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[General Veers]

Singapore
Mar 18, 2010

Murder suspect arrested

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Police have arrested a 34-year-old male Indian national in connection with the murder of a Filipino woman who was found stabbed in a rented room at a Bencoolen Street lodging house on Monday. -- ST PHOTO: BRYAN VAN DER BEEK

<!-- story content : start --> POLICE have arrested a 34-year-old male Indian national in connection with the murder of a Filipino woman who was found stabbed in a rented room at a Bencoolen Street lodging house on Monday. Police, working tirelessly round the clock over the last three days, tracked down the suspect and nabbed him at about 4 pm in the vicinity of Kitchener Road in Little India. He will be charged in court on Friday with murder, which carries the death penalty, if convicted. The Filipina, identified as 30-year-old Roselyn Reyes Pascua, was stabbed several times in the chest. The caretaker of the building found her at about 3am in a black top and panties, lying face up on the floor of her unlocked rented room.

 

[khunking]

Tiwary faces new charges

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Singaporean Ram Puneet Tiwary, jailed in Australia for the murder of two fellow Singaporean students, will be back in court to face a slew of charges, including some for possession of child pornography and theft. -- ST PHOTO: BRYAN VAN DER BEEK


Mar 18, 2010
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=padlrt10>AUSSIE COURT DATE

Tiwary faces new charges

</TD></TR><TR><TD class="marginbottom8 padlrt10">SYDNEY - SINGAPOREAN Ram Puneet Tiwary, 30, jailed in Australia for the murder of two fellow Singaporean students, will be back in court to face a slew of charges, including some for possession of child pornography and theft.
These charges came up for mention in Sydney's Central Local Court on Tuesday. He was not in court. Magistrate Alan Moore set down two days for a hearing on May 26 and 27. For the murders, Tiwary has to serve at least 38 years in jail before he becomes eligible for parole; if he is not granted parole, he is looking at up to 48 years behind bars.
The child pornography charge arose after the police found in his possession five computer images of females under the age of 16 engaged in sexual activity. These pictures were found between Sept 15, 2003, the day of the double murders, and the following day.
The police also allege that in the months before the murders, Tiwary filched a mobile phone and two ID cards belonging to students of the University of New South Wales, where he and the two murder victims were students.
Court papers also list other crimes the police allege he committed between the murders and his arrest eight months later. These include breaking into a flat and stealing a laptop, and forging documents to pass himself off as a security guard.
Tiwary was tried and convicted in 2006 of the murders of Mr Tony Tan Poh Chuan, 27, and Mr Tay Chow Lyang, 26, and again at a new trial last year. He has appealed against the second conviction. The outcome is pending.
CYNTHIA LOW
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[General Veers]

Ex-bank RM jailed 7 months

Singapore
Mar 22, 2010

Ex-bank RM jailed 7 months

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A FORMER relationship manager of a bank was jailed for seven months on Monday for fraudulent transfers of about US$41,600 from a client's account to other customers' accounts and forgery. Indian national Abhay Singhal, 31, committed the offences as he had problems meeting the monthly revenue target set by his employer, ABN Amro Bank.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of deceiving the bank into believing that Mr Srinath Subrahmanyan had authorised the transfer of US$25,000 and US$12,000 to two other accounts in late 2008. He also admitted to three charges of forging documents relating to Zurich International Life Vista plans of his clients last year. Deputy Public Prosecutor Hon Yi said Mr Srinath of Bangalore deposited US$50,000 into his ABN Singapore's account for the monthly payment for his Vista plan, a regular investment plan offered by Zurich International Life.

Abhay transferred US$25,000 from Mr Srinath's account to another Indian client Nilesh Giria's account to start off the Vista plan after Mr Nilesh had second thoughts about investing US$8,000 monthly in the plan. In the case of Mr Deepak Datwani, he agreed to invest US$6,000 monthly in the Vista plan. But after the first instalment, he failed to send any more money. Abhay then transferred US$12,000 from Mr Srinath's account to Mr Deepak's account to prevent it from lapsing.

