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GeneralHavoc · Feb 11, 2016

Vietnamese woman charged over $17K stealing spree at ION

Dang Bich Thao and four other accomplices - Nguyen Quoc Hung, Hoang Dinh Cong, Nguyen Thi Luong and Dinh Ngoc Luan - are accused of stealing from three clothing shops at ION Orchard on Jan 27 and Jan 28.

Photo: ION

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
Saturday, Feb 6, 2016

A Vietnamese woman was charged on Thursday with four counts of committing theft with common intention.

Dang Bich Thao and four other accomplices - Nguyen Quoc Hung, Hoang Dinh Cong, Nguyen Thi Luong and Dinh Ngoc Luan - are accused of stealing from three clothing shops at ION Orchard on Jan 27 and Jan 28.

The group had allegedly targeted fashion outlets like Zara, Pull and Bear and H&M, looting items said to be worth more than $17,500.

On Jan 27, Dang, 25, and the group allegedly stole 28 items from Zara comprising printed tops, T-shirts, pants, dresses and a jacket with a total value of around $2,000.

On the same day, H&M was also hit.

More than 200 clothing items worth around $9,900 were allegedly stolen from the shop by the group. The list of stolen items included tube tops, dresses, blouses, denim skirts, bags and knitted sweaters.

It appeared that only female clothing, which cost between $19.90 and $79.90, were stolen from H&M.

Under the law, Dang can be jailed for up to seven years and fined if found guilty.

GeneralHavoc · Feb 12, 2016

Construction worker who slashed ex-girlfriend jailed 4 years, with 9 strokes of the cane

Construction worker Palaiyan Murugadass was jailed for four years with nine strokes of the cane for slashing his ex-girlfriend with a penknife.

Published Feb 11, 2016, 2:41 pm SGT
Amir Hussain

SINGAPORE - Unhappy that his former girlfriend was ignoring his multiple phone calls, a 41-year-old man attacked her with a penknife, slashing her face, throat and wrist.

The assault left her permanently disfigured.

On Thursday (Feb 11), construction worker Palaiyan Murugadass was jailed for four years with nine strokes of the cane, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous hurt by dangerous means.

A district court heard that Palaiyan, an Indian national, had been in a relationship with a 38-year-old Filipino domestic worker since 2013.

She initiated a break up with him in July 2015.

But Palaiyan was unwilling, and began to call her up to 30 times a day. She ignored his calls.

At about 4pm on Aug 23, 2015, Palaiyan armed himself with a penknife with a 7cm blade and waited for his former girlfriend at the void deck of a HDB block in Tampines Street 33, wanting to injure her.

At about 6.30pm, as she was walking under the block, he went up to her and repeatedly told her, "You playing me, you playing me. You will see, I will kill you".

She ignored him and continued walking.

He then slashed her throat, prompting her to push the penknife away and injure her hand.

Palaiyan then slashed her cheek.

As the bleeding Filipina shouted for help, a passer-by called the police.

Palaiyan fled, throwing the penknife into nearby bushes. He took a taxi back to his dormitory.

The victim was taken to hospital, where her windpipe was operated on. Cuts on her hand and wrist were also stitched up.

She was given over a month of hospitalisation leave.

A medical report in December stated that her injuries will result in permanent disfigurement.

Palaiyan could have been jailed for life, or up to 15 years with fine and caning.

GeneralHavoc · Feb 13, 2016

Foreign worker jailed 8 weeks for making false work injury claim

Friday, Feb 12, 2016

SINGAPORE - A foreign worker has been jailed eight weeks after he made a false work injury compensation claim against his employer for alleged injuries to his finger.

According to a press statement by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), 28-year-old Bangladeshi national Rahman FR Mostafizur claimed part of his little finger on his left hand was severed while he was operating a band saw machine during work. He had also reportedly informed his supervisor of the alleged accident.

Rahman, a Marine Trades worker, filed this claim on Feb 12, 2014. MOM's investigation later revealed that Rahman's claim was false as the alleged accident did not take place and he did not suffer any injury at work.

Contrary to Rahman's claims, investigations showed that his hand was not injured when he left the worksite and none of his supervisors or co-workers were aware of the alleged accident.

In addition, Rahman was sentenced to three weeks’ jail for overstaying in Singapore. He was arrested by the police on Nov 28, 2015 and charged by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority for overstaying.

According to MOM, Rahman is the first worker this year to be prosecuted for committing offences under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). Three foreign workers were prosecuted for similar offences last year.

Under WICA, those convicted of making false claims may be fined up to $15,000 and/or jailed up to 12 months. Those convicted of providing false information may be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed up to six months.

