Concrete blocks topple onto Gilstead Road

A HUGE pile of concrete blocks stacked next to Gilstead Road came crashing down on Sunday morning. According to SP Power Grid in another news report, the impact caused a gas leak from a valve, which has since been shut down by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Described Amarela, on citizen journalism site Stomp: 'A pile of boulders located at a condominium construction site beside a church compound along Gilstead Road, fell and spilled over onto the road and obstructed the two-way road this morning at about 8.20am, whilst worshippers attend Sunday morning services.' In response to a Stomp query, the police said that it 'received a call today at about 8.30am requesting for assistance at Gilstead Road'. No injuries have been reported so far, and police are still investigating.

Maid survives 9-storey fall from Bukit Panjang flat

A MAID survived a nine-storey fall from her employer's flat in Bukit Panjang on Friday afternoon, a day after another maid died when she fell from a sixth-floor window while cleaning it. Police confirmed the Friday incident, saying they responded to a call at 1.35pm that day about a woman who had fallen nine storeys at Block 534, Jelapang Road. She was found lying at the foot of the block, and was taken to the National University Hospital with fractures to her legs and pelvic bone, said a police spokesman. When The Sunday Times visited the employer's flat yesterday, the family declined to be interviewed, but said that the maid was not alone in the flat at that time.Shin Min Daily News reported that the maid was a 23-year-old Indonesian who was hired just over a month ago to work for the family. An eyewitness told the evening daily that the maid was found on the ground with bamboo poles and clothes beside her, and that she could have fallen out of the window while trying to retrieve laundry when it started to rain in the afternoon.

Hawkers query rents at new food centre

HAWKERS from the iconic Bedok Food Centre are worried about possible rent hikes after they move to a new centre. At yesterday's East Coast Remaking Our Heartland launch, six representatives peppered Senior Minister S. Jayakumar and fellow East Coast GRC MP Lee Yi Shyan with questions about their future after their lease expires in May 2014. Last month, about 50 of the 70 hawkers there had petitioned the Government to retain the centre. Yesterday, they were happy to hear that a new food centre will be built next to the existing one, and that they would be given priority at the new site, targeted to be completed by the time the lease expires. But it has not been decided whether the new centre will be run by the National Environment Agency or a private developer. 'If a private developer takes over, the rent can reach $5,000 to $6,000 a month,' said fishball noodle seller Richard Teo, 51, chairman of the centre's hawkers' association, who initiated last month's petition. The stall owners now pay $1,100 to $1,400 a month. 'We don't want to raise our food prices because of the rent,' said wanton noodle seller Ivy Tan, 47. 'This is a place for HDB heartlanders to have their three meals.' The hawkers said Mr Lee had told them that more details would be available in one or two weeks.

Young S'poreans keen to hear MM Lee's views

WHEN Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew stepped down as prime minister in 1990, Mr Cheo Ming Shen was just six, so his memory of Singapore's founding leader is hazy at best. But that did not stop the 27-year-old co-founder of Internet start-up Netccentric from ordering an autographed copy of a new book on Mr Lee. He was among 60 donors who will get a limited edition signed copy of the book, having donated $10,000. Proceeds go to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.





Gillman Village takes a break

GILLMAN Village, the laidback enclave off Alexandra Road, will be emptied out by the end of next month. A Sunday Times check found that there are currently seven tenants. In all, there are five eateries, a dance studio, a furniture shop and some warehouses. All will move out by end-February, with furniture store Originals the first, by Jan 25. It will move to Bukit Timah.

Quick News: Saturday, January 15, 2011

Measures tough but meant to stabilise: Mah Bow Tan

THE new property market cooling measures announced on Thursday were tough but they are meant to stabilise home prices and not necessarily intended to cause them to crash, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said on Saturday. The measures may not be the last as well, he warned, adding that the Government will monitor the market closely and may act again if needed. But Mr Mah emphasised that the measures are not permanent, and once they are no longer necessary, they will be removed. He also recognised that the new sellers' stamp duty (SSD) of up to 16 per cent could become a problem should property owners need to urgently sell their home shortly after they bought it. So if some owners had a mitigating reason to sell their home, such as the need to use the proceeds to pay for medical bills, the Government was prepared to be flexible. 'You can't formulate a policy that satisfies everybody in a group,' said Mr Mah. 'What you can do is to have a general policy and where there are genuine cases, take them offline and consider appeals as and when they come in.'

Walk or cycle to East Coast Park

SPORTS enthusiasts, food lovers and families looking for recreational spots in the east will find it easier to get to their playgrounds. A new 3.8km green corridor linking up the popular East Coast Park with Bedok Town Centre, as well as Bedok Reservoir, will be built over the next five years. This means that Singaporeans will be able to walk - taking about 20 minutes - or cycle directly from the MRT station or bus interchange in Bedok, to either of the two recreational spots. It is part of a larger 'ambitious' makeover for the East Coast, and comes on top of previously announced plans for a revitalised Bedok town with a new food centre, an integrated sports complex, a mall and an air-conditioned bus interchange. Also in the pipeline is a cycling network connecting schools, parks and MRT stations in an area stretching from Paya Lebar to Kaki Bukit and Tanah Merah. Unveiling the details on Saturday at Bedok Town Centre, Senior Minister S. Jayakumar, an MP for East Coast GRC, called the makeover an 'ambitious' one that 'will benefit not only residents of East Coast but also other Singaporeans'.

Schools should nurture 'three loves' in students: SM

SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong on Saturday identified two additional challenges that Singapore now faces, on top of its perennial efforts to ensure inter-racial harmony. These are: the widening income gap and the need to welcome foreigners. Speaking to 300 students and parents at an Edusave award ceremony in his Marine Parade ward, SM Goh sketched out these challenges and called on the young to help the community tackle them. On the issue of widening inequality, he said that Singapore 'emphasises inclusive growth'. 'Economic growth must benefit all members of the community. Otherwise, our community may be divided by differences in income levels within it.' Meanwhile, Singapore's low birth rates and ageing population mean that the workforce has to be supplemented by foreigners, he said. To help the country meet these challenges, young Singaporeans should demonstrate a 'love for the community', he said. 'Our young must not become too self-absorbed in their quest for personal achievement... and forget about contributing to the community they live in.'

