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Uber driver jailed for Bugis brawl

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An Uber driver who exchanged blows with a traffic warden and used abusive words on him was yesterday jailed for a day and fined $2,000 - which became an additional two weeks' jail when he did not pay the sum.

Goh Kok Ling, 60, pleaded guilty to fighting with Tan Hock Guan, 51, disturbing the public peace, and uttering a vulgarity in Hokkien at Tan at the Bugis Junction taxi stand in Victoria Street at about 7.15pm on Nov 27 last year. Tan had received a similar sentence in May this year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Daphne Lim said Tan, then a Land Transport Authority traffic warden, was standing at the entrance of the taxi stand at Bugis Junction when he told Goh, who was driving a Toyota Corolla Altis car, not to enter as the taxi stand was only for taxis.

He indicated to Goh to proceed to the pick-up and drop-off point instead.

Unhappy, Goh told Tan to speak to his passenger, who wanted to be picked up from the taxi stand.

Tan took a photo of Goh's car after his passenger boarded. Goh alighted, touched Tan on his shoulder from behind, and challenged him to issue a summons.

Tan told Goh not to lay hands on him, adding that he had recorded a video and that Goh could expect action to be taken against him.

Goh later leaned over to Tan and uttered the vulgarity. Tan retorted the same in Hokkien and punched Goh once in the stomach.

Goh retaliated and both traded punches. When Goh slipped and fell to the ground, Tan kicked him.

A passer-by broke up the fight. But the scuffle did not end there.

When Tan moved to the other side of the taxi stand, Goh followed and confronted him. Tan punched Goh. They fought again and were separated by the same passer-by.

Goh's lawyer, assigned by the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, Mr Benny Tan, said in mitigation that his client suffered significantly more serious injuries caused by Tan.

Mr Tan said Goh had to pay close to $20,000 in medical fees, in particular, to replace two teeth he lost as a result of the assault.

Goh could have been jailed for up to one year and/or fined up to $5,000 on each charge.


This article was first published on August 17, 2016.
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Wednesday, August 17, 2016 - 14:57
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Singapore organisations drop 'A's, 'B's and 'O's for blood donation campaign

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SINGAPORE - If you passed by the Singapore Botanic Gardens today and noticed that something very different to its entrance sign, do not panic - the disappearance of letters in its name is not the work of pranksters.

Far from that. In fact, the letters A, B and O were removed from the Gardens' entrance signs on purpose, as part of the International Missing Type Campaign, which aims to get more people to donate blood.

In a Facebook post, Singapore Botanic Gardens said that the letters were removed from entrance signs at its Nassim, Tanglin and Bukit Timah gates.

A total of 33 Singapore organisations are taking part in the campaign, by either digitally altering their logos online or removing letters from the logos at their premises.

After achieving massive success in England in 2015, the organisers have chosen to run the campaign globally from Aug 16-21 this year.

Participating organisations overseas include Morgan Stanley, Microsoft, Sydney Opera House, McDonald's UK and many more.

Locally, the campaign has been taken up by various hospitals, health organisations and educational institutes such as Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Singapore Management University.

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Together with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), we joined blood services from 21 countries in launching the...

Posted by Singapore Red Cross on Tuesday, 16 August 2016

Red Cross Singapore explained on its page that more than 100,000 units of blood are needed to meet the transfusion needs of patients every year in Singapore.

Individuals who wish to donate blood can head to their nearest blood bank to donate blood. You can also participate by taking a photo of yourself with the letters A, B and O dropped from your name. These photos can be shared on social media with the tag #MissingTypeSg.

ljessica@sph.com.sg

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Wednesday, August 17, 2016 - 15:15
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Grandmother who was attacked by neighbour: 'I felt like dying'

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She has survived colon cancer and single-handedly raised her three children after her husband died.

Then housewife Toh Siew Hong had to endure the pain and anguish of her neighbour brutally assaulting her for 18 long minutes on Sept 28, 2013.

Casey Sabrina Ng, 43, viciously attacked Madam Toh, 68, just outside the latter's front door on the 12th storey of Block 10, Chai Chee Road, leaving the grandmother bruised and bloodied.

Closed-circuit television footage of the attack at the lift lobby showed Ng repeatedly punching and slapping Madam Toh until blood flowed from the latter's face.

She also stamped on the grandmother's head at least 10 times.

ATTACK: Closed-circuit television footage showing Casey Sabrina Ng hurting Madam Toh Siew Hong. (Photo: Wanbao)

Recalling the horrific attack to The New Paper, Madam Toh said: "I begged her to stop but she ignored my pleas.

"She continued kicking, beating and stamping on my head until I could taste blood in my mouth and blacked out a few times.

"I felt like (I was) dying."

Yesterday, Ng, who is also known as Asha Verma, was sentenced to 5½ years' Corrective Training (CT).

REPEAT OFFENDER: Casey Sabrina Ng was yesterday sentenced to 5½ years’ Corrective Training. (Photo: The Straits Times)

On July 8, she had pleaded guilty to four counts of voluntarily causing hurt and three counts of voluntarily causing hurt to public servants.

She also admitted to one count each of using criminal force on a public servant, performing a rash act, behaving in a disorderly manner and criminal intimidation.

Fourteen other charges for similar offences to Madam Toh and others were taken into consideration during sentencing.

CT is a prison regime for repeat offenders, lasting five to 14 years without time off for good behaviour.

This was the second time Ng was sentenced to the regime. In December 2005, she was given five years' CT for theft, disorderly behaviour and using abusive language on a public servant.

Madam Toh believes Ng had attacked her because of a misunderstanding in May 2013.

She was watching television with her second daughter, who wanted to be known only as Miss Yap, 40, around 11pm when they heard screams from Ng's flat.

Later, police came to Madam Toh's front door to find out more about the commotion.

Miss Yap said: "Somebody must have called the police about the noise but it wasn't us.

"We told the officers we didn't know anything and they left."

SCREAMING VULGARITIES

Minutes later, they heard Ng kicking their front door, screaming vulgarities and accusing them of being busybodies.

Shocked, Miss Yap tried to explain to her that nobody in her family called the police but Ng refused to listen.

From then on, Ng would lash out at her neighbours whenever their paths crossed.

Miss Yap said: "Casey would scream obscenities and kick our door, and tried to attack my mum. Mother was terrified of her.

"All of us avoided her and quickly moved aside whenever we saw her in the distance - it became like a game of hide-and-seek."

Madam Toh's eldest daughter, human resource executive Madeline Yap, 42, said: "We called the police countless times and made reports. Finally, we decided to spend about $2,000 to install a CCTV camera."

The police confirmed that they followed up on the reports made by the victim and her family, and conducted a thorough investigation.

After the CCTV camera was installed, Ng did not cause any grief to the family for about a week.

Until Sept 28, 2013, when she suddenly attacked Madam Toh around 10am.

The police were called and Madam Toh was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

The grandmother was hospitalised for 10 days. Following her discharge, she did not return to her flat, which they have lived in since 2000, but lived with her eldest daughter for about two years to avoid Ng.

They returned to the Chai Chee flat only last December, after they found out that the Ng's household had moved out.

When told about Ng's sentence yesterday, Madam Toh felt that the sentence was too short. But she said that with time, she will forgive her attacker.

Madam Yap said: "Mother still has nightmares and I've seen her waving her hands around and screaming in her sleep. But she won't remember a thing when she wakes up.

