Singaporean R Shanmugaratnam and Briton James Henry O'Sullivan were sentenced to jail on Tuesday (Jan 6) for falsifying accounts in relation to collapsed German payments company Wirecard, according to police on Thursday.Shanmugaratnam, 59, received 10 years' jail time, while O'Sullivan, 51, got 6.5 years.Both were convicted on Sept 22, 2025, following a joint trial between July 31, 2023 and Feb 21, 2025 over 26 days, police stated.Shanmugaratnam is a director of a local accounting and auditing company, Citadelle Corporate Services Pte Ltd, who was alleged to have issued 13 balance confirmation letters to Wirecard entities between March 2016 and April 2018.The letters were found to have fraudulently represented to Wirecard, its subsidiaries, and its auditors that Citadelle held over €1.1 billion ($1.6 billion) in Wirecard funds in escrow accounts.Shanmugaratnam was subsequently convicted of 13 counts of falsification of accounts.

Over 57,000 Malaysians renounced their citizenship and moved to Singapore within a five-year period up to Dec 17 last year, Harian Metro reported on Wednesday (Jan 7).Speaking with the Malaysian publication, Malaysia's National Registration Department director-general Badrul Hisham Alias said that a total of 61,116 Malaysians relinquished their citizenship within the time frame, with 93.78 per cent of them (around 57,315) heading for Singapore, 2.15 per cent to Australia and 0.97 per cent to Brunei.He added that women were the majority of those relinquishing their citizenships — totalling 35,356 — while an average of 10,000 Malaysians give up their citizenship each year.«The decision to relinquish Malaysian citizenship is largely driven by economic and family factors,» he explained in an interview with Harian Metro.«In the case of Singapore, many Malaysians are employed there, and employment prospects and income levels make it easier for them to obtain citizenship.»Most Malaysians who marry foreign spouses and migrate overseas cite family reasons for changing their nationality, Badrul explained.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) and HDB will be studying the voting process for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), said Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat.Speaking to the media on Thursday (Jan 8) after a visit to ParkEdge @ Bidadari, Chee said that the voting threshold for HIP is an issue that the ministry is «studying heavily», after recent voting exercises for upgrading estates failed to proceed when they did not meet the threshold. «We want to help the estates that are older to go through HIP,» the minister said, emphasising that the ministry has observed that reaching the threshold may be significantly more challenging for blocks with fewer units. Launched in 2007, HIP helps upgrade older HDB flats and address common maintenance issues. For HIP to proceed, at least 75 per cent of a block's eligible Singaporean households will have to vote for it. 

A 27-year-old man was taken to the hospital and subsequently arrested after being involved in a four-vehicle collision in Seletar on Tuesday (Jan 6). In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to an accident involving a car, a truck and two cement mixer trucks along 14 Seletar North Link at about 8am that day. The 27-year-old car driver was taken conscious to a hospital and later arrested for rash or negligent conduct related to machinery and fraudulent possession of property, said the police. The Singapore Civil Defence Force said the man was taken to Sengkang General Hospital.The police added that an e-vaporiser was also seized and the related offence has been referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). 

A Singapore-registered saloon car was left partially crushed after an accident along Jalan Pantai in Johor Bahru on Wednesday (Jan 7) afternoon.Videos of the aftermath of the accident circulating on Facebook show a Malaysia-registered Toyota Hilux truck piled atop a Singapore-registered car, while two other cars in front also suffered damages.Dashcam footage obtained by Malaysian media outlet Asia Television News show a lorry smashing into the rear of the Singapore-registered car, a Toyota Premio. The violent collision sent the car sliding under a stationary Toyota Hilux. Footage shows the Singapore-registered car stopped roughly half a car length behind the truck.