S'pore NGO wins Chinese philanthropy award

LIEN Aid, the international development body founded by Lien Foundation and Nanyang Technological University, received the Global Charity Award for NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) from the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and China's Ministry of Civil Affairs. The ceremony took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Saturday. The award recognised Lien Aid's efforts in bringing water and sanitation to China's drought-hit regions of Yunnan, Sichuan and Shanxi, helping 30,000 people from 14 projects. Global Charity, a well respected Chinese philanthropic publication and the magazine arm of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, organised the awards. The nominees, comprising of individuals, enterprises and organisations, are selected based on their philanthropic efforts and contributions to Chinese society. Lien Aid was the only Singapore organisation to be awarded.


The end of MiFi for iPhone users?

THE news of Verizon Wireless securing the iPhone 4 was greeted with celebrations in the United States when it was announced recently. But going beyond the headlines and the good news to US iPhone fanatics, the straitstimes.com team tested and found that there is one technological breakthrough in this US deal, that could soon pave the way ahead for users of the iPhone worldwide and especially here in iPhone-crazy Singapore. It is the introduction of the iOS-specific version of the Verizon 3G Mobile Hotspot. With this 'Personal Hotspot' feature, users may be spared the agony of locating Wi-Fi hotspots or lugging around their MiFi, a portable wireless router, in their pockets. This generally spells the end of MiFi. By boosting an iOS-specific version of the Verizon 3G Mobile Hotspot, users would be able to access the Internet with laptops and tablets solely through their iPhones - sans cord, or even mobile broadband sticks.

DEVELOPER ACCESS FOR NOW
The straitstimes.com team tried this next version of the iOS and found that it works. Users could then avoid having to spend an average of $200 for a MiFi gadget to create a secure and personal wireless hotspot around themselves to get online. But one should not get overly excited after reading this. The iOS 4.3 beta is currently available to iPhone developers only, not the general public, till a public launch is announced by Apple. Otherwise, the iOS 4.3 will be compatible for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad, iPod Touch (4th and 3rd generation models). The new 'Personal Hotspot' works on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPad 3G/Wi-Fi. In short, it's goodbye MiFi, hello iPhone, your personal wireless router.

iPad enters Singapore classrooms

SINGAPORE - IF OPRAH can do it, so can schools in Singapore. Four schools in the city-state have begun handing out Apple iPads to students, relieving them of the need to carry satchels full of bulging text books and notes. Nanyang Girls High School has spent $135,000 to buy 150 iPads for 140 students and 10 teachers in a pilot project. Users connect to the Internet using the tablet, and download books and course material. They can take notes on the iPad, and use worksheets. 'It's much more convenient,' said 14-year-old Chloe Chen, sitting in a classroom with her iPad in front of her. 'Teachers can just tell us to go a website, and we can immediately go and do our work.' Last year billionaire talk show host Oprah Winfrey gave staff at her magazine an iPad and a cheque for US$10,000 (S$12,900) each. Ms Seah Hui Yong, dean of admissions at Nanyang Girls school, said the iPad was chosen because it complemented a new method of teaching under which students are given more freedom to learn themselves, instead of relying solely on the teacher in traditional classrooms. 'It's not so much about the iPad,' she said, adding that if some other better device comes along, the school could switch. 'If you talk to the girls you will realise that they practically don't need training. I think if anything, the joke is the teachers are probably taking a little bit longer getting used to it.' Safeguards are being put in place as well. 'There will be some concerns - making sure that the girls are going to appropriate websites, also making sure that the girls don't get addicted to the device and use it too much,' said Physics and Information Technology teacher Mark Shone.

Thaipusam rules not new: Shanmugam

HOME Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam reassured Hindus on Friday that public order guidelines issued on next week's Thaipusam procession are not new, and apply equally to all religious processions. Speaking to reporters in the wake of the varied reactions after the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) publicised the rules last week, he pointed out that such rules have been in existence for 38 years. Thaipusam, a Hindu festival, is traditionally celebrated here with an overnight procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple in Serangoon Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani temple in Tank Road. The procession this year will start on Wednesday and last through Thursday. The Straits Times reported on Jan 7 that the guidelines mirrored those previously set by the police for Thaipusam. The report quoted procession organisers from the two temples saying that these had been put together for the public for the first time this year, to address issues of crowd and noise control. A subsequent report quoted the HEB saying the guidelines were set by the police and were not new. But it confirmed that it was the first time these had been compiled and made public.

Shah Rukh Khan crowned Best Actor at MBS

KING of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan was yesterday named Best Actor at the Zee Cine Awards in front of a sell-out crowd comprising fans and the who's who of the Indian film industry at the Marina Bay Sands marquee ballroom. The awards ceremony, arguably Bollywood's Oscars, drew other top stars such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and film-maker Karan Johar. Hosted by comic actor Akshay Kumar and director Sajid Khan, the three-hour-plus ceremony saw several stars dance to the tune of popular film songs. Rai Bachchan set the stage alight with her nimble-footed moves, while Chopra introduced the nominees in the Best Film category as she danced impeccably to a medley of songs. First held in Mumbai in 1995, the event celebrates the best in Indian cinema and gave out awards in more than 30 categories last night. Superstar Khan picked up the best actor award for his endearing portrayal of Rizvan Khan, a Muslim who suffers from a form of autism known as Asperger's syndrome, in My Name Is Khan.

Molesters' hunting ground: Nightspots

WHEN Anna (not her real name) went to popular nightspot Zouk last year for a night of fun, she did not expect to become a victim of molestation. As she was leaving the club with her boyfriend, the 25-year-old flight stewardess felt a slap on her buttocks.

ACS(I) teacher claims unfair dismissal

A TEACHER at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) has lodged a report with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) against the school, alleging unfair dismissal. Ms Ann Phua, a 59-year-old English language teacher who has been with ACS(I) since 2000, believes she was sacked because of her age.

Expletive-sprayed van driven into Muis premises

A DRIVER with Middle Eastern looks drove a van spray-painted with expletives about the Malay community into the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore's (Muis) headquarters on Friday, parked it, and fled on foot. Police, who were called in immediately to investigate, said last night that preliminary checks showed that the white Mercedes Vito van was driven to Muis' premises by a 'Middle-Eastern-looking man around 50 years old'. Police are tracing the whereabouts of the suspect. Issuing a stern warning, the police said they view such incidents 'seriously' and will investigate the matter 'thoroughly'. 'Any person who is found to have deliberately incited anti-racial or anti-religious feelings will be firmly dealt with under the law,' they added. When The Straits Times visited the Islamic hub in Braddell Road yesterday evening, it spotted the van near the entrance with red spray paint on its left, right and rear panels. The expletives, scrawled in Malay, referred to the community as 'sgmalay'. Among other things, the offensive remarks consisted of the word 'mati', Malay for die, at the back.