"Until now, my siblings and I still cannot watch the whole video of the attack. It's just too painful."

For each count of voluntarily causing hurt, Ng could have been jailed up to two years and fined up to $5,000. For each count of voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant, she could have been jailed up to seven years and fined.

ashaffiq@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 17, 2016.
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Wednesday, August 17, 2016 - 17:00
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COE prices close mixed in latest bidding exercise for August

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Certificate of entitlement (COE) prices ended mixed in the latest bidding exercise on Wednesday (Aug 17).

Premiums for Category A cars, or those up to 1,600cc and 130bhp, went up to $53,334 from $52,503 in the last exercise.

For Category B cars, or those above 1,600cc or 130bhp, premiums dipped to $56,500. In the last exercise earlier this month, premiums for this category had hit an eight-month high of $57,903.

Premiums for the Open Category, which may be used for any kind of vehicle, also went down from $58,201 to $56,956.

COE prices for motorcycles went up to $6,352 from $6,206.

Commercial vehicle COE prices fell from $48,302 to close at $48,001.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

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Wednesday, August 17, 2016 - 17:50
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Swim schools report surge of interest from parents

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THEY watched Joseph Schooling swim. Now, they want to take the plunge too.

Swim schools are seeing a spike in inquiries from potential students since his win.

And lessons in his signature stroke - the butterfly - are turning out to be the hottest commodity.

Marketing manager Julie Ng, 35, intends to start her six-year-old son on lessons next year.

She called up a couple of swim schools on Monday when he expressed interest in the sport after watching Schooling's Olympics race.

She said: "Since he is interested, we thought of letting him pick up the sport.

"There's a long road ahead and I hope he goes all the way if he wants to reach the top."

Swimming has always been a popular weekend activity among children here.

But interest looks set to peak after Schooling's feat.

Most of the 10 schools contacted reported a surge in inquiries. This ranges from 20 per cent to 200 per cent. They declined to give existing student numbers, saying these are commercially sensitive data.

Tan Jian Yong, 27, director of Happy Fish Swim School, one of the bigger swim schools here, said inquiries have doubled since Saturday. Many parents were keen on lessons for babies and toddlers.

A few even requested for their child to learn the butterfly stroke, despite them not knowing how to swim.

"Many parents are realising they need to start their children young if they want to groom champions," said Mr Tan, who expects a rise in enrolment in the months ahead.

"This is a good sign - Singaporeans want to invest their time in sports."

However, coaches said sporting talents do not sprout overnight and require many years of training.

Said Little Fins Swim School founder Lynn Adele Chng, 26: "Singaporeans are kiasu and always looking to be a part of something as great as this, even without knowing the hard work and time that goes with it.

"Talents like (Schooling)... have dedicated years of training to reach their goals. That's the same amount of commitment their coaches and parents need to exhibit."

Singapore Swimming Association secretary-general Oon Jin Teik believes Schooling's feat will inspire athletes and coaches here.

"This historic milestone can only be an encouragement for our aquatic community, motivating us to be a world-class aquatics nation."

Fans can catch a glimpse of Schooling when he rounds up his homecoming with an open-top bus parade today.

The swimmer's parade will stop at Marine Terrace Market at 10am, Singtel Comcentre Plaza from 11.30am to 12.15pm and Raffles City Shopping Centre from 12.45pm till 2pm.

calyang@sph.com.sg

ateng@sph.com.sg


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Suspension of Pow Sing eateries over food poisoning cases lifted

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SINGAPORE - Chicken rice seller Pow Sing, whose two operating licences were suspended due to multiple food poisoning incidents, will have its suspension lifted on Wednesday (Aug 17).

The incidents took place between July 4 and 16, prompting the National Environment Agency (NEA) to suspend the operating licence of Pow Sing Restaurant, located at 63-65 Serangoon Garden Way, from July 13. The operating licence of its nearby Pow Sing Kitchen outlet, at 59 Serangoon Garden Way, was suspended three days later.

Joint investigations by the Ministry of Health, NEA and the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) turned up 88 food poisoning cases with confirmed links to the two eateries.

Thirty consumers sought outpatient medical treatment. No one was hospitalised.

According to a statement from the authorities, both eateries had "several hygiene lapses in the food preparation process" which caused bacterial contamination of the food.

These lapses included an unregistered food handler's involvement in food preparation, poor housekeeping, failure to maintain temperature records of refrigerators and freezers, and faulty chillers and freezers.

Food samples from Pow Sing Restaurant showed high levels of E. coli, salmonella and Bacillus cereus bacteria, while food samples from Pow Sing Kitchen contained E. coli and Bacillus cereus.

No food safety lapses by Pow Sing's food suppliers were detected by the AVA.

The two eateries have complied with NEA instructions to dispose of all ready-to-eat, thawed and perishable food, sanitised the premises, and made food handlers re-attend the agency's Basic Hygiene Course. All food handlers have since passed the course and been cleared as fit to work by the health ministry.

The eateries submitted plans to the authorities to ensure that hygiene standards are met during subsequent food preparation.

The NEA will continue to closely monitor Pow Sing Restaurant and Pow Sing Kitchen after the suspension is lifted.


This article was first published on August 18, 2016.
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Thursday, August 18, 2016 - 09:22
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Fast Retailing ties up with Singapore creatives for Uniqlo's new flagship

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American John Jay, global creative president of Fast Retailing, Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo's parent company, cannot wait to work with the creative community here.

Uniqlo is opening its first Southeast Asian flagship in Singapore - making it the 25th store here - next month. Mr Jay, who was in Singapore recently for a media presentation, wants Uniqlo to be "connected with the best and brightest in the community".

He says: "It's not just coming here to sell you stuff. That's kind of boring, don't you think?"

Some of the home-grown talent Uniqlo has collaborated with so far for the Orchard Central flagship, which opens on Sept 2, include visual artist Michael Ng, who worked on an art display for the children's section, and home-grown independent record label and audiovisual collective Syndicate, which produced the store's original in-house music.

Home-grown art collective Tell Your Children worked on the store's hoarding design. Singapore illustrators are designing the storeexclusive shopping bags.

The flagship is joining Uniqlo's group of more than 1,700 stores worldwide. The company made US$13.88 billion (S$18.65 billion) globally last year.

Born to Chinese parents in Columbus, Ohio, in the United States, Mr Jay, who declines to reveal his age, was named one of business magazine Fast Company's "100 Most Creative People in Business" in 2011. He is now based in Portland, Oregon.

Before he joined Uniqlo in January last year, he was a partner of well-known American advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy - which counts among its top clients Nike and Coca-Cola - for over a decade.

When his friend, Mr Tadashi Yanai, founder and president of Fast Retailing, specially created the role of global creative president for him, Mr Jay could not refuse. He got to know Mr Yanai in 1999 while working on a campaign for Uniqlo's fleece products.

As global creative president, Mr Jay oversees all the creative aspects in Fast Retailing such as product design and branding strategies.

The married father of two sons says: "I can't imagine retiring ever, that's like death. Career-wise, I'm just getting started and learning new things, so why wouldn't I do this?"

But he wants to do more than just work with Singapore's creative community. With the new flagship, he is "taking the opportunity" to put the Uniqlo LifeWear concept "front and centre". The concept is essentially the company's mission statement that has been put in writing only now - 42 years after it was founded.