A 52-year-old male Chinese national has been ordered to pay a fine of $200,700 for dealing in duty-unpaid liquor, following his conviction in court.Huang Hongjiang pleaded guilty to two charges under the Customs Act on Dec 23, 2025, where the offences resulted in the evasion of about $25,499 in duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST), according to a Singapore Customs statement on Jan 8.He was caught during an operation on Dec 11, 2025, when Singapore Customs officers seized 186 bottles of duty-unpaid liquor from Huang in an industrial building in Tuas View Square.Investigations revealed that Huang worked with an accomplice from China who would procure the Chinese liquor in China and arrange for its importation into Singapore, without payment of duty and GST.Meanwhile, Huang was responsible for handling the delivery in Singapore.On the day of Huang's arrest, he was at the said location to collect the consignment.The Singapore Customs said that Huang has failed to pay the fine and will now serve an in-default sentence of two months and one week in jail.

A 34-year-old man will be charged in court on Thursday (Jan 8) for his suspected involvement in a case of theft from a residential unit in Sentosa. In a statement released on Thursday, police said that they were alerted to a case of theft on Jan 6 along Ocean Drive at about 10.25am where a Rolex watch valued at approximately $52,000 was stolen from a residential unit. According to a search online by AsiaOne, properties at Ocean drive include condominiums as well as landed property, which are part of the Sentosa Cove residential development.Officers from the Clementi Police Division identified and arrested the man on Jan 7 through extensive ground enquiries and with the assistance of CCTV footage, said police. The stolen watch was subsequently recovered.If found guilty, the man faces a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment and a fine for the offence of theft in a dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871.[[nid:727173]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

Punggol residents will soon be able to travel round the neighbourhood on driver-less shuttles, with the first of three fixed-route services expected to begin full service in «two to three months», Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 7), the MP for Punggol GRC said that the shuttles plying route one has completed testing and preparatory work and have travelled more than 10,000km without any incident.The 10km-long route connects Matilda Court, Punggol Clover, Punggol Plaza and Oasis Terraces. Operated by Grab, the service will run from 9.30am to 5pm on weekdays.Sun said that stakeholders including key grassroots leaders and agency partners will be invited to take a ride in the vehicles in January. «Apps will also be rolled out then by the AV shuttle operators to enable commuters to check ride availability,» she said.

A fire broke out at an industrial building in Sungei Kadut on Wednesday (Jan 7) evening.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to a fire at 14 Sungei Kadut Avenue at about 6.40pm.Checks online by AsiaOne indicate that the location is a four-storey building occupied by Da Di Glass Private Limited, a glass production company.According to the company's website, they moved to the given address in 2013. In a second update posted just before 9pm, SCDF said that the production area on the second-floor of the building was on fire when firefighters arrived at the scene.«Firefighters deployed three water jets to contain the fire within the workshop,» it added.The fire was extinguished at about 8pm.About 30 persons from the affected building self-evacuated before SCDF's arrival.One person was taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation.The cause of the fire is under investigation.editor@asiaone.com 

Punggol residents will soon be able to travel round the neighbourhood on driver-less shuttles, with the first of three fixed-route services expected to begin full service in «two to three months», Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said.In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 7), the MP for Punggol GRC said that the shuttles plying route one has completed testing and preparatory work and have travelled more than 10,000km without any incident.The 10km-long route connects Matilda Court, Punggol Clover, Punggol Plaza and Oasis Terraces. Operated by Grab, the service will run from 9.30am to 5pm on weekdays.Sun said that stakeholders including key grassroots leaders and agency partners will be invited to take a ride in the vehicles in January. «Apps will also be rolled out then by the AV shuttle operators to enable commuters to check ride availability,» she said.

The Indonesian National Defence Forces' (TNI) Chief of Defence Force, General Agus Subiyanto, has been conferred the prestigious Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera), or Distinguished Service Order (Military), by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.Gen Subiyanto was presented with Singapore's highest military award at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Wednesday (Jan 7) afternoon.The award was given for his «significant role» in strengthening defence ties between the TNI and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said Mindef.The statement added that the high cadence of professional exchanges and regular bilateral exercises have «greatly promoted» interoperability and friendship between the two armed forces.«Under General Subiyanto's leadership, the implementation of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in 2024, has continued to be smooth.»Both militaries also maintained a high cadence of professional exchanges and regular bilateral exercises such as Exercise Safkar Indopura, Exercise Eagle Indopura, Exercise Elang Indopura, Exercise Chandrapura and Exercise Manyar Indopura," said Mindef.

