The man, who intervened to stop another man from allegedly stabbing himself in Clementi on Aug. 10 by restraining and disarming him, has received a sum of cash contributed by 22 residents.

The Good Samaritan was previously identified as 56-year-old Osman Sidin.

According to a report by The Straits Times, residents raised the money to help cover Osman's living expenses should he need to take time off work to recover from injuries sustained during the incident.

"I didn't want to him to hurt (people)"

Speaking to ST, Osman recounted that he had been on his way to a medical appointment with his wife when they heard people shouting outside The Clementi Mall on Aug. 10.

The man, who works as a cleaner, said he heard people yelling, "Run!".

He then spotted a man armed with a knife, who appeared to be stabbing himself.

It was previously reported that the man ran into a durian stall, grabbed a durian knife from the vendor, and began inflicting wounds on himself.

Fearing for the safety of nearby members of the public, Osman immediately rushed forward to intervene.

He said there were so many people running, including children, and he did not want anyone to get hurt.

He managed to restrain the man from behind and pinned him to the ground, causing the knife to fall a short distance away.

Osman recalled repeatedly shouting for bystanders to push the knife further away.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they received a call for assistance at Block 441B Clementi Avenue 3 at around 12:20pm on Aug. 10.

When the police arrived, officers found a 34-year-old man lying conscious with injuries believed to have been self-inflicted.

Separately, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the man was subsequently conveyed to the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment.

Osman sustained an injury to his right wrist during the incident, while his clothes were stained with blood, ST reported.

Bystanders later provided him with a fresh change of clothes.

Martial arts training helped during incident

Osman was visited by Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC MP David Hoe at his rental flat in Clementi on the night of Aug. 10.

In a social media post, Hoe said Osman is part of the Yellow Ribbon Singapore community and had turned over a new leaf after serving time in prison.

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A post shared by David Hoe 许德财 (@davidhoesg)

In a separate interview with CNA, Osman shared that he had fallen into bad company in his youth and committed offences that led to his imprisonment about two decades ago, although he declined to elaborate on the offences.

He added that he learnt silat, a form of martial arts, from a cellmate while in prison, and he drew on these skills to restrain the man and push the knife away during the incident.

Wife was proud of him

Speaking to ST, Osman's wife said she was proud of her husband and did not stop him when he decided to intervene.

The couple, who both work as daily-wage cleaners, are currently living in their rental flat in Clementi as they wait to move into their HDB flat.

She added that she hopes Osman will rest and recover fully before returning to work.

Although there was no official award, Hoe and his team presented Osman with a small yellow star plush toy as a token of appreciation during their visit on Aug. 10.

"A star because today, he is a shining star to us. And yellow, because it reminds us that second chances can become new beginnings."

Cash raised by residents

On Aug. 11, Osman and his wife were also presented with the cash contribution raised by 22 residents, ST reported.

The donation was handed over by Hoe and a grassroots volunteer.

According to Hoe, the contribution was their way of thanking Osman and supporting the couple while he recovers.

He added that further assistance would be arranged, including a follow-up medical appointment for Osman's injuries.

A driver who stopped to help a foreign worker who had cycled along the Seletar Expressway (SLE) has been commended for his kindness.

Wilson Foong, 45, told Mothership he felt worried for the cyclist's safety when he spotted him riding on the expressway towards Woodlands.

Foong overtook him, then found a safe spot to pull over and wait for him.

The encounter was filmed on video, which shows Foong asking the cyclist where he was going.

The cyclist explained that he was trying to get from Ang Mo Kio to Woodlands, but his ATM card had stopped working, so he was unable to take public transport.

He decided to rent a shared bicycle instead and used Google Maps on his phone to navigate.

However, his navigation was set to "two-wheeler" mode, which is meant for motorcycles, and the route took him onto the SLE.

He did not know that bicycles are not allowed on the expressway, Foong said.

To help him get off the SLE safely, Foong loaded the bicycle onto the bike rack on his car and drove the cyclist to Mandai Road.