[email protected]

GeneralHavoc · Feb 13, 2016

Construction worker who pretended to be cop and extorted money gets jail

Selvam Pandiarajan was given two years' jail for extorting more than $2,500 from foreigners.

Published 6 hours ago
Amir Hussain

SINGAPORE - A construction worker from India passed himself off as a cop and extorted money from couples engaging in intimate acts in a park here.

He even tried to gain sexual favours from one victim, on top of asking her for $500. He pretended to have photographs and videos of her with an unknown man, but she did not fall for his ruse.

On Friday, Selvam Pandiarajan, 27, was given two years' jail for extorting more than $2,500 from foreigners here over nearly two years. He pleaded guilty to eight charges of cheating.

He also admitted to 10 counts of attempted cheating and seven charges of impersonating a public servant, which were taken into consideration during sentencing.

A district court heard that sometime in 2013, Selvam hatched a plan to take photos of foreign couples engaging in intimate acts at Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East. He would show them a fake pass to trick them into believing he was a policeman.

He would claim that their behaviour in public was inappropriate and threaten to report them unless they handed him some cash.

Once, at about 5pm on Sept 24 last year, he took a photograph of a couple at the park before asking for their work permits. He took photos of the documents, and said he had photos of them behaving intimately. He threatened to send the photos to their employers and the police, unless each handed over $250.

On another occasion, he threatened to upload on the Internet photos he took of a couple behaving intimately. They handed him $600.

And on Christmas Day in 2014, he went up to a couple behaving intimately and told the boyfriend that he was not allowed to touch his girlfriend's breasts in public.

Selvam threatened to take the couple to a police station, saying that their inappropriate behaviour in public could see them fined or jailed. They handed him $300.

On some occasions, Selvam would tell couples that they were not supposed to be in the garden after 7pm, or that the garden was meant only for Singaporeans.

He also told a foreigner who was smoking in the park, that he could be fined $300 for doing so, and asked for $100.

In all, Selvam cheated 14 victims of $2,560 between January 2014 and October last year.

For his cheating offences, Selvam could have been jailed for up to five years and fined. For pretending to be a policeman, he could have been jailed for up to two years and fined.

[email protected]

GeneralHavoc · Feb 16, 2016

Former primary school teacher jailed 21 months for sexually assaulting 12-year-old girl

Du Tao, 35, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual penetration of a minor and a count of committing an indecent act with a child.

Du Tao, 35, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual penetration of a minor and a count of committing an indecent act with a child.ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

Published 9 hours ago
Amir Hussain

SINGAPORE - A 35-year-old former teacher who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl two years ago was on Monday (Feb 15) jailed for 21 months.

Du Tao, a Singaporean, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual penetration of a minor and a count of committing an indecent act with a child.

He admitted to two other charges which were taken into consideration during sentencing.

A district court heard that Du, who was then 33, and teaching primary three pupils Chinese at a school in the north, had got to know the girl on online app Mei Pai, which allows users to share photographs.

She had, on her account there, posted the username to another app, WeChat, which is used for instant chats.

The girl, who cannot be named, told Du that she was 13 and sent him photos of her in her primary school uniform.

She addressed him as "Daddy", while he called her "Nu Er" or daughter in Chinese.

Du's chats with the girl became explicitly lewd, and he told her that he would teach her how to have sex.

On March 8, 2014, a week after Du got to know the girl, she invited him to her flat in Sengkang, as he had repeatedly told her that he wanted to visit her there.

While she was having her lunch there at about noon, he suddenly hugged her from behind.

She stood up and turned around to face him, and they started kissing.

Du led her to the bedroom and they continued to kiss on the bed, before he sexually assaulted her and made her perform a sex act on him.

Shortly after the police, responding to a tip-off, knocked on the door.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Selene Yap asked for a total of 21 months' jail, noting that Du had kept in constant contact with the girl for a week prior to meeting her, and had sent lewd and sexually suggestive messages.

In mitigation, Du's lawyer Jenny Lai said her client, who has a newborn son, has been unemployed for some time, and had "a remarkable record in the teaching profession." She asked for 18 months' jail.

In passing sentence, District Judge Eddy Tham said there were multiple aggravating factors in the case which warranted a deterrent sentence.

He said that details of Du's messages with the girl showed explicit sexual words and innuendos, revealing moral corruption.

Du had also exploited the naivety of the young girl and preyed on her.

He was, at 33, also in a strong position of influence over her.

And if not for the timely arrival of the police, Du's sexual assault would have worsened.

But the judge said there was no evidence that Du had trawled online for a young victim.