Abhay's lawyer Anand Nalachandran said his client deeply regretted the lapse in judgment. He said Abhay did not cause any financial loss to the bank nor did he get any personal benefit. Full restitution had been made. But District Judge Jasvender Kaur felt that a nominal sentence would not do in this case as the offences involved a degree of deliberation and determination. Abhay, who had 24 other charges considered, could have been jailed for up to 10 years on each cheating charge, and up to four years on each charge of forgery.

 

[Lu Bu]

3 pinoys fined for baring breasts

Singapore
Mar 26, 2010

3 fined for baring breasts

<!-- by line --> By Khushwant Singh
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Bernadeth Sonido (far left), Michelle Alejo Bacorro (centre) and Ma Lourdes Dela Cruz (right) were fined $1,000 each. -- ST PHOTOS: WONG KWAI CHOW

TO ENTICE their customers to buy them drinks, three Filipinas bared their breasts in a Duxton pub. On Friday, Bernadeth Sonido, 35; Michelle Alejo Bacorro, 28, and Ma Lourdes Dela Cruz, 26, were fined $1,000 each. A district court heard that on June 5 last year, the three foreigners were working as performing artistes at the Knights Pub & Karaoke along Duxton Road. At about 1am, the trio asked the three men they were sitting with to buy them ladies' drinks so they could earn commissions.

To encourage the men to do so, the Filipinas pulled down their blouses and exposed their breasts and nipples. The customers turned out to be undercover police officers and the women were arrested. Asking the court to impose a light fine, the women's lawyer Gurdaib Singh said that his clients regretted committing the offences. They were also unlikely to be allowed to return to Singapore by the immigration authorities, he added. The three women could have been fined up to $2,000 each and/or jailed for up to three months.

 

[General Veers]

Singapore
Mar 30, 2010

Maid jailed over false info

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong
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AN INDONESIAN maid who lied that she was abused by her employer was jailed for eight weeks on Tuesday. Ida Farida, 25, admitted to giving false information to a police sergeant at Pasir Ris Neighbourhood Police Centre last Sept 14 that her employer's wife had used a broomstick to hit her on the back and a fork to scratch her on her arm and back. A court heard that Ida, accompanied by a male passer-by, made the report that she had been assaulted by her employer's wife, and showed the officer the injuries she had sustained as a result of the assault.

As a result, the employer and his wife were called up for questioning at Bedok Police Division headquarters where statements of relevant witnesses, including one from the couple's mentally-challenged daughter, were recorded.

'Being made to go down to Bedok Police Divisional Headquarters to face an allegation of maid abuse inflicted public humiliation on the wife and family of the accused's employer,'' said Deputy Public Prosecutor Wong Woon Kwong. About a month later, Ida confessed that she had fabricated the entire story so that she could be sent to the Indonesian Embassy. She admitted that she did this as her employer's wife was fierce and the agent had refused to take her back. A second similar charge was taken into consideration. She could have been been jailed for up to one year and/or fined up to $5,000.

 

[Shin Orochi]

PRC Housewife's probation extended

Singapore
Apr 1, 2010

Housewife's probation extended

<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A HOUSEWIFE with an uncontrollable impulse to steal was in and out of prison for 15 years until March 2008. That was when she stole three watches and found herself before Justice V.K. Rajah, who overturned the nine-month jail term she had been given and put her on probation for 18 months. But the Chinese national, who is married to a Singaporean, stole yet again while on probation - this time, groceries worth all of $7.90 from a supermarket. Once again, she found herself in Justice Rajah's court - as is the requirement when an offender breaches a probation order. And once again, he has deemed probation the way to go for a kleptomaniac like her: He extended her probation by another 18 months, effective on Thursday. She could have been jailed up to seven years and fined for theft.

 

[Katana]

3 foreigners caught for allegedly cheating at RWS casino

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3 foreigners caught for allegedly cheating at RWS casino
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SINGAPORE : Three foreigners were caught for allegedly cheating at the casino at Resorts World Sentosa on Saturday.

Two of them are French nationals, while a third is from Spain. The three, aged between 46 and 64, are alleged to have entered the casino on several occasions.

