Phrases used by parrots: "We take such ______ very seriously and will not hesitate to take action"

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LTA said it has sent out a reminder to taxi drivers about the penalties for touting and overcharging, and that it takes a serious view of such offences.
It added that enforcement efforts will be stepped up during the festive period and that it will not hesitate to take errant drivers to task.

7 taxi drivers caught for overcharging passengers at MBS and Changi Airport​

Under the LTA Vocational Licence Demerit Points System, cabbies who rack up six demerit points or more can get their vocational licence suspended. PHOTO: ST FILE

Sarah Koh

DEC 15, 2023


SINGAPORE – Seven cabbies have been hauled up for overcharging passengers at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Changi Airport over a four-month period.
Between September 2023 and December 2023, two taxi drivers were found to have asked passengers to pay a fare that was up to $20 more than the metered fare.
Two other drivers collected a fare that was $20 or more than what was shown on the meter, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a statement on Dec 15.
The four drivers were offered a chance to pay a $500 penalty, and be given 12 or 21 demerit points – depending on the fare they collected.
The alternative was to face charges for their offences under the Public Transport Council Act.
Three other drivers were found to have asked passengers for fares beyond the metered fare, but the passengers did not take their cabs in the end, said the statement.
It added that the drivers were offered a chance to compound their offences at $100 instead of being charged in court. If they opt to pay the compound fine, they will get three demerit points.

Under the LTA Vocational Licence Demerit Points System, cabbies who rack up six demerit points or more can get their vocational licence suspended.
Cabbies that notch up 21 demerit points or more can have their vocational licence revoked.
LTA and MBS have worked closely to improve the traffic situation and manage the taxi queue at the driveway of the integrated resort, where there have been more incidents of touting and overcharging, the statement said.


On its part, MBS will set up a limousine service counter at its driveway to offer a premium service option for people who do not want to join the taxi queue.
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Yeo Wan Ling – an adviser to the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association – said in a Facebook post that the two organisations have received feedback from its drivers about touting.
She said: “Such activities give our Singaporean taxi and private hire driving trade a bad reputation and directly impact the livelihoods and safety of our drivers.
“The associations have worked with the LTA closely on the feedback, and support the stern enforcement taken by the LTA on errant drivers.”


She added that the two bodies will continue to help drivers operate in a fair and positive environment, and provide them with a sustainable platform to earn a living ethically and safely.
LTA said it has sent out a reminder to taxi drivers about the penalties for touting and overcharging, and that it takes a serious view of such offences.
It said: “Such practices by a minority of drivers compromise the interests of passengers and undermine the integrity and reputation of the point-to-point passenger transport industry.”
It added that enforcement efforts will be stepped up during the festive period and that it will not hesitate to take errant drivers to task.
“We will also continue to conduct frequent checks at high-traffic areas, potential hot spots and locations reported to LTA by members of the public,” it said.
In a Facebook post on Dec 15, Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the irresponsible actions of a small minority of drivers ruins Singapore’s reputation, negatively impacts the industry’s standing, and is unfair to commuters and other drivers.
“Hope the message is loud and clear – please do not break the rules, or be prepared to face the consequences when you are caught, like what happened to the seven errant drivers,” he added.


Members of the public can report incidents of touting, overcharging or drivers refusing to use the taxi’s meter at [email protected] or the e-service titled “Report Vehicle-Related Offences” at www.onemotoring.lta.gov.sg.

 

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MAS: "“We will continue to engage the banks to improve their controls in this area and will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against financial institutions found to have breached our laws,” she added."

Credit Suisse handed $3.9m civil penalty by MAS for relationship managers’ misconduct​

Credit Suisse paid the penalty to the regulator immediately after it was imposed, and as part of the settlement, also separately compensated its affected clients. PHOTO: ST FILE

Prisca Ang
Correspondent

DEC 28, 2023

SINGAPORE – The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has imposed a $3.9 million civil penalty on Credit Suisse for its failure to prevent or detect misconduct by relationship managers in its Singapore branch.
Credit Suisse paid the penalty to the regulator immediately after it was imposed, and as part of the settlement, also separately compensated its affected clients, said MAS in a statement on Dec 28.
The relationship managers had provided clients with inaccurate or incomplete post-trade disclosures, resulting in clients being charged spreads that were above bilaterally agreed rates for 39 over-the-counter bond transactions.
When Credit Suisse executes such transactions requested by its clients, it charges a spread over the price obtained from the relevant interbank counterparties.
For some of the 39 transactions, the relationship managers had made false statements to clients about the executed interbank prices, spreads charged, or both.
They had also, in some cases, omitted material information that the spreads charged were above the agreed rates.
The enforcement action on Credit Suisse follows a review by MAS of pricing and disclosure practices in the private banking industry.