There, he could enter the Ulu Sembawang Park Connector and continue towards Woodlands.

Before they parted ways, Foong also showed him how to toggle the bicycle mode on Google Maps to avoid getting directed onto an expressway again.

As they say goodbye, the cyclist thanked Foong for his help.

Recounting what happened, Foong told Mothership that as a cyclist himself, he always keeps a look out for other cyclists’ safety.

On Aug. 2, Toa Payoh was raided by Italian marines.

It’s about as bonkers a headline as you can get, leading to a bevvy of questions like what happened, and why the very localised name?

What actually happened?

On Aug. 2, as part of a joint EU mission led by the Italian Navy, supported by Greek and Polish vessels, Italian military personnel boarded an oil tanker named “Toa Payoh” in the Mediterranean.

The EU naval mission, named EUNAVFOR MED Irini, comes as the EU is attempting to intensify checks on vessels suspected of aiding Russia to evade oil sanctions, according to Reuters.

The Toa Payoh was in the Mediterranean, west of Sicily, while making its way from the African nation of Benin to Turkey, when it was intercepted by the EU naval mission.

The ship had changed the nation of its registration to Cameroon only the week before, having, according to vesselfinder.com, previously flown the Panamanian flag.

Helicopter boarding

The EU mission said that the Toa Payoh’s captain had initially failed to cooperate, which resulted in the Italian navy launching a team of military personnel to board the ship via helicopter from the Thaon di Revel, an Italian frigate.

The EU mission lacked the authority to seize the ship, but instead boarded the ship to check if it was legally allowed to fly the Cameroonian flag, as well as to check its registration documents.

The ship was not detained, but Reuters said that documents gathered during the boarding could be used by national authorities at a later time if needed.

The mission took just over two hours and was completed safely.

Why was it raided?

In July, the Toa Payoh changed its country of registration from Panama to Cameroon.

But while countries may grant ships the right to fly their flag, AP notes the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Article 91, which states that while nations may choose to let ships fly their flag, “there must exist a genuine link between the State and the ship.”

This is likely what the EU was checking for.

But this explanation belies the deeper reason: the Toa Payoh is suspected to be part of the Russian “shadow fleet” that it uses to circumvent EU and United States sanctions placed on it due to its invasion of Ukraine.

This was the second such boarding of a vessel linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the past month.

EU sanctions

The EU has heavily sanctioned Russia and its energy exports after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, resulting in a “shadow fleet” of vessels used to evade those sanctions.

The so-called “Shadow Fleet” comprises “hundreds” of vessels which Russia uses to move oil without Western Companies, who refuse to do so for fear of contravening U.S. and European sanctions.

The vessels are usually older ships that are difficult to operate normally in the West, sometimes raising safety and therefore insurance concerns.

In order to circumvent some of the rules, these ships are registered with other countries where oversight of concerns like safety and cargo is more lax.

Who’s responsible

The Toa Payoh is alleged to be part of that fleet, and is owned by what appears to be a shell company, Toa Payoh Lines Inc, based out of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

That shell company appears to be part of a network of ships owned by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, an Iranian businessman.

It should be noted that while the fleet is often called “Russian”, it is usually “Russia-friendly” rather than directly Russian-owned.

Iran and Russia are close allies, with the Iranian regime going as far as to provide Shaheed drones for Russia to use in its invasion and occupation of Ukraine.

Al Jazeera and a 2025 United States treasury department report said Hossein and the Shamkhani family are thought to be heavily involved in the export of Russian oil and petroleum products.

Al Jazeera reports that the network is known for taking sanctioned oil products and transferring them at sea, and for mixing those products with output from other countries, so that determining its precise origin is more difficult.

So what’s the connection?

In July 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions related to Hossein which mentions the Toa Payoh and some companies registered in Singapore.

These companies are accused of being part of a network being used to launder money and hide the origins of the cargo carried by ships in the network.

