Eighty people aged between 14 and 72 are under investigation for their alleged involvement in unlicensed moneylending activities, the police said on Thursday (Feb 5).They were arrested during a five-day operation from Jan 26 to 30, when officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and seven police land divisions carried out raids island-wide.The police said that preliminary investigations found that seven people had allegedly harassed debtors at their homes, while another 32 were believed to be runners who carried out ATM transfers as part of unlicensed moneylending activities.The remaining 41 people allegedly opened bank accounts and provided their ATM cards, personal identification numbers or internet banking tokens to unlicensed moneylenders.Investigations against them are ongoing, said the police.If found guilty, first-time offenders face a jail term of up to four years, fined between $30,000 and $300,000, and up to six strokes of the cane.

Since the start of the year, there have been at least seven reported cases and at least $51,600 lost to job scams involving the performance of online tasks related to digital Pokemon trading cards, said the police. In a statement on Thursday (Feb 5), the police said that victims would receive unsolicited calls from Malaysian phone numbers about a job opportunity involving online tasks.The job would require victims to register for an account and initiate a cryptocurrency deposit on a fraudulent website.Victims would then be able to select digital Pokemon trading cards on the site and «earn» a commission based on the card value, which would be «deposited» into their registered account. Subsequently, they would encounter «exclusive» high-value cards which required them to make larger cryptocurrency deposits to the website before they could «earn» their commission. In some cases, victims would have negative account balances and had to make additional deposits to restore their accounts. 

A woman was left baffled after a pair of kingfishers were seen flying into the windows of her home.In a TikTok video shared on Monday (Feb 2) the Bedok resident said: «We need help. Even bird spikes don't stop them.»The clip shows the kingfishers crashing into the window, but they recover quickly and fly to a nearby tree, before flying into the windows again. 

Singaporean child sex offender Amos Yee, 27, who is facing deportation from the United States, has published a blog post urging the Singapore government not to accept his return, claiming that doing so could create political complications. In the post on Wednesday (Feb 4), Yee said deportation to Singapore would result in a jail term for failing to serve mandatory National Service (NS), which he has allegedly avoided since the age of 17. Yee added that after the possible imprisonment, he would still refuse to enlist for NS. «You think I'm just going to quietly accept my punishment and agree to serve in the military? Hah! I'm going to continue to swerve the military,» he wrote. «There will be numerous court dates, me coming in and out of prison, each time I'll maybe write a blogpost here, make a video there, condemning the military, condemning the government. All the attentions (sic) and negative press you and I will receive, it'll be amazing.» 

A shopper browsing the aisles of a Prime Supermarket outlet in Hougang apparently found meat products two days past their expiry date still on the shelf. Taking to Facebook page Complaint Singapore on Jan 22, the shopper surnamed Ho said the use-by date for a pack of marinated meat had been supposedly obscured by a sticker label. A photo he shared showed the price tag on a pack of meat slightly peeled back to reveal that the expiry date was Jan 19. Ho told local media he took the photo on the evening of Jan 21 at Hougang Street 11. In his Facebook post, he claimed that the expiry date of other products on sale were similarly concealed. «All three 'reduced to clear' packages on the shelf had the same issue, with their expiry dates deliberately covered by stickers which appears to not be accidental,» Ho wrote. He urged shoppers to check the expiry dates of items before purchase. Prime Supermarket told AsiaOne that its priority for markdown items is to «clear all stock prior to expiry and remove items from shelves in accordance with food safety requirements». 

Applications have come in hot from first-timer singles looking for a 2-room HDB unit at the upcoming Tampines Nova Build-To-Order (BTO) project in central Tampines, reaching a rate of 50 applicants for each available unit as at 8am on Thursday (Feb 5) — just a day after the project was launched. Tampines Nova is one of three BTO projects with a shorter wait time in the HDB's first sales exercise of the year, with an estimated completion time of two years and eight months. It will comprise 122 units of 2-room Flexi and 133 units of 4-room flats. Located at the heart of Tampines Regional Centre, and bounded by Tampines Concourse and Tampines Avenues 5 and 8, Tampines Nova lies in close proximity to Tampines MRT station and a range of amenities. The application rates by first-timer singles across the four other BTO projects with 2-room flats, in comparison, did not exceed 2.5 as at 8am. 