He also said that while Du's occupation as a teacher might cause some public disapprobation, it was not an aggravating factor in this case.

For sexual penetration of a minor, Du could have been jailed for 10 years and fined.

For committing an indecent act with a child, he could have been jailed for five years and fined $10,000.

khunking · Feb 17, 2016

[h=1]SMU law student jailed 2 months for accessing professors' accounts[/h] [h=2]Georgy Kotsaga plugged a USB hardware keylogger into the common desktop in the classrooms of two professors to capture their login details, in an attempt to cheat in an exam.[/h]
SINGAPORE: A Russian student enrolled in Singapore Management University’s Juris Doctor course has been jailed for two months for accessing the eLearn accounts of two professors and deleting 19 examination scripts.
Georgy Kotsaga, 32, had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act. Another two charges were taken into consideration in sentencing him.
The court heard Kotsaga had bought a USB hardware keylogger, which he plugged into the common desktop in the classrooms of two professors. The keylogger captured the professors’ login details, which Kotsaga later used to gain access to their accounts.
During an exam on Nov 24 last year, Kotsaga went to the toilet and used his professor’s login details to gain access to the scripts of the other 18 students also sitting for the online exam.
Kotsaga was having difficulties answering the exam questions and viewed the scripts of his classmates for about 20 minutes in the hopes of finding “useful information”.
After the exam, he logged into his professor’s account again to view the script of the top student in the module. Realising that he would not do very well in the exam and worried about his GPA, Kotsaga used his professor’s account to delete all the exam scripts, under the impression that he would get a second chance to attempt the exam.

But his plan was foiled by SMU’s IT system that makes real-time backups, and all the scripts were later recovered.

KOTSAGA’S ACTIONS ‘SPITS IN THE FACE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM’: DPP

In urging the court to impose a sentence of between two to three months’ jail, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Khoo cited four aggravating factors.

Kotsaga’s actions were “carefully planned and premeditated”, DPP Khoo said, pointing to Kotsaga’s purchase of the keylogger to commit the offences. This shows “a higher level of sophistication” as compared to other offenders who “merely stumble upon a password written down somewhere or guess the password to an account”, the DPP said.

If Kotsaga had succeeded in deleting the scripts, the outcome “would have been catastrophic”, DPP Khoo said. Kotsaga had cheated by accessing his fellow classmates’ scripts in the middle of the exam and later deleted all the scripts after realising he would not do well. This “spits in the face of the education system”, the DPP told the court.
The deputy also added that great harm could have been caused to the professor, who was “unnecessarily dragged into investigations and questioned about the offences” because Kotsaga had “used him to mask his criminal actions”.
Cybercrimes are difficult to detect, the DPP noted, and more so when an offender takes steps to mask his offence. Kotsaga had changed the IP address of his iPhone before accessing the professors’ accounts, although he was eventually tracked down.
DPP Khoo also highlighted Kotsaga’s motive for committing the offences, which he did “purely to further his own self-interest”, having “no qualms destroying the interests of other innocent people”, the DPP said, calling for the court to impose a sentence that would deter other like-minded offenders given the ease of access to keyloggers, which are extremely simple to use and difficult to detect.
For the unauthorised access of his professors’ accounts, Kotsaga could have faced up to two years’ jail and/or fined up to S$5,000. As for the unauthorised deletion of exam scripts from a computer, Kotsaga could have been jailed up to three years and/or fined up to S$10,000.

GeneralHavoc · Feb 19, 2016

Man nabbed trying to steal from foreign worker dorm in Geylang

A 43-YEAR-OLD man allegedly snuck into a foreign worker dormitory at Geylang early yesterday morning to steal a wallet but was stopped by two workers.

Thursday, Feb 18, 2016

The incident happened at 5.30am at a dormitory at Lorong 34, Geylang, Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported yesterday.

Li Junjie, a foreign worker from Henan, China, told Wanbao that he was sleeping when he felt movements beside his pillow.

The 30-year-old was shocked to see a shadow of someone standing beside him. "I put my wallet under my pillow. I had $60, my ATM card and so on inside. He'd wanted to steal it but luckily I woke up in time," said Mr Li.

He said the man, in his panic while trying to escape, ran to the toilet where he had no way out.

Mr Li and his room-mate, who called the police, apprehended the man and kept him seated on a chair until the police arrived 15 minutes later.

"He kept resisting and saying, 'Don't hurt me, don't call the police'," said Mr Li.

He added that the man denied everything when the police arrived and was taken away only after more than an hour's questioning.

Mr Li said he was puzzled as to how the thief knew that he kept his wallet under his pillow.