Closer to dream of owning his own home

AS A potential first-time home buyer, Mr Joshua Cheah, 29, was all smiles after he heard about the latest Government measures to curb property speculation. The credit risk analyst, who previously lived with his parents in a five-room flat at Farrer Court, has been on the lookout for his own pad since the HUDC estate went en bloc in 2007.

Upgraders get warm feeling from cooling measures

UPGRADERS like Mr Ken Kee, 33, are feeling optimistic in the wake of the property market cooling measures announced on Thursday. The manager, who rents a four-room flat in Sembawang, believes the latest government rulings will dampen speculation and improve their chances of landing their dream homes.

Nude artist 'taking a break'

THE Indian artist who caused a stir at the inaugural art fair at the Marina Bay Sands Exhibition and Convention Centre by stripping naked has stopped his attention-getting act. The artist, Mr T. Venkanna, who sat on a bench in the nude and took pictures with visitors, was not in the booth on Friday. Some newspapers had gone to town with the Hyderabad artist's act at Art Stage Singapore, questioning whether it could be considered art. A lawyer was quoted as saying the show could be against the law as it is an offence to appear nude in public. The art fair, which opened to the public on Thursday, is considered a public event. The exposure proved to be too much for some people. On Friday morning, Gallery Maskara's owner, Mr Abhay Maskara, told The Straits Times over the phone that the gallery was asked to stop the performance. He did not say who advised him to do so. He said: 'It is always a bit disheartening when works of art are not seen as art. We did not set out to create any controversy.' Mr Venkanna had sat behind a black curtain and a sign was posted in front of the booth, warning viewers of the content and restricting viewers to those who are 21 years and older.

Quick News: Friday, January 14, 2011

Singaporeans welcome new retirement age of 65

EVERYONE looks forward to retirement, but many Singaporeans still feel capable of working beyond the age of 62, so many rejoiced at the government's recent announcement of lifting the retirement age to 65. Ramesh Prakash Sharma, 66, is so good at his job that when he turned 62, he was given a promotion instead of being asked to retire.n His company Qioptiq, an optics manufacturing company, made him a Technical Mentor to show younger employees the ropes. He says: 'I love my job. Optic is in my blood.' Under the new Retirement and Re-employment Act passed in Parliament on Tuesday, employees who turn 62 will now be given the option to work for another three years. The new re-employment law will be in place from January 2012 and will affect some 20,000 workers. Another gainfully employed sexagenarian is Elizabeth Hendriks, a 63-year-old steward with Fairmont Singapore who has never missed a day of work in her 13 years with the organisation. She says she is happy with her job as it keeps her active, and she has only taken 2 days of medical leave in the last 5 years. Leon Bock, General Manager at The Family Movers, says that older workers bring a lot of value to the company. He says older workers are more experienced and loyal to the organisation, and also take fewer MCs.

SLA $12m scam: 10 years' jail for ex-swim coach

THE first man to plead guilty in the Singapore Land Authority $12 million scam was given 10 years' jail by a district court on Friday. Ho Yen Teck, 31, a former swimming instructor, had set up seven sole proprietorships in a conspiracy with two others to deceive the statutory board into paying for fictitious IT maintenance services and goods which were not delivered. The transactions took place between January 2008 and March 2010. His share in the conspiracy was about $200,000. The court was told that almost 80 per cent of the total payments by SLA for the fake transactions was made to Ho's seven companies totalling $9.8 million. Ho's alleged accomplices, former SLA deputy director Koh Seah Wee, 40, and ex-manager Lim Chai Meng, 37, have since been charged and their cases are at the pre-trial stages. Five others have also been hauled to court. Their cases are also pending. The prosecution had urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, citing several aggravating factors. Deputy Public Prosecutor Jean Chan had said that the offences were committed against a public institution over a substantial period of time, resulting in the loss of an astronomical sum of public funds. Ho's role, she added, was pivotal. The offences undermined the integrity of the public procurement process, she said. Neither did Ho make full restitution. District Judge Jasbendar Kaur agreed with the prosecution that a stiff sentence was clearly warranted. She felt that Ho's role was significant and without his participation and active facilitation, the elaborate and well-planned fraud would not have been successful. Ho, who had pleaded guilty to 21 of 195 counts, could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined on each charge. His sentence was backdated to his remand on Oct 6 last year.

Rape trial: Endearing messages from coach

FRAGMENTS of endearing messages were recovered from the computer and laptop seized from the homes of a martial arts instructor and the 16-year-old student he is alleged to have raped three years ago. One specimen read: 'Hope you know how much lao gong treasure lao po.' When the trial started on Wednesday, prosecutors said the couple even went to a temple to solemnise their 'marriage', and addressed each other as lao gong (husband in Mandarin) and lao po (wife). Part of another message stated that their love will never fade as it was more than 100 per cent true, said an investigating officer on Friday. Another promised: 'Reach (age of) 16...I get supplementary credit (card) for u so u can do some shopping also.' Then there was: 'Just wanna use this lifetime to lurve u.' The instructor, now 45, faces three counts of statutory rape and four counts of sexual exploitation, allegedly committed between February and May 2007. He is denying the allegations. The girl, now in Secondary 5 in the same school, testified in-camera on Friday. Earlier testimony revealed that the man, who was the coach of a martial arts club at a secondary school, had told two of his trainees to keep his relationship with the girl, a secret. The girl's parents are divorced and her mother, a KTV singer, testified that she did not know of her daughter's affair. The girl had admitted to it to a school counsellor on May 11 2007. She also said she had three boyfriends in 2006 and had had sex with one of them - a 15-year-old - from another school. And while she was 'wife' to the instructor in 2007, she was seeing two teenage boys on the side. The trial continues on Jan 17.

More to criminal law than money

WHEN lawyer Josephus Tan decided to go into criminal litigation, he knew he would not be earning as much as his contemporaries who had chosen commercial law instead. But it was an area of law he was passionate about. 'It's emotionally rewarding,' said Mr Tan, 31, who has been practising for about a year-and-a-half.















