SINGAPORE – Tempted by fast cash, a man agreed to be a «dummy director» of multiple companies, and one of them later processed US$1 million (S$1.3 million) in scam proceeds in its bank account.Tan Yew Sin also tried to deposit a cashier’s order for over $7 million in scam proceeds for another company.Both firms – Accord Technology and Huachang Trading – were shell companies with no legitimate businesses, the court heard.On Nov 10, Tan, 24, a Singaporean, was sentenced to two years and three months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to offences including those linked to the benefits of criminal conduct.Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Teo told the court that Tan had earlier responded to a job advertisement on messaging platform Telegram in May 2021.He was then directed to an unidentified person known only as «Lerex», who offered him $5,000 to become a nominee director for “people from overseas who want to do business in Singapore”.Without asking for more details, Tan accepted the offer and shared information such as his identity card number and full name with Lerex.

Employers of lower-wage workers should give salary increases between 5.5 and 7.5 per cent, said the National Wages Council (NWC).At a press conference on Tuesday (Nov 11), the NWC released new wage guidelines that will cover the period from Dec 1, 2025, to Nov 30, 2026, and are applicable to all employees in unionised and non-unionised firms and in both public and private sectors. «This year's guidelines involved extensive discussions amongst tripartite partners,» said NWC chairman Peter Seah, who added that the significant uncertainties facing the global economy were also taken into consideration.«To narrow the wage gap between LWWs (lower-wage workers) and the median wage worker over this decade, wages of LWWs must consistently grow faster than the median wage,» said the council in its annual guidelines on pay and employment issues.It suggests that employers who have done well should provide their lower-wage workers with a built-in wage increase at the higher end of the stipulated percentage range, or a hike of at least $105 to $125, whichever is higher.

A town council cleaner made a startling discovery on Tuesday (Nov 11) morning when he stumbled upon more than 100 e-vaporisers stored in an electrical riser compartment of a HDB block in Tampines.The incident reportedly took place at about 5am at Block 494D Tampines Street 43.Huang Youcai (transliteration), a newspaper vendor, told Shin Min Daily News that he usually starts work at about 2am and was approached by the cleaner at about 5am.According to Huang, 70, he then went to the block where he found a black luggage and a plastic bag containing e-vaporisers stored in the said electrical riser compartment.«I took the items back to my stall and called the police,»  Shin Min quoted him as saying.The report said that the footage taken by Huang shows eight boxes — each containing 10 e-vaporisers — in the luggage, with at least another two boxes in the plastic bag. The police arrived at about 9am and seized the vapes.

Four people were taken to hospital after an accident involving a car and two motorcycles along Whitley Road on Sunday (Nov 9).In a video shared on Facebook page ROADS.sg, a silver car can be seen turning out from an intersection, appearing to attempt to head in the opposite direction as three motorcyclists approach the vehicle.Two of the riders then collide with the car, with one landing on its roof. A third motorcyclist, who was further behind, manages to avoid the crash.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed they were alerted to an accident along Whitley Road towards the PIE at about 8.30am.Two male motorcyclists, aged 33 and 37, and two female pillion riders, aged 21 and 28, were conveyed conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.A 51-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations. Police investigations are ongoing.[[nid:725075]]

Eight men, aged between 23 and 42, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in abetting persons to enter Singapore illegally.The eight foreigners were crew members onboard a foreign-registered tugboat.In a media statement on Tuesday (Nov 11), the police said that the eight men were arrested onboard the tugboat after Police Coast Guard officers mounted an operation at Pulau Punggol Aggregate Terminal (PPAT) on Nov 9.«Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the crew members, a 23-year-old Indonesian man, was believed to have aided unauthorised persons to enter Singapore illegally on October 26, 2025,» police said, without specifying the number of unauthorised persons. According to the police, the unauthorised persons had hidden onboard the tugboat's barge when it was being towed to Singapore. 

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) recorded a $6.34 billion deficit for the financial year (FY) 2024, with a majority of the loss attributed to the building and sales of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats.This amount is down slightly from the record high $6.775 billion housing deficit incurred in FY2023.In a statement on Tuesday (Nov 11), HDB said that $5.51 billion of the deficit stemmed from the sale of flats, expected losses from flats under development, as well as the disbursement of housing grants.HDB explained that it incurs a significant deficit every year as the amount collected from the sale of flats is lower than the total development cost of BTO flats and housing grants disbursed.The $5.51 billion losses include the sale of 14,900 new flats in FY2024, which marked a gross loss of $1.77 billion.Another $2.69 billion of the net deficit was attributed to the provision for the anticipated loss of new housing projects under construction, where about 23,600 flats commenced development in FY2024.