A motorcyclist was flung off his bike after a car rear-ended him along Lavender Street on Wednesday (Jan 7) morning.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to the accident in the direction of Crawford Street at about 8.20am.The 37-year-old male motorcyclist was conscious when taken to hospital.Dashcam footage shared by Facebook page SGRV showed that the motorcyclist was originally in the middle of the four-lane road, where traffic had appeared to build up.He is seen turning to check for oncoming vehicles when he turns left and switches lane, but did not appear to do the same when he crossed to the left-most lane, where a black car was travelling at.The approaching car slams into the motorbike, and the rider briefly ends up on the bonnet before being thrown to the roadside when the car brakes.He pulls himself to sit upright as a passer-by walks over and checks on him.The police said that the 64-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, which are ongoing.[[nid:727766]]lim.kewei@asiaone.com

A 32-year-old woman was arrested on Tuesday (Jan 6) for her alleged involvement in a case of loanshark harassment in Kallang.It took place at about 8.05pm on Monday (Jan 5) at a residential unit along Geylang Bahru in Kallang, the police said on Wednesday (Jan 7).A photograph of the items seized from her shows a blue plastic bag containing red paint, and a debtor's note which reads «Owe $ Pay Money $. This is just (a) warning. Next time will go burn your house (sic)».The woman was identified by officers from Central Police Division through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras.She will be charged in court on Thursday (Jan 8).The offence of loanshark harassment carries a penalty of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to $50,000. In addition, those found guilty may receive up to six strokes of the cane.As caning can only be imposed on male offenders below 50 years old, she may receive an additional sentence in lieu of caning if she is found guilty.[[nid:727764]]editor@asiaone.com 

Middleton International School will be able to resume operations of its food business effective Jan 6, having implemented the necessary requirements by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), said the agency in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 7).The business, located at 2 Tampines Street 92, had its food business operations suspended since Nov 21. This was after SFA and the Communicable Diseases Agency received reports of 263 persons at E-Bridge preschools who developed gastroenteritis symptoms between Nov 19 and Dec 10, 2025 after consuming food supplied by Middleton International School. At the time, four individuals were hospitalised, and SFA had issued a suspension notice to «protect consumers from further public health risks».According to SFA, Middleton International School cleaned and sanitised their premises, including equipment and utensils, and disinfected food preparation surfaces, tables and floors during its suspension period.

Three SBS Transit staff at Newton MRT station have earned the praise of a train commuter after they tried to repair her sandals which broke during her journey last month.On Wednesday (Jan 7), SBS Transit shared the post by Susan Loh, the affected commuter.The public transport operator said that three station staff — Station Managers Mohamed Yadly and Jeffrey Chen and Assistant Station Manager Maharaja Chettier — had tried to fix the commuter's sandals.«When that wasn't possible, they went the extra mile by borrowing a pair of slippers from an off-duty colleague for Ms Susan so that she could continue her journey safely,» wrote SBS Transit.Recounting the incident on Facebook, Loh said that the incident happened on Dec 13.«I was rushing out and didn't want to wear track shoes (as it was raining heavily), so I wore a pair of sandals.»Suddenly, my sandals broke at Newton MRT. Luckily, I met so many kind souls helping me. They even offered me their slippers to wear for the day!," wrote an appreciative Loh.

A 47-year-old Malaysian man was arrested by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on Dec 23 for attempting to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.ICA said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 7) that the Malaysia-registered car driven by the man was directed for enhanced checks where its search and examination officers found over 420 cartons and 1,600 loose packets of duty unpaid cigarettes.In the video posted by ICA, its officers were seen removing the contraband items from the car's roof cargo box and various compartments of the car, including the door panel.The driver was arrested and the case has been referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.Intensified checks against smuggling at Singapore's checkpointsIn an advisory on Nov 17, ICA had warned travellers that it will be conducting more intensified checks against the smuggling of e-vaporisers and contraband items during the year-end school holidays.