It articulates the company's mission to design simple and comfortable clothes that are constantly being refined in terms of design, comfort and practicality. It applies to all clothing departments in Uniqlo, including its clothing collaborations with designers such as Frenchwoman Ines de la Fressange.

Mr Jay says: "From day one of Uniqlo, we were making LifeWear, but we didn't have a name for it. I thought it was important to write it down."

This idea of constantly refining designs is apparent in the company's innovative fabrics, such as AIRism, a range of innerwear such as underwear, T-shirts and tank tops made from light, breathable fabric that the brand claims is anti-bacterial and anti-odour.

Mr Jay says: "There are many Japanese brands that are simple, but they don't evolve. For example, they say don't mess with Japanese denim, because there is a legacy and history and it's classic. Okay, we accept that, but we're going to make it better."

He is referring to the brand's Miracle Air fabric which was launched last year. Uniqlo's denim is 20 per cent lighter than regular jeans due to fibres that are 55 per cent hollow in the centre. This is unlike Japanese selvedge denim, which is typically heavier, about 550g, compared to regular jeans, which weigh half of that on average.

Mr Jay says: "I'm not interested in the classic. I'm interested in taking the bones of the classic and taking it to a new place."


This article was first published on Aug 18, 2016.
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Crowds turn up to catch a glimpse of Olympic champ Joseph Schooling

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SINGAPORE - Crowds were screaming and shouting as they cheered "Schooling, Schooling!" when they caught a glimpse of Olympic champ Joseph Schooling on his victory parade on Thursday (Aug 18).

The day started bright and early around 9am for Schooling whose first stop was the Singapore Sports Hub, where the open-top bus parade kicked off from. 

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Joseph Isaac Schooling greets fans at the #OneTeamSG victory parade.

Posted by AsiaOne on Wednesday, 17 August 2016

As the bus made its way along Tanjong Rhu and Tanjong Katong Roads, passing by Dunman High School and the Canadian School, students shouted his name and waved mini Singapore flags as Schooling waved back. 

Students from Tanjong Katong Girls' School waving to Joseph Schooling on the victory parade bus. Photo: AsiaOne

Cars along Old Airport Road blared their horns as the bus passed by and overhead bridges were also packed with people eager to see the swim star. 

Schooling's victory parade comprises of three stops - Marine Terrace Market, Singtel Comcentre Plaza and Raffles City Shopping Centre. He got off at each stop to meet his supporters. 

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Thousands at Marine Terrace greet Joseph Isaac Schooling on his victory parade. This is his first pit stop. Read more: http://goo.gl/jGPcTA

Posted by AsiaOne on Wednesday, 17 August 2016

At around 8.30am, there were reportedly queues at the first pit stop at Marine Terrace Market as many who lived nearby wanted to meet the champ and get his autograph, reported The Straits Times. 

By 9am, crowds in the hundreds extended to nearby HDB blocks. 

Crowds gathered outside Marine Terrace Market on Aug 18, 2016. Photo: AsiaOne

By the time the bus arrived at Marine Terrace at 10.30am, hundreds of people mobbed Schooling as he was trying to make his way through the crowd to get to his favourite fried carrot cake stall.

The crowds were too excited to see Schooling that a small scuffle took place as one fan was trying to get close to the Olympic champ, according to AsiaOne's reporter on the ground. 

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The crowds were too excited to see Joseph Isaac Schooling that a small scuffle happened as fans were making their way...

Posted by AsiaOne on Wednesday, 17 August 2016

At Singtel Comcentre, crowds gathered around the building and at the nearby skate park. 

Schooling fans at Singtel Comcentre on Aug 18, 2016. Photo: AsiaOne

There, Schooling told his fans: "Thank you guys for coming out. You guys are amazing. I love you guys." 

Joseph Schooling addressing his fans at Singtel Comcentre. Photo: AsiaOne

Although that the past few days have been hard for his private life, he said: "I didn't do this for myself, I did this for my country, my family, my friends." 

The victory parade then continued from Orchard Boulevard to Orchard Road with the bus passing the Istana, Plaza Singapura and School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA), where an accident involving two cars - apparently distracted by the Schooling entourage - occured. Schooling was traffic-stopping indeed. 

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Joseph Isaac Schooling makes his way along Orchard Road

Posted by AsiaOne on Wednesday, 17 August 2016

Crowds at Raffles City Shopping Centre waiting for Schooling to arrive. Photo: Erik Wee

At the final pit stop at Raffles City Shopping Centre, people packed the mall and were positioned at different vantage points facing the Level 3 Atrium where the national swimmer would be stationed. 

As soon as he arrived at about 12.45pm, the crowd went wild again. 

Joseph Schooling arriving at Raffles City. Photo: AsiaOne

Crowds jostle and cameras go up high as Schooling enters the building at Raffles City. Photo: AsiaOne

At Raffles City, the gold medal winner took a wefie with the audience and spent some time signing autographs. 

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Joseph Isaac Schooling is at Raffles City Shopping Centre for his final stop in the victory parade.

Posted by AsiaOne on Wednesday, 17 August 2016

Mother and daughter pair, Doreen and Thessabel Chang, 12 (pictured below), were at Raffles City from 8am to queue up to meet Schooling. 

Schooling fans Thessabel, 12, and her mother Doreen Chang queued at Raffles City Shopping Centre from 8am just to get Schooling's autograph. Photo: AsiaOne

Their efforts paid off as they were the first in line to get his autograph.

Thessabel, who is a huge fan of Schooling, told AsiaOne that she admires him because "he never gives up", but she was a tad disappointed initially as she didn't get a photograph with him due to time constraints in the queue.

But perhaps Schooling's determination rubbed off on Thessabel, she pleaded after waiting around and eventually managed to get not one, but two close-up shot with her idol. Good on her! 

Fan Thessabel Chang's look of contentment after scoring 2 photographs with her idol Joseph Schooling. Photo: AsiaOne

Thurday's victory parade is his final public appearance before he returns to US on Friday for school. Photo: AsiaOne

Schooling arrived in Singapore from Rio de Janeiro on Monday and his past four days have been jam-packed with events.

On Monday, he made an appearance in Parliament. Then on Tuesday, he visited his alma mater Anglo Chinese School (Junior). He took a break from media engagements on Wednesday as he met family and friends for a function at Tanah Merah Country Club. He also visited former President S R Nathan in hospital. 

Today's victory parade marks the last of his public appearances before he returns to US on Friday (Aug 19) for orientation in school at the University of Texas. 

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Joseph Isaac Schooling is at Raffles City Shopping Centre for his final stop in the victory parade.

Posted by AsiaOne on Wednesday, 17 August 2016

grongloh@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Mary-Ann Soh.

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Mother-daughter pair queued up since 8am at Raffles City to get Joseph Schooling's autograph
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Tunnel works to affect heritage building

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Part of a 1924 building at the edge of Selegie Road will be demolished, and later rebuilt, to make way for the construction of the North- South Corridor.

This is despite the Ellison Building's status as a conserved structure gazetted by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

The authorities described the decision as an "exceptional course of action" that was taken after considerable study and deliberation by the agencies.

They said it was a last resort after concluding that it was not possible to completely avoid the building "in order to realise an important national infrastructure".

Three of the building's 16 two- storey units will be torn down. The affected units - 235, 237 and 239 - currently occupied by a mama shop, Colonial Bistro Cafe and part of a fruit shop, are along the building's curved facade.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it will reconstruct and reinstate the affected part of the government-owned building to its original architectural design, under the URA's guidance, once construction of the tunnel is completed in 2026.