Singapore Pools will absorb transaction fees for all its electronic payment options from Tuesday (Nov 11).In a statement on Nov 11, Singapore Pools said that the move follows its reviews with the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS), their partner banks, and NETS.«They included a review of existing contracts with our partner banks and NETS that allow the recovery of processing costs charged by our partners for services related to PayNow and NETS,» said Singapore Pools. «As a result, Singapore Pools will absorb the transaction fees for PayNow as well as other e-payment options including FAST and NETS.»Singapore’s sole legal gaming operator added that they will be working with their partners to absorb the eNETS transaction fees.«As significant system and operational changes are required, eNETS payments will be temporarily suspended until further notice,» added Singapore Pools. The announcement was welcomed by the ABS. "PayNow provides a secure and easy-to-use e-payment method that Singaporeans use everyday. 

SINGAPORE - Two vessels, including one ferry carrying 165 passengers from Batam to Singapore, collided in the city-state’s waters on Nov 10, Indonesian media reported. The Singapore-bound MV Horizon 9, which also had seven crew members on board, collided with the LA Digue, a Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker in Singapore’s waters, Batam News reported, citing Batam’s port authority KSOP, which said it received a report of the collision at about 7.30pm (Singapore time). All passengers and crew from both ships were safely evacuated to HarbourFront Terminal in Singapore, Antara news agency quoted a KSOP official as saying.The bow of the Horizon 9 suffered damage, Antara said, citing KSOP. The ferry reportedly departed Batam at around 3.30pm in Indonesia.Investigations are ongoing to find out the cause of the accident and potential environmental impact, said the KSOP, adding that it was communicating with the passenger ferry’s operator Horizon Ferry and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

A man started feeling unwell while working on a 30-metre-high tower crane at a construction site in Katong and was unable to climb down on his own.He was then rescued by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).At about 5.30pm on Monday (Nov 10), SCDF firefighters and rescuers from the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Dart) responded to the incident which occurred along Thiam Siew Avenue.Four Dart rescuers and two SCDF firefighters used a cat ladder to climb up the crane and get to the worker, who was inside the crane cabin. The rescuers provided him with water and administered oxygen. They also set up height lowering equipment before securing the worker onto a stretcher and lowering him to the ground. He was accompanied by one of the rescuers — who was attached to the stretcher to ensure the man's safety.The worker was assessed by an SCDF paramedic before being taken to Changi General Hospital.

A total of 91 individuals are being investigated for their suspected involvement in unlicensed moneylending activities, with more than half of them alleged to be money mules.The suspects, aged between 16 and 77, are being probed following an operation that took place from Oct 27 to 31 — during which officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Police land divisions conducted raids islandwide, said the police on Monday (Nov 10).Preliminary investigations revealed that 10 of these people had allegedly harassed debtors at their residences, while 29 of them are believed to have assisted in unlicensed moneylending activities by carrying out ATM transfers.The remaining 52 individuals are suspected to have facilitated unlicensed moneylending activity by opening bank accounts as well as providing their ATM cards, Personal Identification Numbers and/or Internet Banking tokens.Investigations against all 91 individuals are ongoing.

Makan Minum Workers, a local F&B collective, has launched a crowdfunding initiative to support the workers from Twelve Cupcakes who had their employment abruptly terminated when the business shut down.The company announced its sudden closure on Oct 29.The group, which calls itself «a grassroots collective by F&B workers and for F&B workers», launched the fundraiser on Sunday (Nov 9).It aims to collect $80,000 in total — $1,000 for each of the 80 affected workers.According to Makan Minum Workers, employees received notice of their immediate termination only at 8pm via WhatsApp on Oct 29.The employees, consisting of Singaporean and migrant workers, have not been paid for the last month of work.They were also reportedly told that they would not receive any payment until the completion of liquidation, which would take about six months.«Currently, they are lacking the financial means to cover rental payments, food expenses, and basic survival needs while actively pursuing new employment opportunities as the breadwinner of their families,» said the collective.

SINGAPORE — A former cook at a pre-school in Singapore was on Nov 10 sentenced to nine years, four months and seven weeks in jail, in a case that the prosecution said involved one of the most horrendous acts of sexual abuse committed in such a local facility.Malaysian Teo Guan Huat, 61, had pleaded guilty to three molestation charges on Oct 27.Five other molestation charges were considered during his sentencing.On Nov 10, District Judge Vince Gui said Teo's acts were abhorrent, and that the offences represented an abuse of trust, stressing that the victims were young and defenceless.Teo, a Singapore permanent resident, had molested three girls, aged one to two, while the victims were in a nap room at the pre-school.He abused the children by inserting his hands into their nappies, an act he carried out multiple times a week, from May 2023 to November that year, when the teachers were not looking.Teo, who was with the pre-school for about a year, eventually resigned in November 2023 when his offences were exposed.

Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng's permanent resident (PR) status in Singapore has been reviewed and it will not be revoked, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Nov 10.ICA said in a statement that Ong has been issued a letter of warning, putting him on notice that any future adverse conduct could lead to the revocation of his PR status.This update follows the authority's statement in August that all Singapore permanent residents convicted of an offence will have their PR status reviewed.Ong, a Malaysian citizen, was fined $30,000 on Aug 15 after pleading guilty on Aug 4 to one charge of abetting former transport minister S. Iswaran in obstructing the course of justice.Ong had reportedly aided Iswaran in arranging the payment of $5,700 for a business-class flight ticket for a Dec 11, 2022, flight from Doha to Singapore.