Singapore retail sales continue north

SLUGGISH car sales continued to drag the retail index down, even as shoppers took to the malls. The Singapore retail index fell 2.4 per cent in November, compared to the same period last year. Car sales fell by almost 30 per cent compared to last year, due mainly to higher COE prices. However, excluding car sales, the retail index actually grew, by 5.4 per cent, the 13th straight month, spurred by higher wages, big bonuses and record tourist arrivals.

Signed copies of new book on MM Lee sold out

ALL 30 signed copies of a new book on Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew have been snapped up within 15 hours. Published by Singapore Press Holdings, the book - Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going which will be launched on Jan 21 - was sold for a minimum of $10,000 per autographed copy, with proceeds going to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. It otherwise will be available at leading bookstores for $39.90 (including GST) from Jan 21. The book is based on 32 hours of interviews MM Lee had conducted with seven journalists from The Straits Times on a wide ranging list of issues. The first buyer sent in a purchase form at 5.59 pm on Thursday evening and by 9.30am on Friday morning, all 30 had been sold. One of the first buyers, Mr Cheo Ming Shen, 27, co-founder of Nuffnang, said he had heard about the book through a friend, and once it was up for sale, he did not hesitate to buy a copy. 'There is nobody bigger than MM in Singapore,' said Mr Cheo, who has read and owns both of Mr Lee's previous memoirs. On the question and answer (Q & A) style of the new book, he said: 'I am very interested to see how how he reacts to being interviewed by different generations of reporters and to all the different questions.'

MM Lee: Meritocracy vital for schools

SPEAKING to 800 guests at the Raffles Institution inaugural Gryphon Award, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew reaffirmed his belief in meritocracy as practised in Singapore's education system and the governance of the country. Recalling his days as an RI boy, he said that being surrounded by students from various socio-economic backgrounds made him realise the importance of recognising a person's talent regardless of his race, religion or parent's wealth. MM Lee was the first person to receive the Gryphon Award, which is given to illustrious Rafflesians who have contributed greatly to the nation. At the fund raising dinner held at Ritz-Carlton Millenia, MM Lee pledged $20,000 to Raffles Institution's 1823 Fund. The fund was set up in 2009 shortly after the reintegration of Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College, for the school's scholarship, training and school-building needs. Billionaire Peter Lim, also a Rafflesian, challenged the guests to raise $800,000 that evening. If they did, he would donate another $2.5 million to the 1823 fund.

NTU tuition fees to rise in 2011

NANYANG Technological University (NTU) on Friday announced an increase in tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate courses and financial aid schemes for the Academic Year (AY) 2011, which commences in August 2011.


TUITION FEES FOR UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
This is an increase of 4% in AY2011, similar to AY2010; it represents an annualised increase of 1.6% over 4 years. Business programmes will increase by 6%. The new fees will apply to the AY2011 cohort throughout their course duration. Current students already enrolled in NTU will not be affected by this revision. Similarly, returning National Servicemen will continue to enjoy tuition fees based on the year they were offered a place at the University.

TUITION FEES FOR POSTGRADUATE COURSES
Fees for the incoming intake of students for postgraduate courses (coursework and research) will be adjusted upwards by 6% for AY2011. In subsequent years, the fees for the AY2011 intake will be increased by 3% annually for the remaining duration of their course.

FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS (PR) AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (IS)
To achieve a sharper differentiation by citizenship, PR and IS admitted to NTU in AY2011 will pay between $700 and $1,320 more than the existing fee rates for PR, and between $1,140 and $2,180 more than the existing annual rates for IS. To help students who need assistance, NTU will set aside $5.65 million in financial aid in AY2011. This will provide for bursaries, Work Study Schemes, loans and emergency grants for NTU undergraduates. Professor Er Meng Hwa, Senior Associate Provost in charge of undergraduate education said: 'For Singaporean students, the existing aid schemes will cover all their tuition fees, as well as between 60% and 100% of their living expenses, subject to the qualifying criteria. For needy students who are permanent residents, the existing schemes will ensure that 100% of their tuition fees are covered. For international students, they cover about 85%.'

Police arrest boss of human smuggling syndicate

THE Singapore Police Force - with the assistance of the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) - has taken into custody Zulkifly Muhammad, a 38-year-old Malaysian man, for his suspected involvement in leading a human smuggling syndicate. He was arrested in Malaysia and brought back to Singapore on Jan 12 2011 for further investigations. Zulkifly Muhammad is believed to be the leader of a syndicate involved in smuggling illegal immigrants by sea into Singapore through the northern Johor Straits. Investigations revealed that he operated his illegal human smuggling business from Sungei Pok near Kampung Ladang in western Johor, by engaging a team of boatmen to ferry the illegal immigrants to Singapore and a middleman to collect smuggling fees from them. He is also believed to have provided shelter and food for them while waiting for an opportunity to smuggle them into Singapore. Zulkifly Muhammad will be charged in court on Friday. The offence is punishable by imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than five years; as well as caning of not less than three strokes.


2nd COE open bidding exercise on Monday

THE tender for Certificates of Entitlement (COE) will open at 12pm on Monday, Jan 17 and close at 4pm on Wednesday, Jan 19. The total quota available for this tender is 1,955. COEs for categories C and E are valid upon receipt until Apr 30, while COEs for categories A, B and D are valid until July 31. Bid applications can be submitted through the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of DBS/POSB, the Internet Banking facility provided by Citibank and UOB, or via the OCBC phone banking services. The bid deposit for COEs in Categories A, B, C and E is $10,000 per bid application, while that for Category D is $200 per bid application. During the bidding exercise, bidders can check on the status of their bids and revise their reserve price using these banks' services, the LTA Open Bidding website (https://ocoe.lta.gov.sg), or call the LTA Open Bidding Phone System at 6362-1465. The public can check the current COE price on the One.motoring website (http://www.onemotoring.com.sg) or on Teletext. Although the COE Open Bidding System has been designed to handle large numbers of bids, transmission of bid data through the system could be delayed by external factors. The public is advised to bid early, as the system will only process bid submissions or reserve price revisions that reach the processing system before the closing time at 4pm, Jan 19.

Quick News: Thursday, January 13, 2011

Raffles Education to buy Merchant Square

RAFFLES Education is on track to acquire a commercial building for $65 million to serve as its campus and business premises, in a move away from leasing buildings as it has done in the past. The educational services provider said yesterday that it is buying Merchant Square - a four-storey office tower and two blocks of shophouses in Clarke Quay. The company aims to move into the new premises in early 2013. Raffles Education said that the purchase will enable the company to 'secure a permanent place of business instead of using rented premises and having to re-locate when the lease is up'. Its current campus in Beach Road - whose lease ends in January 2013 - has an estimated enrolment of 1,700 students. The new premises, however, will be able to house up to 2,000 students.