"Protective measures will be put in place to ensure that the structural stability of the rest of the building is maintained when the infrastructural and reinstatement works are carried out," the agencies said in a joint statement.

The Singapore Heritage Society said it was "deeply disappointed" with the decision to demolish and then reconstruct a substantial part of the conserved building. Its spokesman said: "Reconstruction is not a good option because it is the falsification of historical artefacts."

The society said reconstruction typically results in simplification of a structure's original architectural features. It wants other options explored, and called for heritage impact assessments to be carried out, for this report to be made public and for consultation.

According to URA conservation guidelines, the fundamental principle of conservation applicable to all conserved buildings is "maximum retention, sensitive restoration and careful repair".

Weighing in, Singapore Management University heritage law expert Jack Lee said the conservation scheme was designed largely to prevent private property owners from dealing with conservation properties without the permission of the authorities.

He cited the example of Chijmes, the former convent comprising several buildings under conservation and preservation orders that had part of its boundary walls torn down as part of a multimillion-dollar overhaul by a private developer. The URA had approved renovation plans for the heritage site in Victoria Street.

Dr Lee said the scheme "does not operate as a restriction of what the Government wants to do". If the Government wanted, it could grant permission for the works despite the conservation order or even delist the building.

LTA previously said an expressway needs to be as straight as possible to accommodate higher speeds. It said acquisitions along the route, including Rochor Centre, were necessary because of the highly built up area that includes Bukit Timah Road and Rochor Canal.

Construction of the 21.5km underground corridor, using the traditional "cut and cover" method, is expected to take place progressively from next year.

Mr Raymond Toh, 43, the owner of Colonial Bistro Cafe, which has been in the building for the past four years, said he has yet to find a new location. The bistro's lease under the Singapore Land Authority will be up in December.

He said it was a pity that the restaurant had to move. "It has sentimental value to both my customers and me. Some tourists who used to live in Singapore and hang out in the area do drop by. They include British servicemen and even a customer who said he was a descendent of the Ellison family."

Building with long history

Photo: The Straits Times

The Ellison Building was built in 1924 by Isaac Ellison, a Romanian Jew. It could have been built for his wife Flora, a Baghdadi Jewish woman from Rangoon, the former capital of Myanmar.

The building has two domes and balconies. The Star of David, the Ellison name and its date of construction still sit proudly atop the relatively rundown building.

Lying at the foot of the Mount Sophia conservation area, it is located within the former Jewish quarters.

The Straits Times understands that the Ellison family is no longer based in Singapore.

Some records also indicate that the building had been sold to the Government in the late 1980s.


This article was first published on August 18, 2016.
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Thursday, August 18, 2016 - 16:00
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Joseph Schooling shows gratitude to first coach at event

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Salutations aside, they hardly spoke much.

The one-minute dialogue was largely dominated by monosyllables.

"Many thanks, Uncle Poon," was how Joseph Schooling opened his conversation with Vincent Poon.

And Schooling's first coach and mentor Poon replied: "Well done".

The momentous occasion probably did not lend itself to keeping them engaged in conversation.

For everyone, in the 100-odd crowd - armed with either handphones, autograph books, caps, tee shirts or just slips of paper - wanted a part of Schooling.

Yesterday's meeting took place at Tanah Merah Country Club's (TMCC) Garden Lounge, where the club honoured and hailed Schooling.

There were banners, posters and a makan kechil to show the club's gratitude for his historic Olympic gold medal - Singapore's first - victory in Rio.

It was a private gathering where club chairman Ng Kee Choe and his general committee turned up in force to welcome home a junior member who started his swimming career at the distinguished club.

Looking weary and still jet-lagged after yet another day of sporting engagements since his arrival from Brazil on early Monday morning, Schooling's face lit up when he met Poon.

For as the 21-year-old megastar acknowledged later, he would not be where he is - at the summit of world swimming and global fame - if not for the springboard set up by Poon at the TMCC pool when he was only four.

Poon, 69, a reputed coach who still teaches at TMCC, said: "I have never seen a student like Joe. He was always punctual.

"He followed instructions to a tee and he gave his 100 per cent at training.

FEARLESS

"What struck me most about him was his fearlessness.

"He would accept any challenge. I am truly proud of him."

Later in an address to the gathering at TMCC's Garden Lounge, Schooling said: "I remember Uncle Poon giving the other kids a 10-second advantage and making me do catch-up over one length of the pool.

"I got my butt kicked most of the time. But all the hard work has paid off."

Then, in a tribute to his former coach, Schooling said: "In fact, this event belongs not to me, but to Uncle Poon.

"For he played a great part in making me what I am today."

The applause from the crowd certainly underscored the point.

godfrey@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on August 18, 2016.
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Maid abusers in 'simple hurt' cases may face longer jail terms

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Employers who abuse domestic maids in cases of simple hurt may face longer jail terms in a new move by the court to raise deterrence.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon gave notice of the direction the court was moving in, in dismissing the appeal of a convicted offender jailed for 14 weeks for the "wanton bullying" of a maid.

The lawyer for Janardana Jayasankarr, Mr Rajan Nair, had argued that his client's 14-week jail term for punching and stamping on his maid was "manifestly excessive", according to precedents.

But the CJ disagreed, saying: "In all the circumstances, I consider the sentence in this case could have been even higher."

He also said in his judgment grounds, released yesterday, that this area of sentencing should be reviewed, given an appropriate case.

Simple hurt draws a maximum jail term of three years, unlike grievous hurt, which is 15 years.

Janardana, 52, had pleaded guilty in February to two counts of assaulting Filipina Miezel Cagas Limbaga, 31.

In the incidents which occurred last year, Janardana, a security guard, had stamped on and punched Ms Limbaga after accusing her of stealing food.

She was left with bruises on her scalp, cheeks, chest, back and hip.

Janardana and his wife Vidya Jayasankarr, 32, who was jailed for a week, had taken turns to hit her.

District Judge Jasvender Kaur jailed Janardana for seven weeks consecutively on each charge, taking two others into consideration.

Mr Nair had asked for the sentence to be cut to eight weeks, as the individual term of seven weeks for each charge was not in line with previous cases.

But CJ Menon said the "real issue" in the case was the severity of the assaults and the injuries suffered.

He noted there were repeated assaults with "no comprehensible trigger" on the vulnerable areas of the victim's body.

It had reached a point where she was afraid even to be seen talking to other persons.

He said: "I consider this as a serious instance of abuse. Domestic helpers cannot become an outlet for a frustrated employer to vent his or her personal frustrations."

"They are human beings entitled to be accorded due dignity and respect because the human condition demands it."

Noting that the law provides for a maximum of three years in jail and $7,500 fine for offences of simple hurt, he said the precedents showed the courts may not have sufficiently taken into account or utilised the breadth of the sentencing range prescribed by Parliament.

He said the court would take an appropriate case in the future to calibrate "the applicable benchmarks upwards" and spell out the factors to consider when sentencing.

Industry players hailed the CJ's move, pointing out that stiffer jail terms would prompt employers to think more before they act.

Ms Shirley Ng, the owner of Orange Employment Agency, said it was a strong message being sent from the court.

Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Manpower chairman Patrick Tay added that foreign maids needed protection as they are more vulnerable, working long hours in an environment out of the public eye.