He added that the door to the dormitory - home to more than 10 Chinese workers from the same company - is usually unlocked.

After this incident, he said they would be more cautious.

"We'll definitely lock the door properly after this."

Wanbao rushed to the scene yesterday morning and saw two police cars, with several policemen at the dorm on the second floor.

Police told My Paper yesterday that they had received a call for assistance at about 5.37am.

Wanbao reported that a 43-year-old Singaporean was arrested in relation to a case of theft in a dwelling. Police investigations are ongoing.

[email protected]

GeneralHavoc · Feb 27, 2016

Man jailed for threat to damage ex-girlfriend's reputation

Malaysian Chong Jin Hoong, 24, who threatened to damage the reputation of his ex-girlfriend, was jailed for three weeks on Friday (Feb 26).

Published Feb 26, 2016, 1:53 pm SGT
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent

SINGAPORE - A Malaysian man who threatened to damage the reputation of his ex-girlfriend was jailed for three weeks on Friday (Feb 26).

Chong Jin Hoong, 24, admitted to two of three criminal intimidation offences on Sept 26 and 28 last year.

On Sept 28, he used his mobile phone to send the 24-year-old Chinese national screenshots of her friends accepting his "Friend Request'' on Facebook; a screenshot of a photo gallery showing thumbnail icons of six videos of the victim engaging in sexual activity; text messages and a video of her performing oral sex on him.

He had also threatened her two days earlier by sending a similar screenshot of a photo gallery and three text messages with the intention of causing her alarm.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Song Yeong told the court that Chong and the victim had been in a romantic relationship since January 2014. They had consensual sex six months later.

At some point, Chong started taking photographs and videos of their sexual activities.

The relationship eventually soured and the parties broke up in September last year.

At her request and in her presence, he deleted photographs and videos from his phone.

On Sept 26, they exchanged messages about her collecting her belongings from his home.

They got into an argument. Chong then sent the screenshot of a photo gallery with videos of her engaging in sexual activities to her. He also texted her saying he still had videos which he had not deleted, and threatened to tag her on her Facebook and WeChat accounts.

DPP Ng said he did this to scare her into talking to him and getting back together.

The court heard that he also sent her a photograph of her performing a sexual act on him and a video clip of her in the nude. He told her that he could track her down even when she had "banned'' him.

Two days later, Chong asked the victim why she had deleted him from her Facebook and WeChat accounts. She replied that it would be "more painful for the parties if they carried on''.

That evening, he sent her a screenshot of three of her friends who had accepted his "Friend Request'' on Facebook, text messages and another screenshot of a photo gallery .

She made a police report the next day. Chong did not send any videos or pictures to anyone other than the victim.

District Judge Ng Peng Hong took into account his lawyer's mitigation plea that it was a lovers' quarrel and that Chong did not take any money from the victim or ask for sexual favours. He added that he could not ignore the fact that Chong did threaten to make use of social medial to his advantage by threatening to send all those vidoes to the woman's friends.

Chong could have been jailed for up to two years and fined on each charge.

GeneralHavoc · Mar 1, 2016

Four years' jail for man who stole $910,600 worth of items and took them out of Singapore

Yeoh Jackson, 24, pleaded guilty to stealing $910,600 worth of property from a casino patron.

Published 9 hours ago
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent

SINGAPORE - A tourist who left for Malaysia shortly after stealing $910,600 worth of property from a casino patron was jailed for four years on Monday (Feb 29).

Malaysian Yeoh Jackson, 24, pleaded guilty to stealing a $1,000 Zegna clutch bag, cash of $9,100, Marina Bay Sands Casino Paiza chips worth $900,000, a mobile phone and other personal items from Mr Charles Patrick, 71, at a baccarat table at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino on Sept 2 last year.

He also admitted to moving the benefits of his criminal conduct out of jurisdiction by taking the items to Malaysia.

A district court heard that Mr Patrick withdrew $1 million worth of chips in denominations of $100,000 to gamble at the Paiza Room at Level 2 of the casino.

Yeoh stood near Mr Patrick to observe him gambling a few times. At around 7.40pm, Yeoh stood behind him at the baccarat table while he was putting some casino chips into his clutch bag.

About half an hour later, Mr Patrick left his clutch bag and cellphone unattended to gamble at other tables nearby.

Yeoh then placed a bottle of water next to the clutch bag and cellphone. He kept drinking from the water bottle to give the impression that the clutch bag and mobile phone belonged to him.

At about 8.40pm, Yeoh stole the two items. He left the casino and threw away the mobile phone. He then took a cab to the Bugis area, and left the country via Woodlands checkpoint with the remaining items.