Investigations revealed that Credit Suisse had failed to put in place adequate controls, such as post-trade monitoring, to prevent or detect the relationship managers’ misconduct.
Credit Suisse has since strengthened its internal controls to prevent the recurrence of such misconduct, said MAS.
The bank has also admitted liability under Section 236C of the Securities and Futures Act 2001.

The section states that a corporation which fails to prevent or detect a contravention that is committed by an employee or officer for its benefit, and is attributable to its negligence, commits a contravention and shall be liable to an order for a civil penalty.
A Credit Suisse spokesman told The Straits Times that the bank has resolved the matter with MAS following a series of independent reviews.
“We have since reimbursed affected clients, which are limited to a very small percentage of the bank’s order processing system. We have taken steps to enhance our policies, procedures and controls to mitigate any recurrence,” said the spokesman.
Ms Ho Hern Shin, deputy managing director for financial supervision at MAS, said financial institutions should implement robust governance frameworks and processes to ensure fair and transparent pricing to their customers.
“We will continue to engage the banks to improve their controls in this area and will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against financial institutions found to have breached our laws,” she added.
MAS said in September that it had imposed the highest amount in civil penalties from January 2022 to June 2023, compared with previous 18-month periods.
It handed out nearly $13 million in civil penalties for market abuse cases – the largest amount recorded so far. These cases comprised false trading, insider trading and disclosure-related breaches.
It also meted out a total of nearly $7.9 million in financial and composition penalties in the 18 months, including $7.1 million for anti-money laundering breaches.
Among the high-profile actions taken by the regulator during the period was a $3.8 million fine announced in June 2023 on DBS Bank, OCBC Bank, Citibank Singapore and insurer Swiss Life Singapore for breaching anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing rules, in a matter related to the global Wirecard scandal.
In August 2022, Noble Group was fined $12.6 million for publishing misleading information in its financial statements.

 

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A*Star: "We take a very serious view of staff who breach these standards."

A*Star senior research engineer accused of molesting woman at Clarke Quay​

Shaffiq Alkhatib
Court Correspondent

JAN 27, 2024

SINGAPORE – A senior research engineer at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) has been accused of molesting a 29-year-old woman at Clarke Quay.
Vuong Dao Nghe, 40, allegedly committed the offence at around 2.15am on Aug 20, 2023.
On Jan 26, A*Star told The Straits Times in a statement: “(We hold) our staff to the highest standards of conduct, behaviour and integrity. We take a very serious view of staff who breach these standards.
“A*Star will consider the matter and take action as is appropriate in the circumstances. As this case is currently before the courts, we are unable to comment further.”
The Singaporean’s case has been adjourned to Feb 21.

 

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SFA spokesman: “SFA takes a serious view towards food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices,” he added.

BreadTalk customer bites into stainless steel mould accidentally left in pastry, rejects compensation​

The customer said she bought the pastry from a BreadTalk outlet at Plaza Singapura on Jan 7. PHOTOS: XIAOHONGSHU

Yong Li Xuan

JAN 26, 2024

SINGAPORE - A BreadTalk customer who was eating a snack she bought from the bakery chain bit into a stainless steel mould left by mistake in the pastry before it was baked.
The customer – in a post written in Chinese on social media platform Xiaohongshu on Jan 8 – said she bought the pastry from a BreadTalk outlet at Plaza Singapura on Jan 7.
She added that she “almost collapsed” after she bit into the mould while eating the pastry the next morning, saying it was “outrageous”.
In response to queries, a BreadTalk spokesperson said it was “an unfortunate oversight by our kitchen team during the baking process in-store”.
She added: “BreadTalk takes the matter seriously and we immediately removed the product from all our outlets.”
She said the bakery chain offered items including a gift hamper, a dining card and the cost of any dental work she may have incurred, but the customer rejected the offer.
On Jan 12, the customer put up a second post on Xiaohongshu. Writing again in Chinese, she said she rejected the offer because it felt insincere. She added that she hoped the bakery chain will take the matter seriously.