Singapore has been allocated 900 places for the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2026, and has requested for additional quota from the Saudi Arabian authorities, said Acting Minister-in-charge for Muslim Affairs Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.Assoc Prof Faishal, who is on a working visit to Saudi Arabia and Jordan from Nov 6 to 11, made the announcement in a Facebook post on Monday (Nov 10) after meeting with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.«The signing marks an important milestone as it formally confirms Singapore's Haj quota for the upcoming (2026) season.»Each year, this agreement represents more than numbers. It reflects the trust and friendship between our two countries, and our shared commitment to ensure a safe, smooth and spiritually fulfilling haj journey for our pilgrims," said the Acting Minister.

SINGAPORE — A refreshed *Scape as a hub for young people, with plenty of space for study and creation, and food for the body as well as soul, was officially relaunched on Nov 9 after several years of redevelopment.Parts of it have been open since April, attracting more than 10,000 young people in 190 programmes in dance, music and the arts. Half of the programmes are run by the youth themselves.The revamped space features studios that are open to the public, meeting rooms, and a revamped Ground Theatre for performances and content creation.The theatre, an event space inside *Scape that opened in 2013, will be able to host 700 guests in a standing capacity, up from 450.Around 80 per cent of tenants in the space are operational, like dessert shops, cafes and a wellness hub. The remaining tenants will be ready by early 2026.Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo said young people in Singapore are driven by a strong sense of purpose, and eager to chart their own paths and redefine what it means to succeed.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of robbery with hurt along Dunlop Street. In a statement on Sunday (Nov 9), the police said that they were alerted to the incident on Nov 8 at about 3.55am.Preliminary investigations revealed that the perpetrator had allegedly lured a 28-year-old male victim to a back alley in Little India, before assaulting him and demanding that money be handed over.The victim, who sustained injuries, eventually handed over cash amounting to about $190 to the man and was later taken to the hospital.The 22-year-old man's identity was established through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from CCTVs and police cameras and he was arrested within 20 hours, said the police. The clothes worn by the perpetrator during the incident were also seized as case exhibits.

Outside a wake along Gloucester Road, opposite Pek Kio Community Centre, as many as 70 electronic funeral wreaths were seen displayed across the side of the road — exceeding the 10 allowed under National Environment Agency (NEA) guidelines.In a Facebook post uploaded by Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Alvin Tan on Sunday (Nov 9), he said that several Pek Kio and Farrer Park residents had shared concerns about the number of wreaths.He noted that the placement of the wreaths also obstructed the lines of sight for motorists and pedestrians.«Parents and students of neighbouring primary and pre-schools had near misses because of the obstruction,» said Tan, who is an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.He added that several wreaths had also fallen onto the road, right in front of a zebra crossing, obstructing traffic and creating a road hazard.

Two Malaysian men, aged 22 and 38, will be charged in court on Monday (Nov 10) for their suspected involvement in a government official impersonation scam (GOIS).In a statement on Nov 9, the police said they received a report on Nov 7 involving the impersonation of government officials purportedly from the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).The victim who filed the report was allegedly told over the phone by an unknown person, claiming to be from a bank, that a credit card had been applied under her name. When she denied doing so, the call was transferred to representatives claiming to be from MinLaw and MAS, who informed her that she was implicated in a case of money laundering. She was then presented with fake staff passes along with other supporting documents via WhatsApp. Convinced that she was under investigation, the woman transferred $1 million from one of her bank accounts to her own credit card. She then purchased gold worth over $412,000 using the card at Mustafa Centre before handing them to an unknown person on the same day.

The People's Action Party (PAP) will continue to focus on forging new opportunities for Singapore, while renewing itself to represent all Singaporeans, said Prime Minister and PAP secretary-general Lawrence Wong.Addressing more than 1,800 party activists at the biennial party convention on Sunday (Nov 9) at Singapore Expo, Wong outlined the party's priorities and tasks ahead following the recent election.He noted that the global environment is becoming increasingly uncertain, shifting from globalisation to protectionism and economic nationalism.«First, we will secure Singapore's place in this changed world... The world has always been dangerous place, but it's getting worse,» said Wong«They are deep structural shifts and they will affect the survival and success of small open economies like Singapore,» said Wong.

Two 83-year-old women were injured after a car crashed into them in Choa Chu Kang on Sunday (Nov 8) afternoon. One of the women later died of her injuries in hospital.The accident happened along Teck Whye Lane at about 2.50pm.In response to AsiaOne's queries, police said the accident involved a car and two pedestrians. Teck Whye Lane was closed off to traffic after the accident as Traffic Police investigators carried out their investigations. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Charlotte Ong «An 83-year-old female pedestrian was conveyed conscious to the hospital, while another 83-year-old female pedestrian was conveyed unconscious to the hospital, where she subsequently passed away,» police said.