Do those companies tell us anything about why the Toa Payoh is named what it is?

Sadly, no.

Shadow fleet vessels are notorious for changing their names often, and also their nation under which they're flagged.

It is a roughly 21-year-old chemical and oil products tanker that began its life as an Italian-flagged vessel named North Point.

It was renamed the Northern Ocean in 2011 and the Toa Payoh in November 2022.

So it might very well be that the naming is coincidental, merely one of the oddities of the world’s oceans, allowing for a humorous (in Singapore) headline.

Only in Yishun

Bonus info because some postulated the presence of a SS Yishun in the comments of the original post: There is also a ship named Yishun.

It’s a Taiwanese-flagged fishing vessel that operates in the seas around Japan and South Korea.

Nice.

A Singaporean man was charged on Aug. 11 with sending sexual images to a 16-year-old male student and possessing obscene videos.

The 41-year-old former teacher cannot be named due to a gag order placed on his identity and that of the alleged victim.

Charge sheets seen by Mothership stated that between Dec. 11, 2024 and Dec. 12, 2024, the man allegedly sent the boy four photographs as one-time view images via Instagram.

This comprised two photographs of a male person in his underwear and two photographs of a male person's genitals.

Between February 2025 and August 2025, the man is said to have downloaded 21 obscene videos via the Telegram application onto his mobile phone.

These were found in his possession when his mobile phone was seized on Aug. 18, 2025.

Suspended and no longer teaching

The Ministry of Education (MOE) told Mothership that the man has been "interdicted from duty" since August 2025 and is no longer teaching in any school.

"MOE takes a serious view of staff misconduct and will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against those who fail to adhere to our standards of conduct and discipline, including dismissal from service," it added.

For sexual communication with a person above the age of 16 but below the age of 18, an offender can be sentenced to up to two years’ imprisonment, fined, or both.

Those found possessing an obscene film can be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$20,000, or both.

If they knew the film was obscene, the maximum penalty increases to 12 months’ imprisonment, a S$40,000 fine, or both.

A 24-year-old Chinese influencer known online as Jiang Xiaorou has died after being critically injured in a traffic accident back in July.

Her real surname was Li, and she was from Lanshan County in Yongzhou, Hunan province, China, according to ETtoday, which cited Chinese media reports.

Li went viral for controversial videos, such as smashing a Guanyin statue.

The accident

Li was travelling from Guangxi back to Guangzhou in the early hours of Jul. 15 when she was involved in a serious traffic accident.

According to reports, a hospital diagnosis record showed she had suffered severe multiple trauma, with haemorrhagic shock, impaired blood clotting, damage to multiple organs, and serious brain injury.

She fell into a coma and required ventilator support, and was kept in the intensive care unit.

According to ETtoday, news of her death first surfaced from a social media user claiming to be her assistant.

On Aug. 10, staff at the hospital's intensive care department confirmed that Li had been treated there. However, she was no longer in the hospital.

Later that afternoon, an official from her home village confirmed that she had died.

A man, who drove under the influence of alcohol with his two young children in his vehicle and fatally struck a pedestrian at high speed, is appealing for a lighter sentence.

The 46-year-old Australian, a Singapore permanent resident, was previously sentenced to 11 years' jail on Feb. 2, 2026.

According to a report by CNA, the man's lawyers are seeking a reduced sentence of six years and four months to eight years' jail.

The prosecution, however, is asking for the sentence to be increased to 12 years and nine months' jail.

It is not seeking changes to the existing S$12,000 fine or 15-year driving ban.

The man previously pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death as a "serious repeat-repeat offender", and one charge of repeat drink driving.

A third charge for dangerous driving involving his children was taken into consideration during sentencing.

He cannot be named due to a gag order protecting the identities of his two children, who were aged three and four at the time of the incident and were victims of the crash.

The case

Court documents seen by Mothership showed that on Apr. 23, 2023, the man attended a birthday party with his two children, where he consumed a few glasses of wine.