Police said they were caught for committing past-posting at the roulette table on at least three occasions. Past-posting is the act of placing the bet after the result is known.

On Friday and Saturday, they were paid winnings of S$13,400 by the dealers. However, their acts were detected by casino surveillance and they were detained on Saturday at about 1.30pm by casino security officers, who referred them to the police.

The three are in Singapore on Social Visit Passes. The three men will be charged in court on Monday with cheating. If convicted, they face jail of up to 10 years as well as a fine.
- CNA/ms



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[Katana]

12 PRCs held for online vice

Singapore
Apr 4, 2010

12 held for online vice

<!-- by line --> By Wendy Lim
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> POLICE have arrested 12 Chinese women for vice-related offences in a raid at two budget hotels in Kovan. Some of the women arrested during the raid last Thursday had advertised their sexual services on the Internet, said a police statement on Sunday. Police superintendent Goh Lam Kiong, assistant director of the Specialised Crime Division, said that the police takes 'a serious view against such syndicates which conduct their illicit businesses over the Internet.' 'Hotel operators who are found to have knowingly allowed the syndicates to operate in their premises will also be taken to task,' he added. Under the Women's Charter, any person who lives on the earnings of a prostitute can be jailed for up to five years fined up to $10,000. Repeat male offenders can also be caned.

 

[Lu Bu]

4 FTrashs jailed for false claims

Singapore
Apr 5, 2010

4 jailed for false claims

<!-- by line --> By Lin Yingxin

FOUR workers who tried to make fraudulent claims ended up in jail in the past six months. They were jailed between three and eight weeks for filing false claims under the Work Injury Compensation Act, said the Ministry of Manpower on Monday. One worker, an Indian national, claimed his co-worker cut his left thumb while doing gardening work at a condominium, when the injury was self-inflicted. The worker was jailed for eight weeks on Oct 1, 2009. Another worker, a Bangladeshi national, claimed he was hit by a car while crossing the road to get to his dormitory, when he was not working that day. He was packed off to jail for four weeks.

The third worker, also a Bangladeshi, claimed he suffered a hip injury when he tripped over metal wires on the ground while working. MOM investigations revealed that he had hurt himself from a fall before coming to work. He was jailed for five years. The fourth worker, from China, lied that he broke his left wrist while working when the injury was sustained during a basketball game. He got three weeks' jail. Said Mr Clarence Tang, MOM's Director of Work Injury Compensation Department: 'They have wasted the time and resources of MOM, which could have been deployed to help workers in genuine need.' Mr Koh Juan Kiat, Executive Director of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) said: 'Some employers worry that since the WICA is a no-fault system, it works primarily to the benefit of workers.

MOM's prosecution of the four workers for fraudulent WIC claims should be assurance for employers that workers who misuse the WIC system will be taken to task by MOM.' Those who make fraudulent claims can be fined up to $15,000 or jailed up to 12 months, or both. Employers are also required under the Act to report work accidents to MOM within 10 days of the accident, if it results in the death of an employee or renders the worker unfit for work for more than three consecutive days or results in him being hospitalised for 24 hours. Errant bosses can be fined up to $5,000 on first conviction, while repeat offenders face a fine of up to $10,000 and jail of up to six months.

 

[khunking]

Laundering Hub

Asia
Apr 13, 2010

China jails airline boss

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Lan was jailed for four years yesterday. He was once ranked among the richest people in China.

WUHAN - THE owner of East Star Airlines, a Chinese private carrier that went bankrupt last August, has been found guilty of tax evasion and sentenced to four years' jail, Chinese media reported yesterday. The Wuhan Intermediate People's Court found Lan Shili, a China-born Singapore citizen, 50, guilty of ordering his staff to conceal more than 500 million yuan (S$102 million) of revenue to avoid paying 50 million yuan in taxes, the Shanghai Daily said.

