To evade Customs duties he expected to incur upon returning to Sri Lanka from his trip in Singapore, a man lied to the police that he was a victim of a snatch theft.The foreign national believed that by fabricating the incident, he would be able to avoid paying the required Customs fees.Despite his wife’s reluctance, he went ahead with his plan.On March 27, Hewa Sahabanduge Waruna Kanishka, 30, was sentenced to five months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to giving false information to a public servant and for obstruction of justice.His wife, Jayasekara Gamlath Ralalage Yehelichathurika, 29, was sentenced to two months’ jail after pleading guilty to obstructing the course of justice.Court documents show that Hewa lodged a police report at Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre some time around March 4. This was despite his wife dissuading him from doing so and refusing to accompany him to the police station.There, he claimed he was a victim of a snatch theft that had occurred one day before in Bugis Street. He told officers that a robber had stolen his bag which had several pieces of gold jewellery, a smartphone and $400 in cash.

A former Scoot cabin crew member who misappropriated nearly $40,000 from the low-cost carrier has been sentenced to seven months’ jail after he failed to make full restitution.Luqman Hakim Shahfawi, 32, had informed the court back in February that he intended to make full restitution and had managed to raise $10,000 at that point.District Judge Lau Qiuyu then granted him an adjournment so that he could raise more funds.But on March 27, Deputy Public Prosecutor Janessa Phua said that Luqman managed to raise another $1,000 only – bringing the total restitution amount to $11,000.Before he was sentenced, Luqman, who did not have legal representation, asked Judge Lau for another adjournment to allow him time to raise more funds.She replied that the court could not adjourn the case indefinitely, a stance the prosecutor agreed with.In earlier proceedings, the court heard that Luqman was a complex leader with Scoot when he misappropriated cash earnings from the sale of food and beverages on flights.He pleaded guilty in January to one count of criminal breach of trust involving more than $22,000.

Since he first kicked a ball as a toddler under the watchful eye of his father and local football icon Fandi Ahmad, Ikhsan Fandi has gone on to flourish in the sport. Today, he is the Lions’ leading No. 9.Plagued by injuries over the last few years, the 26-year-old has been on fire for his club this season, having rediscovered his smile and his love for the game.That renewed joy has unexpectedly been shaped by a different sport. When he is not chasing goals, Ikhsan now finds solace on Thailand’s lush golf courses, trading boots for clubs as he lines up his next shot.Having returned to his parent club BG Pathum United after being recalled from his loan spell with fellow Thai League 1 side Ratchaburi FC in January, he has been in fine form. In 12 matches across league and cup competitions in 2026, Ikhsan has scored 10 goals and notched an assist.He also hit a milestone with Pathum recently, bagging his 50th goal for the club on his 100th appearance, with a brace in a 3-0 win in the Thai Cup quarter-finals against second-tier Mahasarakham FC.

As motorists ring in the weekend, Shell afforded some relief, dropping its petrol prices by two cents on Friday (March 27). This is the third consecutive day that fuel companies in Singapore have dropped petrol prices, starting with Shell on Wednesday. In addition, the posted price for 95-octane petrol at Shell and SPC have now fallen back below the previous high of $3.42 per litre set in June 2022. According to records on the Consumer Association of Singapore's (Case) Price Kaki fuel prices tracker, Caltex's posted price of $3.45 for its 95-octane petrol on March 13 surpassed that record. At the peak of petrol prices on Tuesday, the posted price of 95-octane petrol ranged from $3.46 at SPC to $3.47 at Caltex, Esso, Shell and Sinopec. 

A man has been reported missing after a collision between a pleasure craft and a supply vessel off the Southern Islands on Friday (March 27).In a statement on Friday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said search-and-rescue operations are ongoing for the missing person, who was on board the pleasure craft when it collided with the supply vessel at around 4.15 am.MPA added that two other people on board the pleasure craft have been rescued and are safe.«All persons on board the supply vessel are accounted for, and no injuries have been reported,» said the authority.Patrol craft have also been deployed, along with assets from the Police Coast Guard and the SCDF Marine Division.The authority added that it is in contact with the next-of-kin of the missing person and is providing the necessary support.Navigational broadcasts have also been issued for vessels in the vicinity to keep a lookout.[[nid:727470]]xingying.koh@asiaone.com

A pregnant customer unexpectedly went into labour at a Chinatown beauty salon and gave birth there with the help of a staff member.In a TikTok video which has since gone viral, the mother is seen being brought out of the salon, named Smart Cat Head Spa, on a stretcher.A man follows behind, cradling a swaddled newborn in his arms.«My store witnessed the birth of a life,» wrote TikTok user jasonsg520.Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, a salon staff member, surnamed Zhang, said the woman had visited the shop at noon on Wednesday (March 25) for an eyelash appointment.She was feeling slightly unwell then, and told the 38-year-old beauty technician she had just seen a doctor who said all was fine.Just as Zhang finished the service, the woman's condition suddenly changed, reported the Chinese publication.«She said that she didn't feel well and she looked pale. I was also panicking and didn't know what to do,» Zhang said.The technician quickly laid out a blanket on the floor for the customer, who notified her husband about the situation. She also asked another customer to help call for an ambulance.