His last drink was at about 1:30pm.

Shortly before 2pm, he placed his children in booster seats in the back of his car and drove off.

He was said to be "lethargic" after staying up the previous night to care for his newborn baby.

He had also taken the antihistamine cetirizine that morning for a runny nose and cough.

While driving along Dunearn Road towards Bukit Timah Road, he approached the overhead bridge near Tan Kah Kee MRT station.

He failed to notice a 64-year-old Singaporean retiree crossing the road towards Bukit Timah Canal and crashed into him at a speed of between 111kmh and 122kmh.

The road had a speed limit of 70kmh.

The impact was so severe that the victim's body was severed into three parts.

His torso and head crashed through the windscreen and landed on the driver's lap.

Both the front and rear windscreens were shattered, and the man's two children were injured.

The children were later taken to the hospital with a scalp abrasion and abdominal pain.

Arguments over guilty plea sentencing discount

According to CNA, a key issue was whether the lower court had wrongly granted the man the full 30 per cent sentencing discount for his guilty plea.

Under Singapore's sentencing guidelines, offenders who indicate their intention to plead guilty during Stage 1 of proceedings may receive up to a 30 per cent reduction in their sentence.

Stage 1 runs from the first mention of the case until 12 weeks after the prosecution informs both the court and the accused that the case is ready for a plea to be taken.

At the appeal hearing on Aug. 11, 2026, the prosecution argued that the full discount had been granted in error as the offender indicated his intention to plead guilty only during Stage 2 of the process.

Stage 2 begins after Stage 1 and lasts until the court gives directions for the filing of the prosecution's case, or, in cases not subject to criminal case disclosure procedures, until trial dates are fixed.

The defence urged the court not to change the 30 per cent discount.

One of the man's lawyers argued that it had always been understood his client intended to plead guilty, though he acknowledged this had not been expressly communicated before a certain date.

The judge also questioned both parties on the purpose of a criminal case resolution (CCR) session, asking whether it was intended to resolve issues of liability or sentencing.

After hearing submissions, he concluded that the CCR was not intended to determine liability.

The defence counsel said his client had sought guidance on the likely sentencing range during the CCR before formally indicating his intention to plead guilty.

The judge questioned why the offender did not signal his intention to plead guilty before the CCR, observing that the key factor in securing the discount was the indication of that intention, rather than the formal plea itself.

He suggested it could appear as if the offender had withheld his indication until he had greater clarity on the likely sentence.

In response, the man's lawyer said the decision carried significant consequences for his client's career and family, and he needed time to consider it carefully.

The judge also asked if there were any road traffic case where abuse of trust came into play, referring to the relationship between the offender and his children in his vehicle.

While neither the defence nor prosecution was aware of a directly comparable case, the prosecution argued that abuse of trust could apply.

The defence submitted that the man was genuinely remorseful and wanted to do the right thing, adding that he had paid a five-figure sum to the victim's family.

His lawyer further argued that a longer sentence would not only punish the offender, but would also have a profound impact on his wife and three children, as he would be unable to provide for the family or watch his children grow up.

The prosecution, however, maintained that the offender did not qualify for the full guilty plea discount as he failed to indicate his intention to plead guilty during Stage 1, as required under the guidelines.

It described his conduct as selfish and irresponsible, arguing that he chose to consume alcohol despite being tired before driving home with his young children while intoxicated.

The prosecution also pointed to his excessive speed, saying he drove at "wildly dangerous" speeds on a road with moderate traffic.

It further noted that this was not his first drink-driving or speeding-related offence.

The man had been convicted in 2015 of careless driving and drink driving.

The appeal was adjourned, and the man's father stood bail for him.

The Malaysian authorities have been searching for a Singaporean who owns a site allegedly used as an illegal dumping ground for over three years.

The land, spanning 3.64 hectares, is located along Jalan Kempas Lama-Seelong in Johor Bahru, The Star reported.

