A 37-year-old Singaporean man was caught at Kansai Aiport in Osaka carrying 2.97kg of stimulant drugs in his suitcase.

The street value of the drugs is 190 million yen ($2.26 million), reports Sankei Shimbun via The Straits Times.

Local police and the airport's customs office said on Jan 17 that the cleaning worker had arrived at Kansai Airport from India on Dec 21 last year.

The report said that the suspect partially denied the charges.

"I thought some illegal things were hidden, but I did not know they were stimulant drugs," he reportedly said.

The suspect was allegedly told by a male acquaintance to deliver the suitcase to a minpaku, or an Airbnb-style private accommodation, in Osaka's Ikuno ward.

A woman lost $5.4 million in November last year after she was cheated into believing that she had to surrender all her money to Chinese authorities.

Police investigations revealed that she had delivered the money to different strangers at various locations in Singapore over a one-week period. The suspects then left Singapore after committing the crime.

On Jan 16, one of the suspects was arrested in Kuala Lumpur. The 20-year-old Malaysian man was taken back to Singapore two days later with the assistance of the Royal Malaysia Police.

If found guilty, he faces a fine and/or imprisonment of up to five years.

Director of Commercial Affairs Department David Chew said: "We will spare no effort to identify, arrest and charge these criminals and their money mules.

"While they may try to try to leave Singapore to evade responsibility for their criminal acts, this arrest is testament to the continuing resolve of the police, both here and abroad, to bring them to justice.

"I would like to thank the Royal Malaysia Police for their strong support and assistance in arresting the suspect in this case."

Police advise the public to take the following precautions when they receive unsolicited calls to surrender money in order to avoid criminal investigations:

• Ignore such calls and the caller's instructions. No government agency will demand payment through an undocumented medium like a telephone call or other social messaging platforms (WeChat or Facebook); or ask you for personal banking information such as your internet banking passwords.
• For foreigner residents receiving calls from persons claiming to be police officers or government officials from your home country, please call your Embassy/High Commission to verify the claims of the caller.
• Refrain from giving out personal information and bank details, whether on a website or to callers over the phone. Personal information and bank details such as internet bank account usernames and passwords, OTP codes from tokens, are useful to criminals. Do not make any funds transfer at the behestof such callers.
• Call a trusted friend or talk to a relative before you act. Do not be pressured by the caller to act impulsively.

a1admin@sph.com.sg

Nearly 10 passers-by rushed to the rescue of a nine-year-old boy who was trapped under a car in an accident at Geylang East Avenue 1 yesterday (Jan 18) at around 3.50pm.

The boy was crossing the road at a raised zebra crossing when he was hit by the car, trapping him underneath.

According to eyewitnesses, eight or nine passers-by came to the boy's aid and attempted to lift the car to free him, reports The Straits Times.

They managed to free the boy within five minutes.

A bystander said that the boy emerged with his legs covered in blood.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) praised the heroic act of the bystanders in a Facebook post: "Real heroes don't wear capes."

In response to media queries, the police said that they were alerted to the accident at 3.51pm.

The boy was conscious when sent to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, a police spokesman said.

Police investigations are ongoing.

A video of an Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduate speaking out against the stigma against ITE students has been circulating online.

In the video posted on YouTube, 21-year-old Choo Hong Xuan recounted how he had come across social media postings after the recent release of the GCE O-Level results, criticising students who did not perform well.

He quoted a post in which the person said that these students 'deserved no pity', and should go to ITE because they refused to work hard.

Choo, devastated by the comment, stressed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with enrolling in ITE.

He said:

"I want to firmly tell all the parents and the students who scored badly that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being in (ITE)."

Choo also emphasised the inherent faults with the education system lies with unsupportive parents who are ashamed with their children or afraid of losing face when discussing their children's academic performances with their relatives.

He reasons that this encourages students to adopt the same mindset as their parents, repeating the vicious cycle.

Choo continued:

"You're just mentally killing your own children and you don't even know it yourself."

Choo drew from his own experience, citing his mother's shame after he was assigned to the Normal (Academic) stream instead of the Express stream, after doing badly in his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

He lamented:

"I was disappointed in myself also.

"She had to hide the fact that I was studying in Normal (Academic) stream by telling my relatives that I was studying in the Express stream."

Choo also revealed that he went through a period of depression when he was in secondary school but hid his condition form his parents.