The parents of a 10-month-old baby born with a rare genetic disease were overwhelmed with emotion on Friday (March 27), having secured the $2.4million needed for a one-time gene therapy which is not covered by insurance or government subsidies. Speaking to AsiaOne, the boy's mother Norhaziqah Rosli, 35, said, «Reaching the target felt surreal for our family. »There were so many moments along the way where we didn’t know if we would make it, so when we finally did, it was overwhelming in the most emotional way. «We felt a deep sense of relief, gratitude, and hope.»Norhaziqah and her husband Rahman Rahim, 37, started their crowdfunding campaign on Ray of Hope with the help of a volunteer on Jan 5 for their fourth child Faziq, who was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) which causes muscles to weaken over time.[[nid:732120]]

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a 15-year-old girl, Putri Aleeya Natasya Binte Mohamed Fadli.In a news release on Friday (March 27) afternoon, the police said she was last seen in the vicinity of Block 492A Tampines Street 45 at about 5.40pm on Thursday.She was last seen wearing an orange short sleeved shirt and black pants.Those with information are urged to contact the police hotline at 999 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.All information will be kept strictly confidential, the police said.[[nid:731460]]editor@asiaone.com

Three people were charged on Thursday (March 26) with harbouring immigration offenders, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). In the first case, Singaporeans Phang Kang Rui, 26, and Chia Kai Hui, 32, are accused of allowing a 33-year-old Malaysian man, Ho Aik Chuan, to stay with them despite his visit pass having expired on Nov 22, 2015. Investigations by ICA found that Phang and Chia allegedly harboured Ho at their unit in Bukit Batok West Avenue 8 from Oct 1, 2024 until his arrest on June 10, 2025, said ICA in a statement. Ho has been deported and barred from re-entering Singapore, having served his sentence of six months' jail along with three strokes of the cane. Meanwhile, 40-year-old Chinese work permit holder Xie Shenghua is accused of allowing a 42-year-old Chinese man, Zhang Xiaoling, to stay at a unit in Prinsep Link from mid-March 2025 until Jan 14, 2026. Xie allegedly harboured Zhang with reckless disregard as to whether his stay in Singapore was valid, said ICA. His special pass had expired on Sept 12, 2024. 

A total of 142 men and 66 women, including a 15-year-old teenager, are under investigation following a two-week long operation between March 12 and 25, the police said in a statement on Thursday (March 26). The operation involved officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions, and resulted in investigations into the 208 people aged between 15 and 77 for their suspected roles in scams as scammers or money mules. The suspects are allegedly involved in over 720 cases of scams where victims reportedly lost more than $6.12 million. These cases comprise mostly e-commerce scams, friend impersonations scams, job scams, government official impersonation scams, investment scams and rental scams. The 208 alleged scammers and money mules are being investigated for the offences of cheating, money laundering, or providing payment services without a licence. If found guilty of cheating, an offender faces a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine, while those convicted of money laundering may be jailed for up to 10 years and/or fined up to $500,000. 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (March 26) met China's top legislator Zhao Leji after speaking at the annual Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan, China.Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on the same evening that the two leaders reaffirmed the strength and depth of Singapore-China relations and commended the progress made to further deepen bilateral ties under the All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership.They also exchanged views on cross-straits developments, where PM Wong reiterated Singapore's consistent and longstanding «One China» policy.«Prime Minister Wong reaffirmed Singapore and China's shared commitment to upholding rules-based multilateralism and free trade, including through platforms such as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), which China is chairing this year,» MFA added.

A property agent helped her client lease out his flat to three tenants, but was shocked to find seven more walking out of a room. In a TikTok video shared on Tuesday (March 24), Glynis Tan, who runs the account Property Science SG, said that at least 15 people were living at the flat in Little India. Owners of four-room or larger flats are allowed to house up to eight tenants, or unrelated people who are not from the same family unit. Up to four people are allowed to live in one and two-room flats, while the limit for three-room flats is six. The video shows four luggage stacked on top of one another in the kitchen and mattresses in every room. Tan said the police were first called after there were complaints of overcrowding in the flat. After discovering the illegal occupants, she demanded them to leave «on the spot». «We gave them 30 minutes to move out all their belongings. The locksmith proceeded to change all the locks and keys,» added Tan. 

SINGAPORE — A school teacher entered into a romantic and subsequently sexual relationship with one of her former students after he graduated from primary school.On March 26, the 35-year-old woman was handed a year and 10 months’ jail after she pleaded guilty to two charges — sexual penetration of a minor and committing an indecent act with a child. Two similar charges were taken into consideration during her sentencing.She cannot be named as there is a gag order to protect the victim’s identity.After the ex-student broke up with her, she stalked him.She called him on the phone 25 times and sent him at least 17 emails, in which she claimed he had ruined her emotionally and mentally.She also said she was unhappy about his new romantic relationship, his photograph was still the wallpaper on her phone and she wanted to get back together with him.He finally made a police report in March 2024 against the woman, around four years after they started their romantic relationship when the boy was 13.The court heard that the woman was the boy’s primary school mathematics teacher in 2016 and 2017.