River Hongbao to show specially-commissioned film

THE River Hongbao celebrations this year will have a stronger flavour of home. The highlight is a specially-commissioned short film that shows how Chinese New Year has been celebrated here since the 1970s. The 15-minute film by award-winning Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen will be shown at the opening ceremony of the annual Chinese New Year carnival on Feb 1 at the F1 grandstand. The debut screening will be accompanied by a live performance of the film score by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. The score was composed by the orchestra's maestro, Yeh Tsung. Mr Seng Han Thong, chairman of the organising committee of River Hongbao 2011, said he hopes the local acts will "bring out the flavour and atmosphere of Chinese New Year festivities in Singapore". Other homegrown acts at the 13-day celebration held at The Float@Marina Bay include performances by members of xinyao - local Chinese folk music scene - and Chinese clan associations.

SPH publishes new book on MM Lee Kuan Yew's 'Hard Truths'

A NEW book to be launched on Jan 21 will offer a rare glimpse into the mind of the most influential man in Singapore's history. Titled 'Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going', it is based on 16 interviews the Minister Mentor gave to seven journalists from The Straits Times from December 2008 to October 2009. The 458-page, 11-chapter tome is a comprehensive examination of Mr Lee's beliefs. It covers weighty topics such as Singapore's political system, climate change and international relations, but also lighter ones, like his views on tattoos, fengshui and movies. One distinctive feature is its extensive use of the question-and-answer format, which the authors hoped would engage younger readers and capture unvarnished, the robust exchanges between Mr Lee and his interviewers. 'There hasn't been a book like this where his views are subjected to such intense questioning and scrutiny in 32 hours of interviews,' said The Straits Times editor Han Fook Kwang, 57, who led the team of seven writers.

President Nathan confers top award on Thai General

President S.R. Nathan presented the Royal Thai Army Forces Chief of Defence Forces (RTARF) General Songkitti Jaggabatara with the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang, Singapore's highest military award. The ceremony took place at the Istana on Thursday afternoon. Gen Songkitti was recognised for his role in strengthening the defence ties between the RTARF and the Singapore Armed Forces. His support for a closer cooperation between the two defence establishments has enhanced understanding and personal friendships between the officers and men of both armed forces. Guests attending the investiture comprised Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, Permanent Secretary for Defence Chiang Chie Foo and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong, along with other senior government and military personnel from Singapore and Thailand.

Jailed a day and fined for slashing boyfriend

FRUSTRATED that his girlfriend had changed her mind about going to Batam with him last June, school manager Daniel Kok Yee Meng, 32, took a knife and pretended to cut himself on his arm in front of her. When she did not react, he accused her of being interested in another man and slapped her. Koo Yoke Pei, 30, then a secretary, went into the kitchen, took out another knife and slashed him on the back. Police were summoned and she was arrested. On Thursday, a district court sentenced Koo to one day in jail and a $5,000 fine. The divorcee with a nine-year-old daughter and twin sons, aged seven, had pleaded guilty last month. Then, the court heard that Mr Kok was with Koo in her flat in Maude Road in Jalan Besar at about 2am on June 5 last year. They had been at a pub earlier. The couple had quarrelled, and she told him she was not going to accompany him to visit the Indonesian island of Batam. The argument then escalated and he flew into a rage and slapped her several times. This time, she reacted. From the kitchen, she took a knife with a 20cm-long blade and slashed him. A medical report from Tan Tock Seng Hospital indicated he had a shallow 15cm-long cut on his back and four to five abrasions on his forearm.

Red Cross allowed to resume fundraising

THE Commissioner of Charities (COC) said in a statement on Thursday that the Singapore Red Cross is now permitted to resume its fundraising activities. It had, last month, been advised against actively raising funds, for example in the form of direct mailers, charity bazaars and flag days, after an employee had been found to have misappropriated funds. In a statement, the COC said: 'Singapore Red Cross has shared its investigation findings and follow-up actions with COC office. We are satisfied with the actions that have been or will be taken to rectify the areas of weaknesses identified, pending the outcomes of the police investigation.We are confident that the Singapore Red Cross is fully committed to prevent such incidents from recurring in future.' The Singapore Red Cross also said in a press statement today that after an audit was conducted at the end of last year, it was found the the employee, an administrative assistant in the finance department, had taken slightly more than $76,000 and not $90,000 as previously estimated. Police are still investigating the case. The Singapore Red Cross attributed the misappropriation to a delegation of responsibilities without proper approval, lack of supervisory checks, and non-compliance of standard operating procedures in the areas of cash-handling and documentation. It has since taken measures to tighten these procedures.

Tough new measures to cool property market

THE Government announced on Thursday the fourth round of property cooling measures to 'maintain a stable and sustainable property market'.
They include:
1) Increasing the holding period for imposition of Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) from the current three years to four years;

2) Raising the SSD rates to 16 per cent, 12 per cent, 8 per cent and 4 per cent of consideration for residential properties which are bought on or after Friday, and are sold in the first, second, third and fourth year of purchase respectively;

3) Lower the Loan-To-Value (LTV) limit to 50 per cent on housing loans granted by financial institutions regulated by MAS for property purchasers who are not individuals

4) Lower the LTV limit on housing loans granted by financial institutions regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore from 70 per cent to 60 per cent for property purchasers who are individuals with one or more outstanding housing loans at the time of the new housing purchase.

The measures will take effect on Friday.

Thanks from Australian High Commissioner

THE Australian High Commissioner has expressed his thanks to Singaporeans for their condolences and offers of assistance over the floods in Queensland, which have claimed lives and left thousands unable to return home. Said His Excellency Doug Chester in a statement on Thursday: 'Their concern and sympathies reflect the strong ties and extensive links between Australia and Singapore, and are very much appreciated.' Australia's state and federal governments are currently working hard to provide relief to flood-affected Australians, and to support the rebuilding of homes and communities, he added. This comes a day after Singapore President SR Nathan sent a condolence message to Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce, expressing his sympathies for the victims of the widespread flooding. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also spoke to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard earlier on Wednesday and offered assistance.