His mother also wanted him to retake his N-Level examination when he scored 20 points, but Choo just could not see himself repeating Secondary 4 again.

Fortunately, he found hope.

He told his mother firmly that he wanted to enrol in ITE.

After enrolling, he slowly improved on his studies.

Under the guidance of his dedicated teachers, Choo managed to pursue his dreams, even managing to clinch a gold at the acclaimed WorldSkills Singapore competition.

He added:

"It's okay if you don't go to a polytechnic or junior college (JC) right now because there will be many opportunities ahead of you. So just relax, and take your time, you know.

"But most importantly is that you really work hard for your dreams and don't give up. Never, never give up."

A bus driver was caught on video shouting and cursing at a Land Transport Authority (LTA) enforcement officer after he was told he could not wait on a double yellow zig-zag line on Jan 14 at Marina View Link.

Stomp reported on the incident yesterday (Jan 19) after Facebook user Abdul Aleem Mohamed Saffrollahkhan uploaded a video of the encounter on Facebook.

In the video, he was seen hurling vulgarities in Malay and threatening to punch the officer, whom he thought was going to issue him a fine.

He also repeatedly shouted at him to go away.

In response to Stomp's media queries, an LTA spokesman said that the officer in the video is an LTA outsourced parking warden and that the case has been reported to the police.

A police spokesman confirmed with Stomp that a report has been made and investigations are ongoing.

A woman was arrested after throwing several items from the kitchen window of a second-storey unit at Block 623 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9 yesterday (Jan 19).

Several Stompers alerted Stomp to a circulated video of the incident.

Bystanders exclaimed in shock as the woman threw various items out of the window, including a rice cooker, a kettle, pots and pans, and clothing items.

She also threw down a laundry pole that was hanging outside the window.

A huge pile of items were seen at the foot of the block.

Stomp understands that she was arrested on Jan 19 and charged in court this morning (Jan 20).

A fire broke out at Block 867A Tampines Street 83 yesterday (Jan 20) at about 5.30pm.

Stomp contributors Fiveros, Xiao Pheyy, Shawn, Adriel and Maria alerted Stomp to the fire.

Fiveros and Xiao Pheyy shared videos and photos from the scene of the incident.

Plumes of black smoke were seen coming from the unit as the fire raged on.

Preliminary investigation findings indicate that the cause of the fire is of electrical origin, and had originated from a Personal Mobility Device (PMD) which was being charged, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post.

The fire had engulfed the living room and three bedrooms on the second level of the maisonette unit.

The fire was extinguished using two water jets.

The occupants of the affected unit and about 40 other residents were evacuated prior to SCDF's arrival.

There were no reported injuries.

The SCDF posted an infographic on its Facebook page to remind members of the public on the prevention of such fires.

A female patient was arrested on Saturday (Jan 20) for allegedly stealing a car at Mount Elizabeth Hospital at Orchard Road.

The car -a BMW - reportedly belongs to a 63-year-old woman who works as an oncologist in the hospital.

She had reported that her car was stolen on Friday (Jan 19) at around 4pm.

In a statement by the police, it said that officers from the Tanglin Police Division recovered the stolen car within 30 minutes of the report.

It was found abandoned in Scotts Road, near Newton MRT Station, reported The Straits Times.

Officers were able to establish the suspect's identity with the aid of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.

The patient, 42, was arrested in Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong in East Coast Road on the following day, at around 11am.

According to The Straits Times, the doctor had driven to the Basement 2 carpark of the hospital at around 2pm on Friday.

She could not find any lots, and stopped her car at the side, and placed her car key in the vehicle before leaving.

Normally, a valet staff member would move the car away once a parking space is available.

At around 3.45pm, the doctor returned to find that her car had been stolen.

A valet service staff then told her that her car had been driven off by a woman.

It is understood that the suspect is not a patient of the victim.

If convicted of motor vehicle theft, she could face a jail term up to seven years, and a fine.

Police investigations are ongoing.

The police also advised the public to park in well-lit areas, install anti-theft alarm systems, lock the vehicle doors, and keep track of suspicious characters to prevent such crimes from happening.

When I applied for a flat in Punggol and told my friends about it about two years ago, they asked me incredulously, "Are you sure? There's nothing there at all! It's so far away from everything."