He said: "This is unlike service staff, or those who work in office or public premises where there are witnesses."

Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Fast) executive director William Chew suggested that other measures, such as assessing the employer's suitability, also had to be considered.

Other Cases

April 2015 - Malaysian Chong Yee Ka, 32, a permanent resident, punched Myanmar maid Aye Moe Khaing, 27, in the face - among various forms of abuse-at her Rivervale Walk flat. Chong was sentenced to three weeks in jail on two counts of maid abuse.

February 2015 - Ng Tong Kok, 59, a part-time cleaner, hit his 33-year-old Indonesian maid Warda with a walking stick, and punched and kicked her. Found to be suffering from a major depressive disorder, he escaped jail time and was given a two-year treatment order to get psychiatric help.

July 2014 - Li Guizhen, 64, injured Myanmar maid Nwe Ni Hlaing, 30, by kneeing the victim in the chin. Ms Nwe Ni Hlaing was kneeling before Li, who was visiting her daughter from China, to apologise for her mistakes at work. Li was sentenced to a week in jail.

2012 - 2014:

Filipina Thelma Oyasan Gawidan, now 40, was denied food and not allowed to go out of the house by her employers Lim Choon Hong, 47, a freelance trader, and his wife ChongSui Foon, also 47.

Madam Gawidan weighed just 29.4kg when she finally escaped in April 2014.

Lim has pleaded guilty to a charge of contravening the Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) Regulations 2012, which requires employers to provide adequate food and medical treatment for their maids. Chong has also admitted to a count of abetting Lim in committing the offence, which carries a maximum punishment of 12 months in jail and a $10,000 fine. The couple has not been sentenced.


This article was first published on Aug 18, 2016.
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Panel submits report on elected presidency

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A special report recommending changes to Singapore's elected presidency was received by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday, and the Government will give its response in "due course".

The Straits Times understands that PM Lee will address the issue of the elected presidency on Sunday at the National Day Rally, an annual address where he maps out the nation's future directions and announces policy changes.

The report comes six months after he appointed a Constitutional Commission, chaired by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, to review the institution so that it keeps up with the times, including the possibility of having a minority candidate elected from time to time.

Mr Lee thanked the nine-member commission "for the deliberation and care with which they have carried out their tasks", the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said after getting the report earlier in the day.

"The Government will study the report. It will publish the report and give its response in due course," added the PMO statement.

Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan, a former Nominated MP, said: "The National Day Rally is a valuable opportunity for the PM to share his thoughts on the elected presidency."

Parliament may even debate the report as early as next month, he added. "The countdown to the next presidential election has started. The earlier constitutional amendments are made, the more lead time potential candidates have to adjust to them."

The presidential election must be held by August next year.

Political observer Zulkifli Baharudin said the public also needs to be educated about the changes as "they are the ones who will be voting the next president in".

Prof Tan was among 20 individuals and groups invited by the commission to expand on their ideas on changes they want to see in the elected presidency. They gave their views during four public hearings.

The commission also received more than 100 written submissions.

Mr Lee first spoke about the need to review the elected presidency in January, after last year's general election. Speaking at the first sitting of the 13th Parliament, he said the head of state should remain elected.

But, he added, three areas should be studied:

- How to update the qualifying criteria of candidates for the elected presidency.

- How to strengthen the Council of Presidential Advisers, which advises the president in exercising his custodial and discretionary powers.

- How to ensure those in a minority race will have the chance to be elected as president.

During the commission's hearings, the issue of minority representation was the most hotly debated. While most speakers broadly agreed on the need for a minority president from time to time, they were split on how to achieve it.

Some suggested reserving elections for candidates from a particular minority group that has not had a president for several terms. Others were worried that doing so would undermine meritocracy.

Constitutional law expert Kevin Tan, who spoke at the hearing, said: "It is the most difficult to manage. How are you going to engineer a situation where you will have a president from a minority race?"

Another issue was the qualifying criterion. Several said the bar for a private-sector candidate should be raised. But some felt it might shrink the pool of potential candidates, especially from the minority groups.

Currently, would-be candidates from the private sector must have run a company with a paid-up capital of at least $100 million.


This article was first published on August 18, 2016.
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10 things we complain about in Singapore but secretly adore

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This article was originally on GET.com at: 10 Things We Complain About In Singapore But Secretly Adore

Try typing "Singaporeans love to complain" into Google and you'll find a host of articles and videos discussing how Singaporeans love to complain. It has been said that Singaporeans have had too much of a good life here, having been born in a very well-managed country with little poverty, thus giving rise to a feeling of self-entitlement.

Despite that, is complaining even a bad thing? And are we sometimes complaining about things we secretly love and can't do without? GET.com has listed 10 things that we think Singaporeans actually love more than hate about our country even when we complain.

1. MRT

In my years of growing up in Singapore, I've never seen so many complaints about the MRT system in Singapore than those in the last 2 years.

In the past, we Singaporeans relied on our trusty train system to get us to work and school on time, and with no food and drinks allowed, it's perhaps one of the cleanest subways in the world.

Somewhere along the way, I guess the increase in population and tourists might have taken a toll on the MRT.

Breakdowns become more and more frequent, causing some to be stranded for their examinations and work, and we even saw incidents where passengers had to walk on the MRT tracks.

Yes, the efficiency breaks down sometimes, but seriously, for the price we pay and the comfort we enjoy, ask any tourist and you'll know that we should all be really grateful for what we have.

Here are 3 things SMRT can do when the MRT breaks down.

2. Singapore is "little"

Singapore is affectionately known as the "little red dot". And yes, admittedly, the island-state is small in size. Measuring just about 719 square kilometres, it's certainly viable to cycle around the circumference of Singapore in a day or two.

But because it is small, it enables us to travel from the east to the west in less than 2 hours even on public transport.

The proximity we have lets us save lots of time on a daily basis - compare that to those who live in larger cities where their one-way commute to work can easily take more than 2 hours.

3. CPF

While most of us might be very grateful to our government for coming up with such a brilliant idea such as the CPF, there are some haters who feel that since it is money that is hard-earned, we should have full entitlement to how we want to use it.

Well, let's say that there is a clear reason for locking up that money until we need it - because not all of us can trust ourselves to manage money properly, even if it is our own.

When the time comes for you to buy your own house, you should remember that it may not have been possible for you to afford it without your CPF.

4. Singlish

Love it or hate it, but Singlish has definitely established itself as a clear part of the Singaporean identity. Everywhere we go, you can identify a Singaporean just from the way they speak "English". Isn't that an obvious way we've got something uniquely Singaporean going on here?

5. City of fines

Some may feel that our country is a little obsessed with having fines for small offences such as littering, drinking in the MRT or smoking near a bus stop.

The signs may cause much anxiety for foreigners who are new to the country, but if you've lived here long enough, you already know that there's a very small percentage of us that's fined because it acts more as a deterrent.

After all, it is small things like this that make us grateful for the clean and safe city we live in.

6. Staying with the folks

In some other developed countries, people may frown upon the idea of young adults still staying with their parents past 18 years old. Not so in Singapore at all!

Indeed, we might even be a little surprised if we spoke to someone in their twenties who's still single that's renting an apartment/room to stay on their own.

While we complain about the pains of staying with our parents, such as having someone nag us to do out dishes, come home earlier or clean our rooms, living with our folks saves us lots of money and also helps to keep the family together.