A 76-year-old female personal mobility aid (PMA) user was taken to hospital following an accident with a car in Bedok on Wednesday (Feb 4) night.The accident happened at about 10.35pm along Bedok Reservoir Road. A photograph circulated on an online motoring group showed a PMA lying on its side at the pedestrian crossing. Steps away, paramedics were seen attending to the elderly woman.A silver colour Toyota car was also stopped at the scene with its hazard lights switched on.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force said that the 76-year-old woman was conveyed conscious to Changi General Hospital, adding that police investigations are ongoing.

The Traffic Police (TP) will void demerit points and issue refunds for any fines paid for 1,523 speeding tickets that were erroneously issued between Oct 30 and Dec 8 last year.In a statement on Thursday (Feb 5), TP and Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the speed limit for three speed enforcement cameras along the KPE was incorrectly set at 70kmh, which was 10kmh lower than the actual speed limit of 80kmh.TP discovered the error — made by LTA's contractor during a hardware replacement on Oct 30 last year — during an audit in mid-December. «As a precautionary measure, the Traffic Police have also checked all other speed cameras islandwide.»«TP and LTA sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. We take a serious view of this matter and are strengthening our checks and controls to prevent similar occurrences,» the statement said,Affected motorists do not have to take any action as TP will be notifying them of the error.Those who have already paid their fines will receive refunds through PayNow or bank transfer.[[nid:726986]]chingshijie@asiaone.com

Public transport operator SMRT has released the operating schedule for Singapore's rarest bus service — 405 — for this year.Bus service 405 is considered 'rare' because it operates only seven times a year during the Qing Ming festival, Good Friday, the start of Ramadan, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali and All Souls' Day.The service underwent a route adjustment in 2025 following the realignment of Lim Chu Kang Road — also popularly referred to as 40 tiang (lamp post in Malay) by the local car community.This year, service 405's first operating date will be on Feb 19 — the first day of Ramadan. Following that, its next operating date will be during Hari Raya Puasa and the Qing Ming period on March 21 and 22.When in operation, service 405 will start at 7am and end at 5pm, running at a frequency of 22 to 30 minutes.

Singapore broadcaster Mediacorp has secured the media rights for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and football fans here will have more reasons to cheer, with 28 matches set to be aired for free on local television screens.The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature an expanded tournament with 48 teams, up from 32. This also means that the total number of games to be played will increase from 64 to 104.All 104 matches and official ceremonies of the 2026 edition will be available to subscribers of Mediacorp's video streaming service mewatch and its carriage partner platforms. The broadcaster also announced that it will «substantially expand» free coverage of matches on mewatch and Channel 5, which it said will ensure that more Singaporeans can enjoy the world's biggest football event together.«This expansion will see the number of free-to-air matches increasing from nine in 2022 to 28 this year, comprising the opening match, 23 group stage matches, two semi-finals, the third-place playoff and the final,» it said.Mediacorp will announce details on its carriage partners, subscription plans and pricing at a later date.[[nid:726348]]

Canadian influencer challenges runners in Singapore for $50, draws calls to race Shanti Pereira.During his recent visit to Singapore, Canadian fitness influencer @alotmoremane challenged local runners at Marina Bay and Clarke Quay to race him for $50.Alotmoremane, whose real name is Mane Yousuf, is known for his videos where he races runners in different countries for a cash prize. Though he gives the runners a head start, he usually catches up.In a video posted on Jan 25, Yousuf challenges a female runner to race from The Promontory@Marina Bay to the Red Dot Design Museum.Yousuf gives the woman an 18-second head start before sprinting towards the destination. Both runners end up reaching the museum's entrance at about the same time.Even though it's unclear who the victor was, the influencer praised the woman for her effort and rewarded her with $50.The video has garnered more than five million views and over 195,000 likes.