In 2006, Lan was named by Forbes as the 97th richest person on the Chinese mainland with assets worth 2.4 billion yuan. In that same year, he was also ranked the richest person in central China's Hubei province, where he was born. Between May 2006 and February last year, the tax bureau in Wuhan's Huangpi district, where East Star is headquartered, had repeatedly ordered the airline to pay up, but the carrier rebuffed the bureau, citing a shortage of funds, according to court documents.

Set up in December 2005 with a registered capital of 80 million yuan, East Star Airlines was jointly owned by a real estate company, a travel agency and a tourism investment company - all subsidiaries of the East Star Group. Since Lan owned these companies, this meant he owned 100 per cent of East Star Airlines, the Global Times reported. East Star was China's fourth private carrier after Okay Airways, United Eagle Airlines and Spring Airlines. It flew more than 20 domestic routes linking key cities with a fleet of nine aircraft and held about 10 per cent of the market in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei province.

 

[SwineHunter]

Apr 14, 2010
NTU don accused of molest

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong

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If convicted, Li (above), who has a PhD in computer engineering, can be jailed for up to two years or fined or caned, or receive any combined sentence. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

<!-- story content : start --> AN ASSOCIATE professor has been charged with molesting a 22-year-old student at Nanyang Technological University. Li Jinyan, 40, is accused of touching the left buttocks of the woman in a room at Block N4 on Sept 11 last year. He was charged a week ago and made his second appearance in court on Wednesday. His lawyer, Mr Gary Low, said he had just been briefed, and sought an adjournment to take instructions and make representations. If convicted, Li, who has a PhD in computer engineering, can be jailed for up to two years or fined or caned, or receive any combined sentence. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for May 10.

 

[Yukimura Sanada]

PRC jailed for lying to ICA

Singapore
Apr 15, 2010

Jailed for lying to ICA

<!-- by line --> By Khushwant Singh
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> ON NOV 25, 2003, a Chinese national by the name of Yang Xiuling was repatriated after the 24-year-old woman was caught soliciting. She was also barred from returning for one year. But it was someone else's passport and when Singaporean businessman Lye Soo Hong proposed to her, she obtained a new passport under her real name, which was Zhang Haiyu. She flew in on March 26, 2004, and the couple married a month later. To continue her stay here, Zhang, 29, applied for extensions to her visit pass with Mr Lye, 35, acting as her sponsor.

In these applications, she also declared that she had never used a different passport or name to come here and neither had she been prohibited from entering Singapore. Her lies were found out in June 2007 and Zhang was sentenced to three months in jail on Thursday for making three false statements to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. Seven other similar charges were considered by the district judge upon sentencing. Asking the court to exercise compassion and leniency, her lawyer Tan Kay Bin said that Zhang lied so that she could be with her husband.

 

[Yukimura Sanada]

Carpark thieves nabbed

Singapore
Apr 15, 2010

Carpark thieves nabbed

<!-- by line --> By Lin Yingxin
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> TWO Indonesian men were arrested by vigilant police officers at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on Tuesday as they were leaving the country. The men, aged 27 and 28, are suspects in a spate of thefts from motor vehicles at public carparks island-wide. On Monday, police received reports of three cars that had been broken into. The owners had parked their cars between 11.30am and 8pm at the open-air carparks at Jalan Sultan, Kallang Road and Banda Street. When they returned to their cars, they found their cars' rear passenger windows smashed and personal belongings stolen. Following the reports, police conducted extensive ground enquiries and investigations to track down the suspects.

On Tuesday at about 8pm, police officers deployed at the ferry terminal spotted the two men behaving suspiciously. A search on the men found some items which they could not account for. These items included US$500 (S$687) and S$50 worth of cash, a wallet, digital media player and a pair of sports shoes. Investigations revealed that the duo may be involved in other cases of theft from motor vehicles reported last year and this year at Jalan Besar, Geylang Serai and Bishan. The two suspects will be charged in court on Thursday morning. They face a maximum jail term of three years and/or a fine, if convicted.

