.

Sunny Side Up is a drama series from Mediacorp headlined by Gurmit Singh

Mr Singh added that the actress “gave two thumbs up for the Netflix movie Gangubai Kathiawadi,” an Indian Hindi-language biographical crime drama film that was released this year.

Mr Singh also shared about the volunteers who joined him that night.

“Linda, who is one of my Chinese-speaking housevisits volunteer, and who joined Amos and I today, has also already watched it! I was impressed with the multiracial appeal of the movie. Long story short, it is strongly recommended! And that’s another reason I enjoy my housevisits – I tend to get good tips on a variety of things, including the esoteric, whatever the weather!”

In an Instagram post in April of last year, Mr Singh wrote about the struggles of minority families who need to decide on a second language for their children to study in primary school.

He added that his wife, Loveleen, a theatre practitioner, “is far better at languages,” than he is.

“Our older daughter takes Mandarin in kindergarten, and she seems to be getting on reasonably (gotta thank her teachers!) We hope she can continue with Mandarin for as long as possible because it is a such a useful language to be competent in,” he wrote. /TISG

Why Chinese voters like WP chief: His name Pritam Singh (Bie Dan Xin) = Don’t Worry!

Morning Digest, May 13

Obbana Rajah
-
0
Morning Digest, May 13

Netizens call out lovey-dovey couple on train for taking non-foldable bicycle on MRT

Photo: FB screengrab/ Singapore Incidents

A video of a couple being sweet with one another has gone viral online, but not for that reason. As adorable as they are, what caught netizens’ attention was the bicycle they had brought on the train, as it was the non-foldable kind.

Some commenters wondered if the MRT staff who should be making sure commuters comply with rules and regulations were sleeping or bo chap, meaning they simply don’t care. The bicycle seen in the video clip uploaded by Abdulsalam on the Singapore Incidents page on Wednesday (May 12) was certainly not a folded one.

Read more here

Passport processing time increased to six weeks as passport applications & renewals continue to surge

passport-processing-time-increased-to-six-weeks-as-passport-applications-and-renewals-continue-to-surge
As the number of people applying for and renewing passports continues to rise, Immigration and Checkpoints says applications now take at least six weeks to process.

“Longer Processing Time for Passport Application. Due to overwhelming passport applications, please expect a longer processing time of at least six weeks,” said a notice on the official website of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) today (May 11).

Read more here

U2’s Bono performs at subway station in Kyiv

u2’s-bono-performs-at-subway-station-in-kyiv

U2’s Bono and The Edge cheered up audiences in Ukraine on May 8 with a surprise performance at a subway station in Kyiv. The famous singer and guitarist were accompanied by members of a Ukrainian band as they performed a number of hit songs.

The 40-minute concert was held in support of Ukrainian forces fighting the Russian army. They had been invited to perform by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Read more here

Sharon Au has “nothing now” after her apartment in Paris gets robbed

sharon-au-has-“nothing-now”-after-her-apartment-in-paris-gets-robbed

Sharon Au took to Instagram to say that her apartment in Paris was broken into on April 30. Au is a Singaporean former actress and host. Having joined the TCS during the mid-1990s, she won many awards as an artiste with MediaCorp before taking a sabbatical to pursue university education in 2005 on a scholarship.

Read more here

Snake chase duck, woman chase snake at Bukit Timah Hill

Photo: TikTok screengrab/3344520ma

With human help, could this be the duck’s lucky day of escape as it stood inches away from danger in the form of a snake pursuing its next meal?

The TikTok video showed the snake slithering towards the rather clueless duck along a drain at Bukit Timah Hill when one woman attempted a rescue mission.

Read more here

 

Stories you might’ve missed, May 12

Obbana Rajah
-
0
Stories you might’ve missed, May 12

Following backlash from netizens, Jade Rasif says she didn’t commission The Straits Times for her 2nd appearance in ST article in less than 2 days

Photo: Instagram / djjaderasif

Jade Rasif took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday (May 10) following the backlash to a Straits Times article on her.

The DJ and influencer responded to the second Straits Times piece in less than 2 days. The piece, titled ‘DJ Jade Rasif unfazed by critics who call her ‘a terrible mother’ received almost 200 comments and more than 550 reactions, most of which were critical of Ms Rasif.

Read more here

4-year-old girl suffers burn from boiling hot drink on flight; mum blames tray, netizens blame mum

Photo: Unsplash/ Alexander Schimmeck (for illustration purposes only).

A woman showed photos of her 4-year-old daughter’s burns after boiling hot tea spilt on the child’s legs. Writing to crowdsourced news site Stomp, she warned parents to take care as this might happen to their child.

The mum appeared to feel that the meal tray had been poorly designed, as it made it “easy” for spills to occur. And although netizens were sympathetic because of the accident, they seemed to feel that the mum was at least partly responsible.

The mother, referred to as Lim in the story, told Stomp that they were en route from Doha to Singapore on April 28, at around 5am, when the tea spilt.

Read more here

Man jobless almost 2 years says he doesn’t get selected after job interviews, even friends & girl cut ties with him, asks advice, “How can I find jobs?”

FB screengrab Singapore CBD

A man not able to find a job for almost two years took to social media asking netizens for advice, especially after a girl who wanted to date him left after she found out he was unemployed.

In a post to popular confessions page SGWhispers on Tuesday (May 10), the man wrote that he had been searching for a supply chain or procurement job for almost two years. He added that he applied in various industries such as construction, engineering, manufacturing, non-governmental organizations (NGO) and even education, but was of no avail.

Read more here

Police probes lawyer in prominent drug trafficking case for legal practice with expired certificate

police-probes-lawyer-in-prominent-drug-trafficking-case-for-legal-practice-with-expired-certificate

The Police said on Wednesday (May 11) that they were investigating a woman for being an unauthorised person acting as an advocate or solicitor. The Straits Times (ST) identified the lawyer as Ms Violet Netto who earlier this year represented Malaysian drug trafficker Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam in an appeal against his death sentence. He was hanged on April 27.

The Police said that on 27 April 2022, a police report was lodged against the woman and that she had purportedly acted as an advocate and solicitor on at least three occasions, even though her practising certificate had expired.

Read more here

 

1...1,8821,8831,884...5,254Page 1,883 of 5,254

The Independent SG

Singapore News

Singapore richer, healthier than most English-speaking countries?

0
SINGAPORE: Singapore is getting so accustomed to superlatives that...

Singaporeans more open to talking about death, but few take concrete steps to prepare

0
SINGAPORE: A recent survey by the Singapore Management University...

‘This is daylight robbery’: Toast Box patrons upset with difference in menu pictures and actual items

0
SINGAPORE: Some Toast Box patrons have raised concerns over...

TikToker draws mixed reactions after questioning Singapore’s ‘cleanest city in the world’ tag

0
SINGAPORE: A TikToker has drawn mixed reactions online after...

Business

Singapore Politics

© The Independent Singapore