SINGAPORE — The former chief executive of healthcare start-up Biofourmis Holdings has been charged for multiple offences, including allegedly asking his staff to falsify company invoices claiming they had offered services worth millions to the Ministry of Health (MOH).On Feb 4, Rajput Kuldeep Singh Vithal Singh, who was also the former director of the company, was handed seven charges in a district court.This includes three counts of abetting the falsification of accounts, three charges of fraud by false representation or abetment of the offence, and one count of forgery for the purpose of cheating.Police said between Aug 18, 2021, and Feb 28, 2022, the 34-year-old Indian national had allegedly instigated his staff to falsify company invoices purporting that Biofourmis Singapore had rendered services worth US$16,491,375 (S$20,941,600) to MOH.Charge sheets state that the invoices were for services relating to the Biovitals Sentinel Platform, which remotely monitors patients and provides clinicians with their vital signs, according to past reports.

Singapore's Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) and British-based aerospace manufacturer Vertical Aerospace will be collaborating to trial the use of air taxis for emergency medical responses.The project will run through April 2026, according to a release by Vertical Aerospace on the second day of the Singapore Airshow 2026 (Feb 4).Vertical Aerospace was awarded $100,000 in funding from Hatch — an innovation centre of HTX for public safety —  after winning a global innovation challenge organised by the centre.The grant will enable Vertical Aerospace to develop, test and validate how Valo, its aircraft platform, and its commercial eVTOL aircraft, can be used for emergency medical services. In particular, the project will focus on how electric and hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft can support time-critical medical responses for remote island areas around Singapore.Under the programme, Vertical Aerospace will work with HTX, Hatch and operational stakeholders to develop a detailed concept with regard to emergency medical responses aligned with operational and regulatory requirements.

A 37-year-old woman was arrested on Tuesday (Feb 3) for her suspected involvement in a case of loanshark harassment in Bedok.The alleged crime took place at about 4.10pm on Monday at a residential unit along Bedok North Street 2, the police said on Wednesday. A photograph showing the debtor's note written on a piece of cardboard reads: «...want to run my money is it? This just warning. Next time you see I burn your house or not (sic).»Police said the woman was identified by officers from Bedok Police Division through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras. She will be charged in court on Thursday.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.The police also advised members of the public to stay away from loansharks and not to assist or work with them in any way. '

A 30-year-old man who was allegedly trafficking etomidate-laced e-vaporiser pods was charged in court on Wednesday (Feb 4).The accused, Yeo Zhi Xiang, was arrested on Monday (Jan 2) when police officers attended to a case of dispute among three men involving the use of a knife at a carpark in Whampoa West.According to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Yeo had allegedly pointed a knife at one of the two men, while one of them was allegedly buying etomidate e-vaporiser pods from him.After the police detained the trio, checks were conducted on Yeo's van where officers found 80 e-vaporiser pods — 29 under the driver's seat, 50 at the back of the van, and another pod with an e-vaporiser at the door on the driver's side.HSA's tests confirmed that the 80 pods contained etomidate.Investigations against the other two men are also ongoing.Yeo's case will be heard in court again on March 5.If found guilty of selling or distributing etomidate e-vaporisers, he may be jailed for up to 10 years and receive up to five strokes of the cane.

Delivery riders who do not have mobility issues should not misuse personal mobility aids (PMAs) for work as it is not the right mode of transport for them, Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng told Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 4).Clarifying the concerns raised by several MPs over the past two days, Baey said that the Land Transport and Related Matters Bill is not meant to ban the use of mobility scooters or target a specific group.«Only (delivery) workers with mobility needs should use PMAs for their work. They have to abide by the reduced speed limit and dimension limits for everyone's safety. This protects not just other path users, but PMA riders themselves.»In the Bill that has since been passed, mobility scooter users will be required to hold a Certificate of Medical Need to certify their mobility issue. Seniors aged 70 and above are exempted.Other rules that take effect on June 1 include a speed reduction of PMAs on public paths from 10kmh to 6kmh.The minister of state said that only doctors and occupational therapists can assess whether a person requires a mobility scooter to get around.