The BreadTalk spokesperson said: “We are reviewing and updating all our internal procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future, including conducting a comprehensive retraining session for all staff members.
“We deeply regret this incident and the discomfort experienced by the customer. Our customers’ well-being and food safety remains our top priority, and we remain committed to upholding rigorous standards.”
The customer on Xiaohongshu said she has filed a complaint with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Attempts to contact the woman have been unsuccessful.
In response to queries, a spokesman for SFA said it is investigating this incident. “SFA takes a serious view towards food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices,” he added.
Anyone who has concerns about food safety practices can lodge a report at www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback

 

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“We will not hesitate to terminate the service of the driver..."

Taxi driver arrested for allegedly attacking passenger with weapon following dispute​

The 69-year-old driver was arrested for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. PHOTO: ST FILE

Wallace Woon

MAR 13, 2024

SINGAPORE – A driver of a Trans Cab taxi has been arrested for allegedly attacking a passenger with a weapon following an argument.
The police said they were alerted to the incident at 6.30pm on March 12 which took place at Block 107 Bedok North Road.
The 69-year-old driver was arrested for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.
According to Chinese-language news outlet Shin Min Daily News, the argument started after he agreed to drop off his passengers, a family of three, at multiple destinations but later walked back from the arrangement.
The family boarded the taxi in Hougang, according to Shin Min, and later realised the wrong destination had been specified.
They requested the driver to first head to Block 95 Bedok North Avenue 4 and then to the original destination at Block 106 Bedok North Road.
The conflict arose after the driver went straight to the final destination instead.


A fight broke out between the two parties, with the driver allegedly using a test pen to attack the passengers.
A test pen is a tool shaped like a screwdriver which is used to detect or test for electrical currents.
A 39-year-old man suffered minor cuts as a result of the scuffle but was not taken to hospital after Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedics assessed him.
He was accompanied by a woman in her 30s and a young boy around eight years old, Shin Min said.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, Trans Cab said it has yet to get in touch with the taxi driver or passenger. It added that it would be assisting the police in their investigations.
In its statement, Trans Cab said: “When passengers are on board the taxi, drivers have to fulfil their duty to ferry the passengers to the location unless the vehicle meets with an accident or a breakdown.
“We will not hesitate to terminate the service of the driver and we will continue to remind our drivers to provide a good service to continue to serve the public.”

 

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Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said it takes a serious view on food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices.

Food operators must play their part by adhering to good food hygiene and preparation practices, and ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained, said SFA.

The agency added that it is looking into the incident.

It said: “SFA may engage the feedback provider for more details and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if sufficient evidence has been obtained.”

Woman horrified to find cockroach in Mr Bean drink​

Photos in the post show an insect on the plastic wrap on the cup, with the drink seemingly almost half consumed. PHOTO: COMPLAINT SINGAPORE/PAMSTER TAN/FACEBOOK

Chin Hui Shan

MAR 19, 2024

SINGAPORE – A woman was consuming her Mr Bean drink “happily” until she felt a crunch. It turned out to be a cockroach.
A Facebook user who goes by Pamster Tan recounted the incident on Facebook group Complaint Singapore on March 18. She said her colleague had ordered a drink from Mr Bean at Queenstown MRT.
She wrote: “I sucked in something that’s not a pearl and with a crunch, I spit the item out.
“To my horror, (it was) a huge cockroach!”
Photos in the post show an insect on the plastic wrap on the cup, with the drink seemingly almost half consumed.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, Mr Bean’s assistant brand director Venus Ang said the company has contacted the customer to ensure that she is fine. Mr Bean will discuss with the customer how it can help with her recovery process.
Mr Bean has done manual checks at the store to ensure there is no cockroach infestation, she added. It has also activated pest control to check on the premises and no cockroach is found.


Mr Bean has more than 70 outlets in Singapore, according to its website.
Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said it takes a serious view on food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices.
Food operators must play their part by adhering to good food hygiene and preparation practices, and ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained, said SFA.
The agency added that it is looking into the incident.
It said: “SFA may engage the feedback provider for more details and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if sufficient evidence has been obtained.”