Well, Punggol is now an upcoming housing hub and soon, it will also be something like Singapore's "mini Silicon Valley".

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Sunday (21 Jan) launched the masterplan for the 50 hectares Punggol Digital District.

It is a collaboration among the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), JTC, and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

The Digital District is located in Punggol North, where last year, was designated by National Development Minister Lawrence Wong as the "enterprise district" that will be a combination of housing, business, and education facilities.

In the announcement yesterday, DPM Teo said the first buildings of the district will be ready in five years' time, and "will also serve as a test bed for a slew of new features and planning practices".

"A Hub For Key Growth Sectors Of The Digital Economy"

The Punggol Digital District will become the heart of digital and cyber-security industries and is set to create 28,000 new jobs in tech and Information Technology (IT).

DPM Teo said the government is also looking at the possibility of moving relevant agencies to the district, like the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore.

He said in a Channel NewsAsia (CNA) report, "This will help seed a new cluster of cybersecurity and technology firms in Punggol. Our residents can look forward to many exciting jobs close to home and gain new skills in these growth areas."

According to The Straits Times article, SIT's new campus located in the district "would create opportunities for students and faculty to exchange ideas with industry practitioners working there".

JTC's Assistant CEO David Tan agreed, he told CNA that this "exchange of spaces" will "foster open innovation and the sharing of ideas".

He explained that even though "SIT's land is zoned for education, [and] JTC's business park is zoned as a business park", both institutions can use each other's facilities for their own purposes.

Business parks will begin construction this year and will be home to multinational corporations (MNCs), small, medium enterprises (SMEs), startups, and companies that are driven by technology and have "technology elements at the heart of its service".

And SIT can be a "living lab" for such companies, according to SIT President Professor Tan Thiam Soon.

He cited the university's partnership with grid operator, SP Group, as an example.

A micro-grid will be built in its campus, with any excess energy produced going back to the main grid to "support the district 'in times of need'".

Prof Tan said that joint efforts don't have to be "all local companies" and that if foreign companies "need a place to test", SIT will welcome them.

"Use our students, use our professors, we will be the place for you to test this new technology," he added.

Futuristic Infrastructure Connecting Homes To Work To Life

The Punggol Digital District is surrounded by nearby HDB flats and estates; the nearest one is Northshore Edge, which will be completed in 2021.

Amenities such as a hawker centre, childcare centres, and a community club will be connected to nearby residential estates, according to CNA.

Located just west of Coney Island, residents and tenants of the district can escape to nature and explore the 13km-long heritage trail.

It is also just south of Punggol End, where there are already food and retail establishments present.

Travelling in and out of the district will also be seamless as it will be connected "by a host of new transport infrastructure" like the upcoming Punggol Coast MRT station.

The car-lite district has a large underground car park, so streets are safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and the burgeoning number of personal mobility devices riders.

Centralised systems that handle waste collection, cooling, and logistics are also in the plans. 'Smart' thermostats installed in the area can "detect changes outdoors and adjust the temperature indoors accordingly".

Perhaps the most interesting feature lies in the centralised logistics area, where all goods delivered to the district will be delivered to tenants with "automated guided vehicles or drones", according to Mr Tan.

Young children now will stand to benefit in the future too, once the SIT campus is ready and the Punggol Digital District is fully furbished, there will be so many opportunities for them.

As a future Punggol resident myself, I'm looking forward to living there already.

SINGAPORE - The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) issued a statement on Monday (Jan 22), alerting members of the public not to purchase or use two products found to cause adverse reactions in consumers.

The first product, 'URE Tonic Herbal Traditional' was purchased by a woman in her 50s who consumed the product daily for more than a year "to strengthen her body".

The product, sold by a traditional practitioner in Malaysia, contained dexamethasone, which is a potent steroid.

The woman developed Cushing's syndrome, a condition caused by prolonged consumption of steroids, and suffered complications such as persistent low blood pressure and a weakened immune system.

This resulted in pneumonia and sepsis, a life-threatening condition that involves tissue and organ injuries. She was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for treatment and is currently undergoing outpatient care.

In a separate case, a woman in her 20s visited 'Anita iBrow' beauty parlour in Orchard Road for a make-up session, which included the use of a facial solution that caused burns after use.

Sold in unlabelled brown glass bottles, the solution contained hydroquinone and tretinoin.