Woman stole from sis and boyfriend

A WOMAN was jailed for 14 months on Thursday for cheating and theft. Siti Rosdiana Rosdi, 29, unemployed, had pleaded guilty to cheating a friend, Mr Mohamed Zain Abdul Wahab, 55, of $1,100 and $1,400 last Aug 4 and 6 respectively. She had deceived him into believing that her father had financial difficulties and was warded in hospital when she knew it was false. The victim found out the truth on Aug 24 when he managed to contact her father. She also admitted to stealing a laptop and a USB broadband totalling $688 from her elder sister, Rosdiawaty, 34, at their Yishun Ring Road home on June 19 last year.
About three years ago, while she was staying at the Chai Chee flat of her then boyfriend, Mr Amir Abu Samah, now 39, she stole $5,500 from him. Four other charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust and theft were considered during her sentencing. She has previous convictions for property-related offences in 2001 and 2007.

Maids and employer charged with loansharking

THREE Filipino maids and a Singaporean woman were charged in court on Thursday with operating unlicensed moneylending businesses. Honey Irene Busto Pande, 27, Amparo Cacayuran Gayo, 36, Melanie Jacalan Munar, 28, and Koh Suat Lay, 47, were remanded for a week for permission to take them out for investigation Honey allegedly helped one Lawrence Yeo to carry out business as a loanshark at an Upper Serangoon View condominium by issuing a $300-loan to Amparo on June 16 last year at an interest rate of 15 per cent. Amparo is accused of conspiring with Honey and Yeo by helping Honey to give out a $300-loan to Ms Lorelie Marie Vidal Amito at 20 per cent interest on July 25 last year. Melanie allegedly helped Koh, her employer, to issue a loan of $500 to Ms Elizabeth Manuel Lasquite at 50 per cent interest repayable over three months at Lucky Plaza in February last year. Koh is said to have operated as an illegal moneylender by issuing the $500-loan to Ms Lasquite.

Hop to museums for special bunny hongbaos

THE Museum Roundtable (MR) is giving away exclusive rabbit-themed hongbaos to celebrate the Lunar New Year from Jan 15 to Feb 13. The free hongbaos come in 39 designs, and will be distributed at participating national museums and heritage galleries across the island. Limited edition gold hongbao box sets will be on sale at $18 each at the River Hongbao 2011, from Feb 1 to Feb 13. Each comprises 48 gold hongbaos, which include the new designs. The National Heritage Board (NHB) will be offering free entry to all NHB museums on Feb 4, its Lunar New Year Open House Day. At the Singapore Art Museum, Walter The Rabbit, from the popular NHB's Children's Season 2010, will be a highlight.

People's Park Complex murder: Man charged

AN ODD-JOB worker was charged on Thursday with the murder of a 70-year-old man at People's Park Complex Food Centre earlier in the week. Lee Beng Chuan, 57, allegedly caused the death of Mr Heng Teck Hong at the food centre in New Market Road between 7.45pm and 8.21pm on Tuesday Jan 11.Mr Heng was apparently punched after taking a swig of beer at the food centre. Known by his neighbours in Chin Swee Road as the 'Spiderman uncle', he was reported in 2008 to have insisted on climbing in and out of his one-room flat via the staircase landing, as he often lost his keys. Lee, who was arrested at Petir Road on Wednesday, was remanded for a week at Central police station for investigation. If convicted of murder, he faces the mandatory death penalty.

Beer brawl death: Man an 'eccentric'

THE rag-and-bone man who died following a brawl over a mug of beer in People's Park this week was known among his neighbours for his eccentricities and drinking habit. Mr Heng Teck Hong, 70, made a little money selling recyclables he collected; he also got welfare handouts and $200 a month from his niece, said his roommate of 10 years, Mr Goh Ah Seng, a 60-year-old cleaner. 'Ah Heng was a man who just did whatever he felt like doing and lived by the day. He did not have a schedule, only that he had to have his ABC Stout every day,' said Mr Goh. Mr Heng's needs were simple, he said. Lunch and dinner were packaged meals from the Thye Hwa Kwan Moral Society - delivered daily. What little money he had went into beer and cigarettes at the People's Park food centre. It was there that he apparently took a swig of beer from someone else's mug on Tuesday, for which witnesses said he was punched. It is believed he fell and injured his head. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Police have arrested a 57- year-old man in connection with Mr Heng's death.

Taekwondo champ faces vice-related and bribery charges

HE WAS the winner of Singapore's first taekwondo gold medal, at the 1993 SEA Games. Now, Wong Jing Ching, 39, is in the news again, this time for 18 charges related to corruption and seven charges for vice-related offences under the Women's Charter. Wong, also known as Patrick Champion Wong, was 22 when he triumphed in the flyweight category of the taekwondo competition at Yishun Sports Hall. At that time, the athlete, who quit school at 17 to train full-time, had said with tears rolling down his cheeks: 'At last, I have it. This is what I've been after for the last four years. I did it, I did it.' Now, he faces a different fight. Last June, he first appeared in the district court on a single charge of knowingly living in part on the earnings of a 21-year-old Uzbekistani prostitute at Landmark Village Hotel, formerly known as Golden Landmark Hotel, from May 4 to 30. He subsequently faced six more charges. Two are for living on the earnings of two teen prostitutes, also from Uzbekistan, from end-April to May 31 last year. He was also accused of receiving the three women at Changi Airport, knowing that they had been procured for prostitution, as well as managing a contact point for prostitutes between April 29 and June 2 last year.

Martial arts instructor charged with rape of student

HE WAS the instructor of the martial arts club in a secondary school, and she, a Secondary 1 student, was a new club member. A month after she joined the club, the 41-year-old married father of two asked the 13-year-old to be his girlfriend. They became physically intimate and had sex in his car. They even went to a temple to solemnise their 'marriage', and addressed each other as lao gong (husband in Mandarin) and lao po (wife). All this was related by prosecutors in the High Court yesterday, the first day of the man's trial on three counts of statutory rape and four counts of sexual exploitation. The alleged offences took place between February and May 2007. The man, now 45, is denying the allegations. He is defended by Mr Martin Decruz, and will rely on a home video shot by one of his disciples as an alibi for two of the charges.