He claimed that he threw away Mr Patrick's bank cards and the car key. He kept the clutch bag for his own use and spent the cash on gambling and his personal expenses. He also kept casino chips worth $400,000 and gave away chips worth $500,000 to his friends.

Singapore police were notified by Malaysian police of his arrest at Kuching, Sarawak, on Jan 18 this year. Yeoh was brought back to Singapore on a warrant of arrest two days later.

Yeoh, whose sentence was backdated to Jan 21, told District Judge Salina Ishak that he committed the offences as he had lost money gambling. Pleading for a light sentence, the first-time offender said he was very remorseful and sorry for what he had done.

"I shall make sure this will be my last,'' he said.

Another charge under the Casino Control Act for having chips with an aggregate value of $900,000 at Woodlands checkpoint, which is not a casino or a designated site, was taken into consideration.

Yeoh could have been jailed for up to three years and fined for theft. For removing property out of jurisdiction, the maximum penalty is a $500,000 fine and 10 years' jail.

GeneralHavoc · Mar 9, 2016

Police arrest Malaysian suspect in 2011 counterfeit casino chips case

Police arrested a Malaysian man for his suspected involvement in a case of counterfeit casino chips in 2011.

Published 6 hours ago
Tiffany Fumiko Tay

SINGAPORE - A 40-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of counterfeit casino chips reported in 2011, the police said on Tuesday (March 8).

In August 2011, the police commenced investigations into a syndicated case of suspected counterfeit casino chips used at the Marina Bay Sands casino. Following investigations, four suspects were arrested and were prosecuted in court, the police said.

A total of 287 fake chips, each with a face value of $1,000, were seized after counterfeit chips were found to have been used at the casino's baccarat tables.

With assistance from the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), a fifth suspect was arrested in Malaysia on Monday (March 7). He was subsequently handed over to the Singapore Police Force (SPF)on Tuesday (March 8) afternoon.

The suspect will be charged in court on Wednesday (March 9) for using counterfeit casino chips, punishable under the Casino Control Act. If convicted, he can face a prison term of up to seven years, or a fine of up to $150,000 or both.

Singapore's Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations and Intelligence) Tan Chye Hee, who is also director of the Criminal Investigation Department, expressed his appreciation to the RMP for their assistance in the arrest.

He said: "The arrest of the suspect would not have been possible without the close collaboration and strong relationship between the SPF and RMP. The SPF will spare no efforts to hunt down criminals who commit crimes in Singapore and flee our borders thereafter."

GeneralHavoc · Mar 10, 2016

Two men who swam into Singapore intercepted and arrested by coast guard

The two men were intercepted 10 minutes after the Police Coast Guard detected them.

Published 8 hours ago
Melody Zaccheus

SINGAPORE - The Police Coast Guard arrested two men, aged 25, for unlawful entry into Singapore in the early hours of Wednesday.

The coast guard detected two floating objects believed to be swimmers at the sea off Senoko at about 3.45am. The authorities said they "deployed both land and sea resources" and intercepted the duo about 10 minutes later.

The men did not have any form of identification or travel documents on them.

Commander of the Police Coast Guard, senior assistant commissioner of police Hsu Sin Yun said: "This successful arrest is a result of the Police Coast Guard's resolve and determination in staying ahead of the maritime challenges in keeping Singapore waters safe and secure ."

GeneralHavoc · Mar 10, 2016

Man who threatened to blow up Parliament House and attack PM's family jailed

Zhang Quanfu was jailed for 28 weeks after he admitted to two charges under the Telecommunications Act.

Published 5 hours ago
Amir Hussain

SINGAPORE - After having five bottles of beer at a Geylang coffeeshop, a 31-year-old construction worker from China called the police hotline and threatened to cause an explosion at Parliament House and to attack the Prime Minister's family.

On Wednesday (March 9), Zhang Quanfu was jailed for 28 weeks after he admitted to two charges under the Telecommunications Act.

The court heard that Zhang went drinking with two friends in Lorong 27 Geylang at about 3pm on July 19 last year.

At 5.39pm, he left his friends and called the police emergency hotline from a mobile phone.

Speaking in Mandarin, he told the police: "I will let the Parliament building explode immediately."

A senior staff sergeant tried to keep Zhang talking on the line while he dispatched multiple police officers at the same time.

While the officer was still talking to him, Zhang used another mobile phone to call the 999 hotline again at 5.52pm.

This time, he said: "I immediately, want you to get me a line through to the Prime Minister's home, do you believe, I will wipe out the whole family immediately."

Zhang also told the staff sergeant, who took the second call, that he was in between Lorong 24 Geylang and Lorong 26 Geylang, and was dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans.