These are western medicinal ingredients used for the treatment of skin conditions, which should only be prescribed by a doctor and used under medical supervision.

According to the beautician, the facial solution was 'RDL Hydroquinone Tretinoin Babyface Solution 3', which she had purchased from an online platform for use on her customers.

She had poured the facial solution into two unlabelled brown glass bottles and sold them to the consumer as "magic water" to brighten up her skin.

However, after two to three days of daily application, the consumer experienced superficial chemical burns and skin peeling. Her skin had darkened and turned red and itchy, requiring treatment by a skin specialist.

HSA has directed the beautician to stop using and supplying the solution. The beautician is currently assisting in the investigation.

The Authority also advised consumers to be cautious when purchasing health products from unfamiliar sources, even if they are recommended by friends or relatives.

"Avoid buying or using unlabelled health products and be wary of products that promise quick and miraculous results. Such products may contain harmful ingredients which can cause serious health effects," said HSA in the statement.

The authority also warned sellers to stop selling these two products immediately. It said they are illegal products which contain prohibited ingredients.

Anyone who supplies illegal health products is liable to prosecution and may be jailed up to three years and/or fined up to $100,000 if found guilty.

a1admin@sph.com.sg

If you've always wanted to join the annual OCBC Cycle but did not own a bicycle, Mobike has made it easier for you this year.

Up to 2,000 bicycles from bike-sharing firm Mobike will be made available at this year's cycling fiesta to be held on May 5 and 6.

Participants will not need to pay a single cent to rent the bicycle to use at the event at the National Stadium. Cyclists will have to first create a Mobike account and sign up for OCBC Cycle 2018 to redeem a free bike ride for the event. On top of that, all participants who use Mobike's service will receive a complimentary 2018 pass for Mobike bike-share rides until Dec 31.

This is the tenth year that OCBC Cycle is being held and a new The Corporate Chase category will be introduced, where companies can sign up a team of four employees to ride in the flag-off wave in The Sportive Ride (42km).

The company whose team has the fastest combined net time completing the distance will be crowned the OCBC Cycle Corporate Chase champion and will receive a trophy, prize money of $400 and a champion jersey for each rider.

On the charity side, the OCBC Cycle 'Teach A Child To Cycle' initiative will be extended to 48 youths with special needs this year, including eight from Hong Kong. After being taught to cycle by participant volunteers, these youths will then ride in a special segment on May 5 at the Singapore Sports Hub. The initiative benefited 26 children last year.

Online registration for OCBC Cycle 2018 opens on Jan 23 at 10am. Participants can enjoy special early bird registration fee with discounts up to $14 if they register between Jan 23 and Feb 28.

Visit www.ocbccycle.com for more information.

klim@sph.com.sg

Stomp contributor Nabila was furious when an Uber driver dropped off her helper and two young daughters, aged two and four, at a different location from where she had stated.

She had arranged for a pickup for her helper and daughters to her workplace at 6 Shenton Way on Jan 19.

She added that the location has a standard pick up and drop off point.

However, according to her app, the driver had alighted her helper and children at 140 Robinson Road.

"Can you believe how worried sick I was looking at the app and seeing that they had alighted but were nowhere in sight?" said the Stomp contributor.

"I rushed straight to 140 Robinson Road and still could not find them so I called the Uber hotline and asked him to give me the driver's number so that I can find out where he had dropped off my children and helper.

"He said, 'I'm sorry we are not allowed to do that and there's nothing much we can do'.

"I shouted at him saying that my children are missing and he told me that I should call the police."

She noted that her helper did not have a mobile phone with her.

Thankfully, her husband did a search around the area and found them safe and sound.

Nabila later found out from her helper that the driver had dropped them off behind the OUE Downtown building near the loading and unloading bay.

"She added that he was in a rush and drove straight off after alighting them at such a dangerous place with lorries and there was a construction site nearby.

"What makes me furious is that my maid was handling two young children alone with a stroller.

"Why am I paying for a service at the driver's own convenience?

"I am utterly disappointed in the Uber driver and customer service personnel's service.

"I want a refund. If anything happened to my children yesterday, will they be responsible?"

In response to Stomp's media queries, an Uber spokesman issued the following statement:

"Thank you for reaching out to us on this matter.

"We are pleased to report that this matter has already been resolved to the rider's satisfaction when it was brought to our attention."