Although it was designated for agricultural use, the owner leased it to the current operator purportedly to collect rubbish and solid waste, said the chairman of the Johor housing and local government committee Mohd Jafni Md Shukor on Aug. 11.

He added that the landowner is needed to assist in investigations into these alleged illegal activities.

"The authorities will also determine whether the owner was directly involved in the activities," he explained. "If the owner is found to be involved, necessary action will be taken."

Notices will also be issued to the owner for failing to pay quit rent (the annual property land tax) for three years.

Safety risks

The site allegedly also carried out open burning activities, which was especially concerning as it was located about 12 metres from a gas pipeline.

Residents in the vicinity claimed the burning occurred almost every night, and they worried that the fire could spread and cause a major incident.

In a Facebook post on the investigations, Jafni said that the materials burned included wood, plastic, rubber, and construction waste.

The illegal activities are therefore no longer simply about cleanliness, he emphasised, but also concern public safety, environmental issues, and compliance with the law.

Four previously arrested

The authorities first suspected the site was being used for illegal dumping after receiving complaints from residents about open burning and foul odour.

The premises had never been issued a licence for collecting solid waste and construction debris, as confirmed through inspections by the Johor Baru City Council and the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp).

Previously, a Malaysian man and three Bangladeshi nationals were arrested on suspicion of running the dumping operations there.

The Malaysian has been remanded for four days, and the three foreigners for 14 days, to assist in investigations.

The authorities also ordered that the site be shut down immediately.

More illegal dumping in Johor

There have also been claims about construction waste from Singapore being illegally dumped in several sites in Pontian, Johor.

Residents reported seeing convoys of trailers, allegedly carrying construction waste from Singapore, travelling to Pontian for dumping for the past two years, The New Straits Times reported.

Authorities in Johor will set up a multi-agency task force to investigate these allegations.

"If waste is brought from Singapore and dumped in Johor without the necessary permits or approvals, action must be taken so that this does not become a cause for concern among Bangsa Johor and the people," Jafni said.

A total of 2,428 persons were caught for possessing and using vaporisers from Apr. 1 to Jun. 30, 2026.

Of these, 1,971 of those caught were regular vaporiser offenders, and the remaining 457 were etomidate vaporiser offenders.

This was revealed in a joint press release on Aug. 11 by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

In the second quarter of 2026, an average of 809 cases were caught per month, it was added.

This was about 30 per cent lower than the 1,219 cases caught per month between June and August 2025, before stricter measures took effect on Sep. 1, 2025.

Actions

In the same period, HSA charged nine persons for allegedly importing or supplying etomidate vaporiser pods.

Six of them are allegedly part of a transnational syndicate.

More than S$880,000 worth of etomidate vaporiser pods were seized from them.

These cases are pending sentencing.

During the same period, 14 persons were also convicted of selling etomidate vaporiser pods.

Among the convicted was a 37-year-old man, Byron Chua Longming, who was sentenced to eight months’ jail on May 6 for delivering vaporisers from Malaysia to customers in Singapore.

Chua was found in the vicinity of Bugis with vaporisers and related components, of which 194 pods contained etomidate.

A 28-year-old man, Jodan Chin Wei Liang, was sentenced to 16 months and five weeks’ jail on Jun. 30 after he was found with 802 vaporiser pods containing etomidate that were meant for sale.

Chin attempted to drive off when an HSA officer identified himself.

His actions could have injured the officers conducting the operation, the statement added.

Checkpoint enforcement

Additionally, over the same three-month period, enforcement efforts at air, land and sea checkpoints by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), alongside joint operations with HSA, led to the detection of 19 persons caught importing regular vaporisers and the seizure of more than 3,900 vaporisers and related components.

One person was prosecuted and eight are under investigation.

The rest were fined or received warnings.