Quick News: Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Brisbane going 'under': Accounts from S'poreans

STRAITSTIMES.COM had published on Wednesday, an online call to Singaporeans and Singapore residents based in flood-stricken Brisbane to contact The Straits Times with their accounts. The replies have been streaming in and a stirring early account came from a husband whose wife is now stuck there. This is the letter from Mr Terence Lim Wen Song, a final year medical student at University of Queensland. 'I have been living in Brisbane for the past three years. I am currently in Singapore and I was supposed to fly back this coming week as my term will start on Jan 24. My wife, Michelle, who is also studying at Uni of Queensland, flew over to Brisbane on Jan 10 (Monday), in time to start her Graduate Law training. Unfortunately, after she landed in Brisbane, she told me over the phone about the relentless heavy rain there. 'We are currently staying in a unit apartment along MacQuarie Street, in a suburb named St. Lucia, and it is closely situated to the University of Queensland campus. The crucial fact is that our riverview apartment block is just within 10 metres from the Brisbane River. 'Although we are staying on the 5th level, there have been fears. My wife has been telling me that the river has burst its bank and is encroaching towards our building. The houses across the river (as we can see from our balcony) have all been partially submerged.

A call to Singaporeans or S'pore residents in Brisbane

CALLING all Singaporeans, or Singapore residents based in flood-hit Brisbane, Australia, The Straits Times would like to contact you, or have you send us your messages, or pictures from the scene itself, to tell us how you've been coping if you have been directly affected. If you know of friends, family, and other Singaporeans or such Singapore residents there - and have been in contact with them regularly - do tell us more. Email your name, mobile phone or contact numbers to stonline@sph.com.sg and give us details like your location, and do send your pictures and thoughts as you cope with the ongoing tragedy in Brisbane. The AFP news service reported that Brisbane was besieged on Wednesday by once-in-a-century floods that could hit more than 30,000 homes, as the death toll in raging torrents rose to 12. Thousands of people have already fled to higher ground and Brisbane's centre was a 'ghost town' as the river city of two million prepares later on Wednesday for its worst deluge since 1893. More than 50 suburbs and 2,100 roads are expected to be left under water as the Brisbane River bursts its banks and swamps the city centre, along with other areas, with the peak of 5.5m due around dawn on Thursday. Damage is already intense, with witnesses spotting entire houses in the river.

Education profile of S'poreans 'improved significantly'

SINGAPOREANS are now a better educated bunch, according to the Census of Population 2010 released by the Singapore Department of Statistics on Wednesday. Overall, 49 per cent of the non-student residents aged 15 years and over in 2010 had at least post-secondary qualifications, up from 33 per cent in 2000. The share of university graduates also increased significantly from 12 per cent in 2000 to 23 per cent in 2010. The proportion of university graduates among residents aged 25 to 34 years rose from 24 per cent in 2000 to 47 per cent in 2010. Literacy rates in residents 15 and above moved up from 93 per cent in 2000 to 96 per cent last year. The number of Singaporeans proficient in two or more languages jumped from 56 per cent ten years ago to 71 per cent in 2010. The use of English at home is also more prevalent, especially among the younger age groups. Among residents aged five to 14 years old, English was the home language for 52 per cent of Chinese and 50 per cent of Indians. Twenty-six per cent of Malays in the same age group now speak English at home, a spike from 9.4 per cent in 2000.



S'porean singles, aged 30 to 34 years, up by 10%

THE Census of Population 2010 released by the Singapore Department of Statistics reveals a rise in the number of singles, especially prominent in the younger age groups between 2000 and 2010. Among Singapore citizens aged 30 to 34 years, the proportion of singles rose significantly from 33 to 43 per cent for males, and from 22 to 31 per cent for females. This translates to a 10 per cent and 9 per cent increase respectively. Singlehood was most prevalent among citizen males with below secondary qualifications and graduate citizen females. On the family front, there has been an increase of 6 per cent - from 14 per cent in 2000 to 20 per cent in 2010 - in the proportion of childless families. This took place among females aged 30 to 39 years. The age group of 40 to 49 years saw an increase of 6.4 per cent to 9.3 per cent during the same period. An upward trend has been noted in the number of families that only have one child. Among females aged 40 to 49 years, the proportion went up from 15 per cent in 2000 to 19 per cent in 2010. Families with two children continue to be the norm.

Cancellation of bidding exercise for vehicle numbers

THE weekly bidding exercise for vehicle registration numbers will not be held from Jan 29 to Feb 1. The Land Transport Authority announced in its statement on Wednesday that the cancellation of the bidding exercise was due to the upcoming Chinese New Year public holidays on Feb 3 and 4. The weekly bidding exercise for vehicle registration numbers will resume on Feb 5, a Saturday. But the weekly bidding exercises for vehicle registration numbers prior to the Chinese New Year public holidays - remain as scheduled:
* Jan 15 to 18
* Jan 22 to 25

Chinatown roads affected by Chinese New Year festivities

TO MANAGE upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations in late January and early February, traffic routes in the Chinatown area will be temporarily changed. New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street and Keong Siak Road will be closed on Jan 15 from 2pm to 11pm and on Feb 2, 5pm to 3am. This is to make way for the opening ceremony and countdown celebration of the Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2011 respectively. To be held at New Bridge Road, 15,000 people are anticipated to turn up on Jan 15, while a crowd of 40,000 is expected on Feb 2. During the road closure periods, Mosque Street will become a two-way road to allow access to and from South Bridge Road. SBS and SMRT buses serving the affected roads will also be diverted during the road closures.

Agent jailed for embezzling $15,000

FOR four years, an embezzler eluded police and refused to assist them in the investigations. Abdul Samat Kaman's luck finally ran out in January last year when he was identified in a police check and arrested. On Wednesday, the 57-year-old pleaded guilty to committing criminal breach of trust (CBT) and was jailed three months. A district court heard that in 2005 Abdul Samat was working as a freelance sales representative with Hamid & Sons Renovation Contractor located in Marsiling Industrial Park. The firm was owned by Meng Design & Build, and his duties included presenting quotations and to collect down-payments and progressive payments for work to proceed. Instead, he pocketed several payments amounting to $14,940 between Dec 20, 2005 and March 13, 2006 when he stopped reporting for work. Checks by the accounts department then revealed the offences and police were informed on March 17. All attempts by the police to find Abdul Samat came to nought and when contacted over the phone, he said he was not coming in to assist in the investigation. His name was then placed on the police gazette and he became a wanted man. It is believed he hid out in Singapore until his arrest.