7. Foreign talents

There's been quite a bit of discussion with regards to foreign talents and workers in Singapore during the last election. Some Singaporeans have felt that the influx of foreign talents has taken up jobs that should be reserved for Singaporeans.

Well, let's just say that having foreigners working in the same environment drives diversity, keeps us international and opens our perspective.

Another reason is that practically speaking, the Singapore economy can't sustain itself without foreign talents simply because the local population is shrinking and ageing.

8. National Service

Recently there's been some debate about whether foreigners who have been born in Singapore should fulfil their National Service duties here.

Well, judging from some of the news interviews on TV, it does seem like most guys who've been through the NS felt that it was a good experience to toughen themselves up.

I've also heard from my own relatives and friends how their sons and/brothers have changed for the better after NS.

Don't we feel proud that our fellow Singaporeans are doing their bit at protecting their nation? You certainly do not want mercenaries doing the job in the event of war, do you?

9. Ban on gum

It has become something we've come to live with, sparking this obsession with chewing gum to our hearts' content when we travel.

You just need to remember that no gum means no sticky stuff on your brand new Nike shoes when you are running outdoor and no disgusting chewed-gum stuck on your home's public lift buttons.

10. Expensive homes

Yes, we all know that Singapore has recently emerged as one of the most expensive cities to live in for the third straight year.

With public housing selling at some $1 million for those near the city, how can you expect Singaporeans to be pleased with that?

On the other hand, the well-managed homes of Singaporeans are also top-notch compared to public housing in other parts of the world.

And judging by our home-ownership that has been hovering around 90 per cent, we have a strong reason to believe that beneath all that complaints, we still adore our housing system here.

Here you can find out how much money you need to buy your first HDB flat. If you're looking to buy a property in Singapore, make sure to check our comprehensive home loans guide.

Here you can get the most in-depth information about Marina Bay & Chinatown properties, Tanjong Pagar properties, Tiong Bahru & Queenstown properties, Telok Blangah & Sentosa Cove properties, and Pasir Panjang & Clementi properties so that you can compare property prices and amenities and find out which area of Singapore is the best place for you to live.

This article was originally on GET.com at: 10 things we complain about in Singapore but secretly adore

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Singapore fiscal position strong despite lower GIC, Temasek returns: Moody's

Litter, traffic woes at Poke-Park

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It has started at least one fight between two adults, reportedly caused one driver to crash, and created a traffic hazard because players suddenly dash across roads.

Pokemon Go, a location-based augmented reality game where players catch, battle and train virtual creatures on their mobile devices, has now been blamed for another problem: Rubbish.

Loads of it. At Yishun Park, the rubbish was left behind by some 400 players who gather nightly at the popular site, known for its many PokeStops, where the creatures spawn.

By cleaner Affendi Sohor's reckoning, the rubbish fills 70 big bags every night. Since the weekend, that is how much he and two fellow cleaners have collected each night from 10pm to 5am.

"We were told to install four new bins next to the existing ones because of this Pokemon thing," he told The New Paper on Tuesday night.

PokeMess: The trash left behind after a night of Pokemon Go

"But there is still a lot of litter."

That is a substantial amount of rubbish for a park barely half the size of a football field.

And because of the numbers who turn up, the cleaners work non-stop from the time their shifts start to just before dawn.

MORE BINS: Cleaner Affendi Sohor installing a new bin at Yishun Park on Tuesday night. TNP PHOTO: CHOO CHWEE HUA

Empty bottles, cans, food wrappers and used tissues are the typical litter left behind by players hooked on the game, which was launched about two weeks ago.

Many use the fitness equipment at the park as seats, while others mill about or lie sprawled on picnic mats.

"The crowd remains the same size all the way till 4am," said Mr Affendi, who has been a cleaner for three years.

"So we have to keep picking."

CROWDED: Mr Affendi Sohor (in black cap) and a fellow cleaner removing trash at Yishun Park on Tuesday.​ TNP PHOTO: CHOO CHWEE HUA

A spokesman for the National Environment Agency (NEA) said they are aware of the large amount of litter at the park.

"Members of the public are reminded to clean up after themselves before leaving the park, as an act of courtesy to other park users," she said.

"To tackle the littering problem effectively, we need the support and co-operation of the public. The key message behind our education efforts is for everyone to treat our public spaces like our own homes."

There is also a traffic problem.

On a typical night, many cars can be seen parked illegally along Yishun Central and Yishun Avenue 11, which are two-lane roads next to the park.

These cars are metres from the traffic light junction and buses have to swerve round them to avoid collisions.

CROWDED: Vehicles illegally parked along Yishun Avenue 11. TNP PHOTO: CHOO CHWEE HUA

TNP approached one driver who was parked illegally along Yishun Central at about 10pm. The man, who looked to be in his 30s, admitted he was there to catch Pokemon, but claimed he had only stopped his car there for 15 minutes.

"There are four PokeStops in this area and I heard there are rare Pokemon here," he said.

"I know I'm obstructing, but if people want me to move, I'll move. It's just for a while."

Elsewhere, at the Japanese Garden in Jurong East, Lianhe Wanbao published pictures of several young people believed to be playing Pokemon Go climbing over the gates after the garden was closed.

A guard was also seen rounding up the trespassers and chasing them away.

Residents in Hougang, another popular spot for players, have called the police after being unable to find parking lots.

Fortunately, no fights have been reported, unlike at Plaza Singapura last Sunday, where two men, aged 28 and 33, were arrested for affray at the mall's carpark.

Online, radio DJ Rosalyn Lee was involved in a spat with netizens after she called the game a "devolution of mankind" in an Instagram post.

But the game has also brought out some good in Singaporeans, as demonstrated by a group of players in Hougang. 

PROPERTY LISTINGS

On an amusing note, real estate agents are trying to cash in on the hype, with one condo rental listing on 99.co mentioning a PokeGym and nearby PokeStops as the first point in its description.

Mr Norman Koh, 38, the agent who put up the listing, said he took inspiration from other agents in the US, who he said have been doing it ever since the game was released there.

"At the end of the day, we all know that the tenant will rent the unit for other factors, not Pokemon. But it's interesting to include such information," he said, adding that he expects other agents to soon follow suit.

Dr Michael Netzley, a social media expert from Singapore Management University, said the Pokemon Go trend will last longer than most games due to its use of new technology.

He said: "The game is tied to a real-world experience and something like that tends to last longer than the usual online trend.

"If the game creators have good updates, then the game will be quite sustainable."

He said there will be more of such technologies and games using augmented reality.

"There just needs to be some social adjustment. This will not be going away and there will be more of it, not less," he said.

As for the littering and fighting as a result of the game, Dr Netzley said that these are caused by human nature, not the game.

"Such things are basic human behaviour and this won't change.

"People have been fighting over other things and littering long before this, it is just a new reason.

"The stimulus is different, but the behaviours are the same."

What's the catch?

ON THE BALL: Mr Terence Ho poses for a picture after catching a Venonat. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TERENCE HO

Less than two weeks after the release of Pokemon Go in Singapore, a 39-year-old app developer says he has "caught 'em all".

But his claim has got other players of the mobile game here up in arms, saying he "cheated".

Mr Terence Ho took 10 days to catch all 145 available Pokemon, including the rarest and most powerful ones.

He started playing when the game was launched here on Aug 6 and got his last Pokemon on Tuesday at 12.05am.