He also gave his name to the police, before hanging up at 6.04pm.

Another police sergeant called him back, to keep him on the line, while police officers were dispatched to Geylang.

A police corporal spotted Zhang there at 6.19pm. He was using his mobile phone and reeking of alcohol.

Zhang ignored the policeman when he was asked for his particulars.

The officer took the phone away from him and spoke directly to the sergeant on the other line, who confirmed that Zhang had made the 999 calls.

He was taken to Bedok Police Division Headquarters and arrested later that day. His blood sample found a high level of ethanol - 139mg per 100ml of blood.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ryan David Lim told the court: "In actuality, the accused had no intention to cause any building to explode, and had no means of creating a bomb or any other explosive device.

"As a result of the accused's actions, several police resources were dispatched and others were asked to increase patrols at sensitive locations and to heighten vigilance."

In mitigation, Zhang said he was deeply remorseful and that his family back home was very worried about him. He pleaded for a light sentence so that he could go home as soon as possible and be reunited with his family.

The maximum punishment for transmitting a false message which contains a reference to an explosion is seven years jail and a $50,000 fine.

The maximum penalty for transmitting a false message is three years' jail and a $10,000 fine.

GeneralHavoc · Mar 11, 2016

Drunken insurance broker fined for punching neighbour's nose

Briton Kris Nathaniel John Francis Korosec was fined $2,500 for punching a neighbour on the nose in a row over a cigarette lighter. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

Published Mar 10, 2016, 4:29 pm SGT
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent

SINGAPORE - A drunken insurance broker who punched a neighbour on the nose in a row over a cigarette lighter was fined $2,500 on Thursday.

Briton Kris Nathaniel John Francis Korosec, 35, pleaded guilty to hurting Mr Prateek Manchanda, 36, at Tower 1, The Sail @ Marina Bay, Marina Boulevard, on Aug 14, 2014.

A court heard that Mr Manchanda and a friend were going into the lift at Tower 1 at 2.30am that day when he noticed a drunken Korosec standing outside.

Korosec asked Mr Manchanda for a lighter but he said he did not have one.

But Korosec insisted that he give him a lighter and refused to let the lift door close.

Mr Manchanda left and went to the security counter to get help.

Korosec came and suddenly punched Mr Manchanda on the nose.

As the security officer did not intervene, and fearing that he would be punched again, the victim entered into a scuffle with Korosec and managed to pin him down until a security officer arrived.

Mr Manchanda suffered minor injuries.

Korosec's lawyer Amarjit Singh said it was a one-off incident, and the reason Korosec acted out of character was his intoxicated state.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Prakash Otharam, who sought a fine of $2,500 to $3,000, highlighted that Korosec's attack was unprovoked.

Korosec could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for voluntarily causing hurt.

GeneralHavoc · Mar 11, 2016

Teacher jailed for framing maid 'out of spite'

Published 7 min ago

Unhappy with helper's work, she planted pendant in her luggage, accused her of theft

Elena Chong
Court Correspondent

Unhappy with her maid, a preschool teacher decided to get even by framing her for theft. She planted her gold pendant in her maid's luggage and lied to the police.

Yesterday, the judge had little sympathy for the employer, Indian national Desai Asti Amit, calling her actions spiteful as he jailed the 37-year-old for seven weeks.

Deputy Public Prosecutor James Low told the court that Desai had not been happy with the work of her 23-year-old maid, Ms Kimei Dangmei, since she began working for the family last April.

Some time in August, a homesick Ms Kimei asked to return to India, but Desai refused to let her go.

On Aug 20, Desai returned home from work and realised that her son and Ms Kimei were at the playground. That was when she planted a gold pendant and metal prayer cup in the maid's luggage.

Ms Kimei ran away to a welfare organisation the next day. She was taken to the maid agency the following day. The couple went to the agency with the maid's luggage. When it was opened for inspection, Desai's gold pendant fell out from between some clothing. The metal prayer cup was also found.

Desai's husband then called the police, and Desai told them that Ms Kimei had stolen the gold pendant and she suspected her of having stolen a diamond pendant as well.

Ms Kimei was arrested and remanded at Bedok Police Station's lock-up for a day before being released on police bail.

On Sept 7, when giving a further statement to the police, Desai admitted that she had framed Ms Kimei. She pleaded guilty to giving false information to the police.

Defence lawyer Louis Joseph said lodging the police report and seeing the maid being arrested had pricked Desai's conscience. But District Judge Adam Nakhoda said Desai had multiple opportunities to tell the truth, but persisted with her lie until she was called by the police.