 

[Yukimura Sanada]

'Maid feeds boss drugs'

Singapore
Apr 15, 2010

'Maid feeds boss drugs'

<!-- by line --> By Khushwant Singh
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<!-- end left side bar --> A DISTRICT court heard that an Indonesian maid had told a police officer that she fed 'medicine' to her 79-year-old employer to make her less troublesome. But Windri Hartatik, 26, denied she ever said this and did she know of any such drugs. At the start of the two-day trial on Thursday, Sergeant Norhafizah Kamaludin, 26, testified that last Dec 22, Madam Mah Ah Choo came to the Serangoon neighbourhood police centre to complain that her maid was poisoning her.

The policewoman then interviewed Windri, who claimed that a neighbour had given her a pack of white-coloured pills that would make Madam Mah 'slow down' and not nag and complain so much. The maid, who had worked for Madam Mah for two years also said she got rid of the remaining pills when police were informed, said Sgt Norhafizah. In her police statement to investigating officer Ong Xiqing, Windri changed her story and said that she had brought the pills from Indonesia and had taken them when she had difficulty sleeping. She also admitted to lacing Madam Mah's food, but said this was because the investigating officer had told her she would get off lightly if she confessed.

 

[khunking]

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

Chinese national asked my maid to pay him $36 for items we didn't order

A STOMPer said a man, believed to be a Chinese national, came to her home at Block 252 Compassvale Street and asked her maid to pay him $36 for a Disney clock and water bottle set that she did not order.

Said the STOMPer:

"On April 16 at about 6pm， this Chinese national in the picture approached my doorstep and my maid went to door.

"He told my maid I had ordered three sets of Disney clock and water bottle set from him, costing $12.00 each set.

"He requested to be paid $36 for the items.

"My maid was unable to contact me and paid him $24 because she did not had enough money to pay him, he said will come back to collect the balance the next day.

"When I reached home the evening, my maid informed me about that items but I didn’t order the things from him.

"On April 17 at about 2pm, the man came back for the balance of $12. My maid told him that I didn’t order the items from him and asked him for a refund and to return the items to him.

"He said he will come back in 10 minutes for the refund but he did not turn up.

"A police report had been made. Anyone who see this man please call the Sengkang NPC at 1800-3438998.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

 

[Lu Bu]

PRC Gambler jailed for cheating at RWS


Apr 19, 2010
Gambler jailed for cheating

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent
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A CHINESE national became the first person to be convicted of attempted cheating at a gambling table at Resorts World Sentosa. Hou Yongwei, 26, was jailed for 10 months on Monday for trying to cheat by placing chips valued at $600 on the winning bet of a single digit number 4 in the game of Tai Sai, after the result had been declared on March 28. Hou, who pleaded guilty earlier this month, had intentionally placed his chips worth $600 on the winning bet after the casino dealer had lifted up the cover of a tumbler to declare the result to be tripe 4.

The dealer spotted Hou's act and informed his supervisor who reported to the security manager. The security manager viewed the CCTV footages and confirmed that Hou had placed his bet on the winning number after the result had been declared. Agreeing with the prosecution that a stiff sentence was called for, District Judge Ronald Gwee said a strong message must be sent out to all potential cheats at gaming tables that the courts would impose substantial sentences on such offenders to deter like-minded persons. Hou could have been jailed for up to five years.

 

[Shin Orochi]

PRC serial housebreaker caught


Apr 20, 2010
Serial housebreaker caught

<!-- by line --> By Lin Yingxin <== FTrash

Crime prevention tips

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun advises home owners to adopt basic crime prevention measures in their homes.

Here are some basic tips:

*Install good quality locks and grilles to secure your doors and windows
*Lock your doors and windows at all times, especially before retiring to bed or when leaving your home unattended, even if it is only for a short while
*Install a burglar alarm or CCTV system
*Keep large sums of cash in banks and expensive jewellery in a safe deposit box
*Keep a lookout for one another's home, and report suspicious activities to the Police immediately

A 35-YEAR-OLD Chinese national, who is believed to be involved in at least 40 cases of break-ins, has been arrested by the police. The offences were committed mainly at private homes in the the Rosyth and Seletar Hills estates. The spate of break-ins in the area was reported between last December and April this year. Most of these cases occurred between 10 pm and 5 am. The suspect was believed to have scaled the perimeter fencing or walls of the premises and entered the units via the unlocked sliding glass doors located at the rear of the compounds. In all, cash and other valuables totalling about $21,000 were stolen.