He said he spent about $150 on in-app purchases by buying "coins" for lures and incense in order to progress at a faster rate.

Mr Ho told The New Paper on Tuesday: "It's always been the goal of every Pokemon trainer to catch all the Pokemon... I'm no different."

Mr Ho also "caught" region-exclusive Pokemon that are only available in other parts of the world, such as the US, Asia, Europe and Australia.

Mr Ho got friends living in these areas to log in to the game using his account and catch them for him.

This method, known as sharing an account, is frowned upon by the game's developer Niantic Labs, which considers it cheating, as it makes the game an unfair one. Those caught doing it may be suspended or have their account terminated.

But Mr Ho insisted: "Every one of us uses our own unique and creative ways to solve each problem. All players have this problem of catching region-exclusive Pokemon."

Not everyone agrees with him.

Student Timothy Lee, 19, said he "didn't like Mr Ho's methods, because the game was not played the way it was intended to be".

Others wondered if he had used third-party applications that allow buyers to spoof their location, or whether he had also asked friends to catch non-region-exclusive Pokemon for him.

To this, Mr Ho replied: "I caught all the local Pokemon with my own blood, sweat and tears. No friends helped me locally because they were busy with the game too."

Mr Ho said he spent hours after work at the park near his home in Ang Mo Kio, catching Pokemon till nearly 2am.

He also walked 10km to 20km each day, but later switched to cycling to cover more distance.

"I went to over 10 locations in Singapore. The farthest would probably be Punggol."

'DEDICATED'

Other players have been more supportive of Mr Ho's efforts.

One of them, who wanted only to be known as H.J., said: "I don't believe that what Mr Ho did affected the integrity of the game, he is clearly passionate and dedicated."

Student Joshua Goh, 19, said Mr Ho has "supported the game through his many in-app purchases, so this is not as big a deal as others perceive it to be".

Mr Ho said he is now looking forward to catching the rest of the Pokemon which have not been released (there are 720 in total).

To do this, he is planning for "more sophisticated teamwork".

And after that? Mr Ho said with a laugh: "It's time for me to get back to proper work."

on SPH Brightcove


This article was first published on Aug 19, 2016.
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Man jailed 3 years for abusing 4 of his children

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District Judge Mathew Joseph yesterday had strong words for a father whom he sentenced to three years' jail for abusing four of his five children.

"You were supposed to provide love, care, support and mentor your children - instead you became their tormentor and a child's worst nightmare," said the judge.

The 35-year-old deliveryman did not act like a father.

Instead of nurturing his children, Adam (not his real name) whipped, punched and kicked four of his children. We are not naming anyone to protect the identity of the children.

Earlier this year, he even dangled his then five-month-old daughter upside down by one leg.

For his abusive ways, Judge Joseph sentenced Adam to three years in jail for three counts of ill-treating a child, and one count each of endangering personal safety by performing a rash act, threatening a public service worker and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

Another three counts of ill-treating a child and one count of intentionally causing alarm were taken into consideration.

PHYSICAL ABUSE

In delivering his grounds of decision, Judge Joseph said: "It is almost beyond belief and quite incomprehensible how a parent can engage in physical abuse of his own children, over such a prolonged period and with escalating intensity."

Calling Adam a recalcitrant, Judge Joseph said two of his children have said they are fearful of their father because of the frequent physical abuse.

Two of Adam's five children have been in an orphanage since the first instances of abuse in 2014. Another two are now with their mother. The last is living with a relative.

Citing a recent abuse case in which a two-year-old died after prolonged abuse, Judge Joseph said it was "fortunate" this did not happen to Adam's children.

But he noted the lifelong impact of the abuse and trauma on them.

"They will probably carry these scars, both physical and emotional, for the rest of their lives. They will have to live and cope with the consequences of your reprehensible acts," he said.

Adam remained stoic in the face of the judge's strong rebuke.

But his elder brother Sam (not his real name), who was seated alone in the public gallery, had a pained expression.

The teary-eyed 43-year-old later told The New Paper that Adam is his only sibling.

"Of course I'm upset. Even though our age gap is wide, we are very close"

He said he tried to talk to Adam about his anger management issues, but to no avail.

His younger brother, the sole breadwinner, had fretted over how to make ends meet, he added.

Following the judge's verdict, Sam knows there is now nothing he can do but hope his younger brother will turn over a new leaf.

"I told him to take care, and that hopefully, he will become a changed man (when he's out)," he said quietly.

About the case

Adam (not his real name), a deliveryman, physically abused four of his five children, putting them through a living hell at home.

It all began in 2014, when the 35-year-old whipped his son with a rubber hose until the boy was bruised. He stepped on another son's left hand, breaking his wrist.

Then, the Ministry of Social and Family Development intervened and offered to help Adam with anger management.

Adam refused. His two sons were then placed in an orphanage.

The abuse did not stop there.

Earlier this year, he threw a lit cigarette at his third son and kicked him in his stomach.

A mere two weeks later, Adam dangled his five-month-old daughter upside down by one leg.

When his misdeeds were about to be exposed by a social worker, he threatened to commit suicide.

He then sat on the kitchen window ledge of his sixth-storey flat after placing his terrified third son there.

The six-year-old's upper body was hanging out of the window and his legs were inside the unit.

Last month, Adam pleaded guilty to to three counts of ill-treating a child, and one count each of endangering personal safety by performing a rash act, threatening a public service worker and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

Another three counts of ill-treating a child and one count of intentionally causing alarm were taken into consideration during sentencing.


This article was first published on Aug 19, 2016.
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Quah Ting Wen defends brother, lashes back at 'keyboard warriors'

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Swimmer Quah Ting Wen has lashed back at "naysayers and the keyboard warriors" who made scathing remarks about her and her brother Quah Zheng Wen after they were criticised for their performance at the Rio Olympics.

While it was not made public, the lengthy Facebook post by Ting Wen, 24, was shared as two screenshots by minister Tan Chuan Jin, who used her note to empathise with and encourage athletes "battling in the arena, and yet (are) being attacked from behind by the keyboard typists".

In her post, the elder sister of Zheng Wen defended her 19-year-old brother's decision to not speak to the press after losing two races.

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"My brother never denied the reporters of an interview. There were just more important things to be taken care of first," she wrote.

She added: "Lactic testing, recovery nutrition, warm down swim, reflection with the coach. He had another event coming up. That took priority over all else, including the 'obligation' of speaking to the media."

Ting Wen knows the feeling all too well, as she too, had refused interviews after failing to qualify for the women's 100-metre butterfly semi-finals. Channel NewsAsia reported that Singapore's only female swimmer was in tears and seen sobbing.

Last week, The New Paper's Leonard Thomas criticised Zheng Wen for choosing to stay silent.

"I just wished he stood up to face questions instead of walking off. Because at this level, that is what athletes do," Thomas wrote in the Aug 9 article after Quah finished seventh in the men's 100m backstroke heats.

The article drew a large amount of criticism from netizens, most of whom supported Quah and empathised with his state of mind after losing a race. However, there were a handful who also lambasted his actions and questioned the Quahs' sporting performance.

In her post this week, Ting Wen fired back at those critics, who accused her of being "rude and aloof" and having "poor upbringing".

"They can say what they like, and I hope it gives them the tiny bit of satisfaction they are so desperately seeking," she said, adding that swimming is a passion for her.