Ms Kimei has since returned home to India.

The maximum punishment for giving false information to a public servant is a year's jail and a $5,000 fine.

GeneralHavoc · Mar 11, 2016

Tourist duo jailed for $500k office burglary

Published 8 min ago
Amir Hussain

After gambling away their cash at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino, two Vietnamese tourists came up with a plot to recoup their losses that some would think was bananas: to break into a fruit store.

Yet Nguyen Van Nhat, 23, and Ngo Quang Phuoc, 35, did just that, cutting through a safe to steal half a million dollars in cash.

Yesterday, the pair were jailed for 41/2 years each after pleading guilty to a charge of housebreaking at night to commit theft.

They caught a bus to Singapore from Malaysia on New Year's Day and checked into a Geylang hotel. The next evening, they lost a "significant amount of money" at the MBS casino, a district court heard.

Two days later, Nhat took Phuoc to Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre to show him the wholesale company where he used to work as a packer, Loh Ee Seng Trading Company.

The next morning, Phuoc suggested they steal money, and Nhat told him that he had seen his old boss keep cash in the second-floor office. They agreed that Phuoc would break in to steal it while Nhat acted as a lookout.

At about 12.40am on Jan 5, Phuoc entered from the rooftop after removing a ventilation fan. He then climbed a ladder and went through a window into the office.

Using an electric grinder, a screwdriver, safety goggles and a safety helmet, he spent nearly two hours cutting and hacking at a safe box.

He left with four bags of money. They were so heavy he had to leave one bag behind, the court heard.

After splitting the loot, the duo booked hotel rooms at MBS, then went on a shopping spree. They were nabbed in their rooms after the store owner reported a break-in. They could have been jailed for up to 14 years and fined.

GeneralHavoc · Mar 12, 2016

Fashion designer jailed for siphoning $80k from his ex-lover

Ong Teck Hock was jailed for five months after he pleaded guilty to seven charges under the Computer Misuse Act.

Published 11.03.2016
Amir Hussain

SINGAPORE - For nearly two years, a 40-year-old fashion designer secretly stole over $80,000 from his ex-lover's bank account. The pair, who were together for almost 17 years, broke up after the 62-year-old teacher came home to

find him in bed with someone else.

On Friday (March 11), Ong Teck Hock was jailed for five months after he pleaded guilty to seven charges under the Computer Misuse Act. He admitted to 15 similar charges, which were considered in sentencing.

A district court heard that Ong, a Malaysian, got into a relationship with the teacher in 1995. The latter took care of Ong's expenses and gave him a monthly allowance. He even paid for Ong's diploma in fashion design, which he got

from LaSalle College of the Arts in 2008.

In 2010, Ong suggested that the teacher apply for online banking facilities. As the teacher was not proficient in using computers, Ong kept the internet banking token.

In November 2011, Ong's friend came to visit him at home, and the two fell asleep next to each other on the same bed. When the teacher came home and saw them, Ong was unable to explain himself fully; he moved out about two

weeks later.

Ong later heard from mutual friends that the teacher was spreading rumours, saying he had only stayed with the teacher for the latter's money, the court heard. Ong also heard that the teacher had found another lover four months

after they broke up.

Hurt and upset, Ong started transferring funds from the teacher's bank account into his own. Between September 2012 and June 2014, he transferred $82,853 in all.

On July 18, 2014, the teacher told police that someone had made unauthorised transfers from his bank account; a cheque he issued bounced due to a lack of funds.

Ong, a permanent resident, could have been jailed for three years and fined $10,000 on each charge.

GeneralHavoc · Mar 12, 2016

3 men caught for trying to enter Singapore illegally

Friday, Mar 11, 2016

Three men have been caught by the authorities for attempting to enter Singapore illegally.

At about 9:58pm on Thursday (March 10), the Police Coast Guard (PCG) detected three floating objects, which turned out to be men swimming in the sea off Gedong, Singapore.

At about 10:02pm, land and sea resources deployed successfully intercepted the swimmers.

The men, aged between 22 and 29, were arrested under the offence of unlawful entry into Singapore under the Immigration Act.

Commander of the PCG, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun said the PCG will continue to "deter and detect crime in Singapore waters".

[email protected]

GeneralHavoc · Mar 12, 2016

Gang robbery victim jailed and fined for running unlicensed remittance business

Jalaludeen Gulam Hussain admitted to running the unlicensed remittance business at a Buffalo Road flat. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Published 8 hours ago
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent

SINGAPORE - A victim of a $1.3-million gang robbery in Little India in 2012 was jailed for 10 months and given the maximum $100,000 fine on Friday for operating an unlicensed remittance business.