Among those convicted was a 28-year-old Malaysian lorry driver, Jegathiswaran Nagalingam, who was sentenced to 22 weeks’ jail on Apr. 16 after attempting to import vaporisers and heated tobacco items worth more than S$277,000 into Singapore

A 31-year-old Malaysian private-hire driver, Suntharathasan Kanathasan, was sentenced to 14 weeks’ jail on Apr. 22 after he was caught trying to import 1,100 vaporisers into Singapore.

A 22-year-old Malaysian man, Muhammad Haiqal Zaini, was sentenced to 18

weeks’ jail on Jun. 5 after he tried to import 3,480 vaporisers and related components into Singapore.

Online content

HSA also worked with e-commerce and social media platforms to remove more than 600 online listings of vaporisers and related components over the same period.

No individuals were caught posting vaping-related photos and videos of themselves on social media.

Rehabilitation

During the same period, 264 offenders were placed on rehabilitation programmes.

A total of 787 have been placed on rehabilitation programmes since the step-up of enforcement action on Sep. 1, 2025, with 245 offenders having successfully completed their rehabilitation.

Recent cases of persons who have successfully quit vaping after completing the rehabilitation programme include a 15-year-old boy who was caught for the second time in February 2026.

He successfully completed the three-month rehabilitation programme conducted by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) in May 2026.

His father has observed positive improvements in his son’s behaviour.

The boy has stopped vaping, has been returning home on time, and has resumed his hobby of cycling.

A 33-year-old man who was caught vaping for the second time in February 2026 successfully completed the three-month rehabilitation programme conducted by HPB in May 2026.

He has stopped vaping and expressed no interest in returning to the habit.

Reflecting on the rehabilitation programme, he highlighted the opportunity to speak with a counsellor as the most valuable aspect of his experience and that the access to professional support was particularly meaningful.

He also found the practical tips and recommendations offered throughout the programme to be beneficial in sustaining his progress.

A 39-year-old woman, who was caught vaping etomidate for the first time in September 2025, successfully completed the four-month rehabilitation programme in April 2026 conducted by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association.

She is now vape-free and better able to manage stress.

She found the counsellor’s advice helpful and is focusing on rebuilding family relationships.

She also distanced herself from peers who vape.

From Sep. 1, 2025, to Jun. 30, 288 persons defaulted on the rehabilitation programme.

Of the defaulters, 41 were charged and are serving their sentence.

Another 152 are undergoing court proceedings, and investigations are ongoing for the remaining 95.

In addition, 18 were admitted into the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) for repeat etomidate offences from Apr. 1 to Jun. 30.

In total, 26 have been admitted into DRC since the step-up of enforcement action.

Among those admitted, 15 offenders have been released from DRC and are currently monitored on supervision orders.

Government agencies have also been working closely together under a coordinated whole-of-government approach to tackle the vaping issue, including through enforcement, education and raising public awareness.

Public awareness

Ministry of Education (MOE) schools and institutes of higher learning continue to adopt an approach that combines preventative education, firm disciplinary measures, and cessation support.

Students are educated on the harms and illegality of vaping through curriculum subjects, outreach talks, peer-led initiatives, and HPB publicity materials.

Before the roll-out of the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA) on May 1, schools and institutes of higher learning were briefed on the enhanced penalties under the TVCA.

Schools and institutes of higher learning continue to implement stricter disciplinary measures against vaping.

In schools, this includes detention, caning, and conduct grade adjustments.

In institutes of higher learning, measures include eviction from hostels, withdrawal of privileges, and community service orders or fines.

Recalcitrant offenders may face suspension or expulsion.

Beyond enforcement, schools and institutes of higher learning remain committed to guiding students to understand and take ownership of their behaviour, supporting them in their journey to quit vaping.

From Apr. 1 to Jun. 30, 245 students were referred to HSA by schools and IHLs for vaping.

HPB continues to provide cessation support for students who are caught for regular vaping through tele-counselling and on-site counselling by student health advisers at selected schools.

During the same period, more than 480 youths received smoking and vaping cessation counselling.

There is also an ongoing virtual cessation counselling pilot between HPB and MOE for secondary school students.