Four days after a crocodile was first sighted in the waters off Sentosa, there has been another sighting — this time off Changi Naval Base. AsiaOne understands it was seen on Tuesday evening (Feb 3).In a video posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday, the Republic of Singapore Navy said that sea soldiers from its ninth flotilla spotted the reptile, adding that it «stayed briefly» before returning to the Singapore Strait.The ninth flotilla is responsible for training and deploying security troopers, sea soldiers and system operators who are responsible for the defence of its naval bases and coastal installations.It is unclear if the crocodile spotted off Changi Naval Base is the same one spotted in the waters off Sentosa Cove.Meanwhile, the navy said it has stepped up monitoring and is working closely with the relevant agencies. It also advised members of the public to stay alert when around coastal areas. 

The Workers' Party (WP) disciplinary panel tasked with looking into whether secretary-general Pritam Singh breached its constitution in light of his court conviction for lying to Parliament's Committee of Privileges has invited party members to provide their views on the matter. In a text message seen by AsiaOne on Tuesday (Feb 3), the panel invited WP members who wish to meet them to drop an email to arrange a meeting. The sessions are reportedly expected to take place over the coming weeks. The disciplinary process for the former Leader of the Opposition contrasts with the party's 2021 handling of the disciplinary matter for former MP Raeesah Khan — who lied in Parliament — when only cadres were asked for inputs. The WP's current disciplinary panel comprise of two-term Sengkang GRC MPs He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim, as well as former MP Png Eng Huat. Only Png is not currently a member of the WP's central executive committee (CEC).

The authorities are currently reviewing massage establishment regulations and are expected to tighten enforcement against such shops involved in vice activities soon.In response to queries from AsiaOne, the Housing Development Board (HDB) and the Singapore Police Force on Wednesday (Feb 4) said that changes to the Massage Establishments Act will be announced in the coming months. Under the Act, operators of massage establishments must obtain a licence from the police. Open-concept massage shops and beauty salons that do not provide massage services are exempt.In their joint reply, the agencies said that they are aware of disamenities caused by errant operators of such establishments and have taken firm action against them.HDB has in particular tightened the quota of massage shops in neighbourhood centres as of Sep 2024, having established trade mix controls and quotas on trades which may cause disamenities. Tenants are required to seek HDB's approval if they wish to change trade, and each request is assessed individually to ensure that the quota is preserved. 

The Ministry of Education should consider setting aside a fixed quota for students entering secondary schools without affiliation or under the Direct School Admission (DSA) exercise, Gho Sze Kee suggested in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 4).This will ensure a «meaningful and predictable» number of available places for students applying through the Secondary 1 posting exercise with their PSLE results, the MP for Mountbatten SMC said.Gho also asked if there is a «compression» of available places for non-affiliated students, given that some students who enter through the DSA route «eat» into the slots reserved for non-affiliated students if they also fall into this category.In response, Minister for Education Desmond Ng said that school’s balloting rate ultimately depends on school choices, students’ decisions and DSA numbers.«The ministry will certainly study all of these suggestions,» he added.According to the ministry's guidelines, secondary schools are allowed to admit up to 20 per cent of their students through DSA, which allows Primary 6 students to gain early admission based on talent in areas such as sports and the arts.

Fourteen men were arrested for offences involving contraband cigarettes after authorities raided an industrial building and a foreign worker dormitory in Jurong East on Jan 28.Singapore Customs said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Feb 4) that the targeted enforcement operation conducted along Toh Guan Road East was to combat the sale and demand of duty-unpaid cigarettes.Customs officers seized over 170 packets of cigarettes with duties unpaid.Following investigations, 12 people were issued compounded fines, with the amount ranging from $500 to $800.The two other men were charged in the State Courts for their offences on Jan 30.It is illegal to buy, sell, store, or smoke duty-unpaid cigarettes under the Customs and GST Acts. For every packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes, an offender can be fined $500.The public can report illegal activities to Singapore Customs online.[[nid:726397]]lim.kewei@asiaone.com