Jalaludeen Gulam Hussain, a 36-year-old Indian national, admitted running the operation at a Buffalo Road flat from January 2010 to July last year without a licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

He made profits of $552,750 during the offending period , one of the largest ever made by such an offender.

He and two compatriots, Kamarulzaman Abuasanar, 31, and Anthony Savarimuthu, 39, were robbed of $1.3 million by three Singaporeans and two Indian nationals at Dunlop Street in September 2012. The robbers are serving between eight and 10½ years' jail each, plus caning.

Last month, Kamarulzaman was jailed for 10 weeks and fined $70,000 while Anthony was jailed for five months and fined $100,000 for running an unlicensed remittance business.

The court heard that Jalaludeen used a system known as Hawala, which is based on a trust established between the customer and agent.

Jalaludeen would collect remittance funds in Singapore dollars from Indian nationals who came from the same town or village in India then transmit them to India. Representatives there would disburse the equivalent amount in rupees to intended recipients, based on pre-agreed exchange rates. He would also remit money from India to Singapore.

He would convert Singapore dollars by buying gold which would be transmitted to India through couriers. The gold would be sold at a profit in India and the Hawala agents based in India would disburse the proceeds in rupees.

Jalaludeen admitted that from January 2010 to July last year, he had been remitting an average of about $100,000 a day from Singapore to India; and also an average of $150,000 a day from India to Singapore. His average monthly profit was about $8,250.

Seeking a sentence of 12 months' jail and a $100,000 fine to be imposed, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Khoo said such offences were hard to detect and Jalaludeen was motivated by financial gain.

Jalaludeen's lawyer Sarbrinder Singh said his client, who is married with no children, had suffered as a victim, and had co-operated fully with authorities.

The maximum penalty is a $100,000 fine and two years' jail.

GeneralHavoc · Mar 17, 2016

4 people arrested for suspected cheating at MBS casino

Photo: The Straits Times

Tuesday, Mar 15, 2016

SINGAPORE - Four people have been arrested for their suspected involvement in trying to cheat patrons at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino.

Police said in a press statement today that they were alerted suspected cheating at the MBS casino on Dec 16, 2015.

Officers from the Casino Crime Investigation Branch (CCIB) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) responded to the case and managed to established the identities of the suspects after investigations.

Yesterday (Mar 14), one man and three women, aged between 27 and 60, were arrested at Changi International Airport.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to have committed syndicated cheating in the MBS casino on the pretext of helping patrons to place bets.

If convicted, they may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine.

The police would like to advise members of public to exercise caution in the casinos and refrain from allowing others to place bets on your behalf at the gaming tables.

[email protected]

GeneralHavoc · Mar 17, 2016

Man jailed for threatening ex-girlfriend and breaking into her room

Lim Hui Yin, an unemployed man who broke into his ex-girlfriend's home and threatened to kill her and then commit suicide was jailed for 15 months.

Published 10 hours ago
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent

SINGAPORE - An unemployed man who broke into his ex-girlfriend's home and threatened to kill her and then commit suicide was jailed for 15 months on Wednesday (March 16).

Lim Hui Yin, 25, a Malaysian, pleaded guilty to threatening Ms Yap Jing Ting, 21, housebreaking and having a 7cm-long knife on Feb 20 this year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Gabriel Choong Hefeng told the court that Lim and Ms Yap were in a relationship until they broke up in August last year.

Sometime in January this year, he saw her with her boyfriend and followed them in a taxi. He found out that she was living at Lorong 25A Geylang, and decided to confront her over their relationship.

Armed with a knife, he went to her residence. He also brought along a piece of cloth and a cable tie.

He waited outside her home until a resident exited and he asked for the PIN code to the second floor.

After getting in, Lim located Ms Yap's room. He used the cable tie to successfully unlock the door. Ms Yap was sleeping when he placed the piece of wet cloth to cover her mouth. This woke her up and she struggled while he continued to cover her mouth.

He released his hold on her only after she said that she could not breathe.

She turned on the lights and asked why he had brought the knife. He told her in Mandarin: "This knife is to kill you, directly stab your throat and then I commit suicide. I want to die with you."

Ms Yap then hugged Lim to console him. They then talked about their past relationship and other personal matters.

Lim later followed Ms Yap to her workplace at Liang Seah Street and loitered there. Her employer saw him and called the police, who came and found a knife in his bag.

In mitigation, Lim said he was desperate to save the relationship. He said he had family issues in Malaysia, and was remorseful.

District Judge Lee Poh Choo backdated his sentence to Feb 22.

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