Jailed 7 years for stealing 18 generators

A MAN would hire a lorry with a crane on the pretext of transporting heavy machinery from a worksite. Unknown to the lorry driver, Nanthakumaran Lokanathan was not a worker at that site but was on a stealing spree. By the time. the 34-year-old Singaporean was found out, he had stolen more than $240,000 worth of generators. He was sentenced to seven years corrective training on Wednesday. A district court had heard that Nanthakumaran has been in trouble with the law on four occasions since 1997 for theft and disposing of stolen property. He was also found suitable for corrective training, which can last from five to 14 years, is meant for recalcitrant offenders, with no remission for good behaviour. The general worker was caught on July 11 last year after driving off with metal sheets worth $12,000 from a construction site in Jurong East. Two workers at the construction site had stopped the lorry and Nanthakumaran spun a story that he was moving the metal sheets to another construction site in Tampines on the instructions of a 'Mr Choo'. The two workers played it safe by taking pictures of the lorry before allowing it to leave. When the theft was discovered some hours later, police had no problem finding the lorry at Old Tampines Road.
Investigations then revealed that Nanthakumaran stole 18 generators between Oct 2009 and July last year. His busiest period was between April 2 till July 1, when he filched 15 generators from worksites in Yio Chu Kang, Jurong, Ang Mo Kio, Tampines and Mandai. The court documents indicate that the offences were committed on holidays or either very early in the morning or late in the evening of workdays.

Singapore wants justice in Romania diplomat case

BUCHAREST - SINGAPORE is closely watching the trial of a Romanian diplomat charged with manslaughter following a hit-and-run car accident in the city state and wants 'justice' to be done, a Singapore envoy in Romania said on Wednesday.
'The Singapore government is still watching what is happening very closely", envoy Anil Kumar Nayar told AFP as the trial of a Romanian charge d'affaires accused of killing a man in a car accident in Singapore in 2009 is scheduled to restart on Wednesday. 'The most important thing for us is that we want to make sure that justice is done and we have a commitment from the Romanian government as well that they too would like to see that justice is done", the Brussels-based envoy added while waiting for the hearing to start at a Bucharest tribunal. Silviu Ionescu, a former charge d'affaires in Singapore, has been charged with manslaughter, causing physical injuries and making false statements after a deadly car accident in December 2009 in Singapore. The diplomat is alleged to have hit three pedestrians while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission. One of them, a 30-year-old Malaysian national, suffered brain damage and died on Christmas Day. Ionescu is also alleged to have fled the scene. However he denies he was the driver and says the car was stolen.

MTA writes to Transport Minister on COE system

THE Motor Traders' Association has written to the Minister for Transport Raymond Lim to provide suggestions to finetune the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system to better cater to both the motor industry and car buyers. This move was prompted by the high COE prices currently seen which have come on the back of sharp cuts in the COE quota over the last 12 months. The MTA has suggested to Mr Lim that taxis should be excluded from the Vehicle Quota System (VQS) in the Category A COE quota, as it exerts unnecessary pressure on COE premiums. This reason given by the association is because taxis are a form of public transport and like other forms of public transport, it should be excluded from the VQS. Now, taxi operators compete with the private car buyer for a COE in Category A. As business enterprises, they can bid more for such COEs. The MTA has proposed that the government regulate the taxi population separately through issuance of COEs meant specifically for taxis. Another suggestion is to do away with Category E COEs - which can be used for any vehicle type but ends up mainly for cars. They should be removed in order to allow for a more equitable spread of the COE quota. The MTA says this move will prevent possible speculation of Category E COEs.


Woman charged with 68 counts of cheating and forgery

A FORMER sales manager was charged in court on Wednesday with cheating her boss of $134,200 and making false tax invoices. Chan Yoke Lan, 35 was with Regional Design & Contracts, a furniture specialist, when she allegedly deceived the owner, Mr Yam Kok Wai, on 39 occasions into believing that she needed cash to buy furniture for clients between July 2009 and June last year. She also faces 29 charges of forgery allegedly committed at the Race Course Road premises between November 2009 and May last year. Chan, who was represented by Mr Tan Cheng Kiong, will appear in court again on Feb 9. If convicted of cheating, she can be jailed for up to 10 years and a fine on each charge. For forgery, the maximum penalty is four years and a fine.

Bus 186 to skip one bus stop temporarily

SBS bus service 186 will temporarily skip the bus stop opposite the PWC Building (bus stop 03041) along Cross Street from 11am on Saturday, Jan 15, to 5am on Monday, Jan 17. This is due to lane closure to facilitate the removal of the viaduct. Passengers who want to get to Cross Street can alight at the bus stop along Cecil Street, opposite the GB Building.




Please refer to www.sbstransit.com.sg for more details.
 

Man accused of 18 graft charges

AN UNEMPLOYED man was charged in court on Wednesday with corruptly giving bribes totalling $9,400 to two security supervisors to close an eye on his suspected vice-related activities at a hotel.
Wong Jing Ching alias Patrick Champion Wong, 40, allegedly gave a total of $7,600 to one Sazali Kassim, 31, near Landmark Village Hotel between April 2009 and May last year. He is said to have abetted Mr Sazali in a conspiracy to give bribes of between $200 and $600 to the latter's colleague, Muhammad Farhan Osman, 23, in return for not reporting his suspected vice-related activities in the hotel to the management. The five alleged incidents occurred between January and May last year. Wong, who is out on bail, had been charged earlier with seven counts of living in part on the earnings of prostitutes, receiving three of the Uzbekistan women at Changi Airport, and managing a contact point for prostitution at the hotel in Victoria Street. A pre-trial conference has been fixed for Monday.

Fewer people taking up driving lessons

THERE will be fewer new drivers on the road this year compared to last year, going by fresh statistics from the Traffic Police. The number of people taking up lessons to get their driving licences is estimated to have dipped by 30 per cent between the period from January to September last year, and the same period the year before.

Neighbours at Bishan block mourn deaths

ONE fall, two deaths. At least, it looks to be that way with the pair of women for whom wakes are being held in adjoining blocks in Bishan Street 13.
Their families, who barely know each other, were trying to come to terms with the deaths on Tuesday, even as police reviewed closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to find out how the pair came to be found dead at the foot of the same block on the same day, at the same time. One of them is believed to have been crushed when the other fell on her, but what exactly happened on Monday morning is a mystery. No witnesses have come forward. Ms Lau Fong Kien, a 55-year-old retiree who lived on the 15th floor, had head injuries and wounds on her knee.