Pursuing all available leads relentlessly, officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division conducted a detailed crime analysis and mounted multiple ambushes in the affected estates. The culprit was elusive, but the officers' efforts finally paid off on Monday at about 1.30 am, when they spotted a suspect climbing over the wall of a private estate in the vicinity of the Mimosa Terrace. The officers quickly sealed off all possible escape routes and moved in on the suspect. He was caught before he could flee. The suspect will be charged Tuesday for housebreaking and theft by night. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to 14 years.

 

[Lu Bu]

Road rage: Man gets 6 months

Apr 20, 2010
Road rage: Man gets 6 months

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
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Tan Eng Heong, 47, had used a wooden pole to hit his victim several times during the incident last April. He is out on $10,000 bail pending an appeal. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

<!-- story content : start --> A MOTORIST who broke the arm of another with a wooden pole in a road rage incident was jailed six months yesterday. Malaysian Tan Eng Heong, 47, an IT manager here, was convicted of causing grievous hurt to Mr Chua Cheng Hai, 45. He is appealing against the sentence and is currently out on $10,000 bail. During the 21/2-day hearing, a district court heard how the assault began when Mr Chua, who was driving a Mercedes-Benz van, cut into Tan's lane on Braddell Road on April 17 last year. Tan, who was driving a Toyota Wish, became furious and overtook Mr Chua from the left. Both men then tried to cut into each other's lane and that eventually led to a side collision between the vehicles. When Mr Chua got out to check the damage to his van, Tan took out a wooden pole, placed near the driver's seat, and hit him several times.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[M.Bison]

27 nabbed in forest raid

Apr 22, 2010
27 nabbed in forest raid

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Police said although the forested area was the size of about four football fields, the well-planned raid caught the perpetrators by surprise and all 27 were arrested in one fell swoop. -- PHOTOS: SPF

The police will not hesitate to take action against such illegal activities and added that

POLICE arrested 27 foreign nationals for vice and immigration offences in a three-hour overnight raid in the forested area off Bukit Batok Road. The operation, from 10 pm on Wednesday to 1 am on Thursday, was carried out by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Jurong Police Division. Police said although the forested area was the size of about four football fields, the well-planned raid caught the perpetrators by surprise and all 27 were arrested in one fell swoop.

They were of various nationalities between the ages of 22 and 51. Six of those arrested were women. Investigations are on-going. Commander of Jurong Police Division Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cheang Keng Keong attributed the success of the opation to good intelligence and planning. He warned that police will not hesitate to take action against such illegal activities and added that "enforcement action will also be taken against syndicates who harbour or engage offenders involved in vice activities".

 

[SwineHunter]

Jail, caning for overstayer


Apr 23, 2010
Jail, caning for overstayer

<!-- by line --> By Khushwant Singh
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A CAMEROONIAN, who overstayed and cheated a foreign worker of $5,600 by promising to get him a job and student passes for Australia was jailed nine months and ordered to be given four strokes of the cane. A district court heard on Friday that in July last year, Damen Priestley Dume, 25, posed as an 'agent' with connections to arrange for Australian employment and student passes for a fee. Mr Prince Mahfuz Rohit, 25, was taken in. The following month, the Bangladeshi, who works as a general worker here, handed over $3,000 to Dume to get a skilled migrant visa for an uncle. Dume then forged a letter from the Australian High Commission approving the application.

He also convinced Mr Rohit to hand over $2,000 to get a student pass for the Bangladeshi's younger brother, This time, Dume faked an approval letter issued by the Temporary Residence Processing of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. But the forged letter mistakenly stated that the department was based in 'Pretoria, Australia'. Pretoria is the capital of South Africa. Dume also cheated Mr Rohit of an additional $600 by claiming this to be the collection fee for the student pass. When Dume was arrested in March, he was found to have overstayed. His special pass had expired in November. He pleaded guilty to cheating, fogery and overstaying.