"I am the Olympian. I am the one they are trying to tear down, not vice versa. And I can brush that dirt off knowing who I am and being proud of that."

ljessica@sph.com.sg

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Amos Yee's case sent back for trial to continue

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Teen blogger Amos Yee's trial resumed yesterday, a day after it was adjourned even before the first prosecution witness was called.

On Wednesday, the trial was adjourned after the case was sent, at Yee's request, for a criminal case resolution (CCR), an avenue for resolving a case without trial.

Yee, 17, had at first opted to contest all his eight charges, including six for intending to wound the feelings of Muslims or Christians. He had allegedly posted a photo and five videos, some of which show him insulting the Bible and the Quran.

The teen, who has no lawyer, had also said he wanted to cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses.

But shortly after the start of the trial on Wednesday, he told District Judge Lim Tse Haw that he wanted "to take a certain course", which is legal parlance indicating that he was considering pleading guilty.

The judge fixed the case for a CCR, in which the accused can ask for an indication of his possible sentences. But with no resolution at the closed-door CCR session yesterday, the case was sent back for the trial to continue.

At the start of yesterday's hearing, Yee asked for a two-month adjournment, saying he had received the list of witnesses and exhibits only on Wednesday and needed time to prepare his case. Judge Lim did not accede to the request, but said he would give Yee time to prepare questions for cross-examination later.

The case was adjourned - after two witnesses took the stand - for the next tranche of the trial, fixed for next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Yee, who sat beside his mother Mary Toh, who is helping him conduct his defence, did not deny that he had made the photo and videos.

Two police technology forensic officers, who had gathered information relating to the charges, took the witness stand yesterday. One had extracted data from more than 100 webpages, such as blogs and social media sites.

Yee had no questions for the officer, apart from asking why the webpages were relevant to his charges.

The officer said he had acted on instructions from an investigator, who will testify at a later date.

Besides the six charges, Yee faces two of failing to report to Jurong Police Division for investigations.

Reports were lodged over online remarks that Yee made last year, and the police issued a notice last December ordering him to report for investigations. But he allegedly failed to do so, leaving the country shortly after and returning only in April.

When he returned, he was served with a magistrate's order to report again at Jurong Police Division, but he purportedly did not comply.

On May 11, he was arrested and then bailed out by his mother.

The prosecution will call a total of seven witnesses, all police officers.

The maximum penalty for deliberately wounding the religious feelings of any person is three years' jail and a fine; for failing to present oneself pursuant to a notice or order from a public servant, it is one month's jail and a $1,500 fine.

Yee uploaded an expletive-laden video days after the death of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew last year. He was sentenced in July last year to four weeks' jail.


This article was first published on Aug 19, 2016.
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Jurong bus stop offers free Wi-Fi, book exchange and even a swing

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Commuters often gripe about having to wait for buses. But the wait is now far more palatable - even enjoyable - at a refurbished bus stop in Jurong East.

There, commuters can tap free Wi-Fi, charge their mobile phones, read books, and even sit on a swing.

Designed to "make waiting fun", the bus stop in Jurong Gateway Road is a ground-up idea by a group of architects and part of a broader vision to make Singapore livelier. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has been promoting similar efforts such as public art and street closures for parties.

If it is well received, the authorities will consider incorporating the ideas in future bus stops. The features, which were unveiled yesterday, will be in operation for a year. They include digital information boards with bus timings, the weather and a street directory, mobile phone charging points, and free Wi-Fi from September. There are also physical books - from Enid Blyton to classics like Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 - as well as e-books to download.

Housewife Sharah Syed, 35, was heading home with her son after his tuition class when one of the Enid Blyton books caught the primary schooler's eye. "He saw the books immediately and asked if he could pick up one and read," said Madam Sharah. "I think the shelf of books is useful for the kids. They will like it."

The bus stop also boasts a green roof, vertical greenery, solar panels, bicycle parking and a swing.

Administrative assistant Emma Chen, 35, welcomed the display of bus arrival times and the upcoming Wi-Fi. But student Putri Amirah, 13, said: "I don't know if I will stay long enough to use the charger as I will be rushing for my bus."

The public are encouraged to share feedback on the bus stop by sending an e-mail to AUDE@ ura.gov.sg. This will help the Government decide if the features and services should be considered for future bus stops, said the URA yesterday.

The bus stop is the brainchild of a group of architects from DP Architects, who designed it as a corporate social responsibility initiative.

Director Seah Chee Huang, who led the team, said: "We are looking forward to seeing how commuters use, experience and enjoy this new setting." He hopes to show that bus stops can be social hubs where people meet and have fun.

The firm took the idea to the Land Transport Authority and the URA, and it was implemented through collaboration with other agencies like the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and the National Environment Agency.

"I'm very encouraged to see these young architects come forward with their ideas to make our public spaces more vibrant," said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong in a blog post yesterday.

"We hope to have more Singaporeans play an active role in shaping the use of our public spaces."

This is the reason for the URA's Our Favourite Place scheme, which provides funding support for ideas to enliven public spaces, he added.

"Planning our future city is not just a job for our urban planners," he said. "We all can play a role in shaping our streets and public spaces. The more we do so, the more we strengthen our sense of ownership, identity and emotional connection to Singapore our home."

Those with ideas can visit http://ura.sg/ourfaveplace or e-mail URA_ourfaveplace@ura.gov.sg


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43 being probed for suspected GST fraud

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Forty-three people are being investigated for being involved in a suspected goods and services tax (GST) fraud following a two-day operation by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras).

The raids took place on Monday and Tuesday at several locations, including Tannery Lane, High Street and Kallang Pudding Road, said Iras in a statement yesterday.

The seized goods included iPhones and MacBook Air notebooks, as well as SIM cards and business records.

edXAds by Rubicon Project The alleged conspiracy involved making fraudulent claims for reimbursement of tax paid on exported goods. No details were available on the amount of money or number of bogus companies involved.

In a carousel or merry-go-round fraud, the same goods are traded around a fake supply chain within and in some instances outside Singapore. These supply chains are usually controlled by one mastermind, often the first link in the chain.

For example, Company A would import goods and sell them to Company B, charging it GST. The director of Company A would then disappear - becoming incommunicado - without transferring the GST he owes to Iras.

The goods, now "owned" by Company B, are then sold to bogus businesses which are merely buffers in the supply chain to claim a so-called input tax paid on the goods - effectively seeking a refund of the GST amount Iras never received from Company A.

Input tax is the amount that GST-registered businesses can claim from the GST they pay on their purchases.

The input tax can be offset against the GST collected from sales - output tax - and the net difference paid to Iras. If a business incurs more GST on purchases than it collects from sales, it can claim the difference in the form of a GST refund from Iras.

Iras said that in some fraud cases, no goods were actually exported and the business transactions were merely on paper, with the sole aim of claiming fraudulent GST refunds.

It added that stern enforcement actions will be taken against such traders and any intermediaries helping them.

Anyone who commits the offence of wilful intent to evade or assist any other person to evade GST faces a penalty of up to three times the amount of tax undercharged and a fine not exceeding $10,000, and/or jail of up to seven years.

Iras encouraged businesses or individuals to immediately disclose any past mistakes, saying that it "will treat such disclosures as mitigating factors when considering action to be taken".

A cash reward based on 15 per cent of the tax recovered, capped at $100,000, would be given to informants if the information or documents provided a lead to a recovery of tax that would have been lost, it added.


This article was first published on August 19, 2016.
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