Public transport operators and their frontline staff continue to enforce against vaping as part of routine operations, carrying out patrols and checks in trains and public transport nodes.

Individuals found vaping or in possession of vaporisers will be referred to the relevant authorities, and enforcement actions will be taken.

From Apr. 1 to Jun. 30, 49 persons were referred to HSA for vaping-related offences on public transport.

Cessation of QuitVape

The QuitVape programme will be ceased with effect from Sep. 1, 2026.

QuitVape, which was introduced in September 2025, were for individuals who wished to voluntarily seek help to quit etomidate abuse.

This was in conjunction with whole-of-government efforts to tackle vaping and etomidate abuse.

This was intended to be a time-limited measure to give abusers an opportunity to voluntarily give up etomidate vaporisers, supporting them to quit without any penalties or an offence record.

Enforcement and public education on the harms of etomidate abuse to

raise awareness of its harms were stepped up.

Since the launch of QuitVape, awareness of the harms of etomidate abuse has increased and the take-up rate for QuitVape has moderated since the launch of the programme.

From Sep. 1, 2025, to Jun. 30, 188 individuals with ages ranging from 15 to 44 years have voluntarily enrolled in the QuitVape programme.

Individuals already on the QuitVape programme before Sep. 1 will be supported to complete their programme.

Individuals who wish to seek help for etomidate abuse from Sep. 1 may approach IMH, where relevant services will be provided on a chargeable basis.

Singapore citizens and permanent residents who are referred from eligible referral sources are eligible for subsidies.

For vaping that does not involve etomidate, HPB continues to offer the I Quit programme to support individuals to quit.

Individuals may call HPB's QuitLine at 1800 438 2000 for more information.

Those who voluntarily seek help will not face any penalties or have an offence record for coming forward.

Offenders caught abusing etomidate and regular vaporisers will still be subject to penalties accordingly.

Members of the public who have information on the illegal advertisement, import, distribution, sale or possession of vaporisers can contact HSA to support our enforcement efforts by submitting information through its online reporting form at www.go.gov.sg/reportvape or calling HSA at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 from 7am to 12am.

Their hotlines are operational daily, including weekends and public holidays.

Tom's Palette will close its doors in mid to late October 2026.

The popular local gelato franchise, which currently has two outlets in Kovan and Bugis, announced its closure on social media on Aug. 11.

It has been 21 years since it first opened, the post noted.

Since 2005, the ice cream café has been serving housemade gelato, experimenting with unconventional flavours such as salted egg yolk, nasi lemak and bitter gourd alongside classic favourites.

"We're very sorry that we can't keep this dream running for much longer," the café said.

As part of its final few weeks, Tom's Palette announced that it will be bringing back its most-requested flavours as part of its final curtain call.

On sale

According to its website, the business is currently on sale to continue its legacy.

"It is our sincere belief that Tom's Palette still has a lot of potential, but unfortunately we lack the resources to turn it into a sustainable business," the website read. 

Buyers will reportedly inherit approximately 8,000 monthly footfall at its Bugis and Kovan outlets, four times revenue growth, and its 21 years of history. 

They will also receive rights to the brand, over 250 of its recipes, and its social media accounts.

A regular user of the online adult website, Sammyboy Forum, possessed voyeuristic recordings of women and posted 67 obscene images on the forum.

Winston Liow Boon Hin, 50, pleaded guilty to a charge each of possessing voyeuristic recordings and transmitting obscene images onto Sammyboy Forum.

A third charge was also taken into consideration.

The Singaporean was ultimately sentenced to two months and five weeks' jail on Aug. 11.

Arrested at Concorde Hotel

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Liow was arrested at Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall at 1:44am on May 14, 2022, on suspicion of his involvement in voyeuristic activities.

His handphone was seized and later found to have 10 voyeuristic recordings of no less than eight different victims.

A further 40 upskirt images of unidentified persons were also found.

Regular user of Sammyboy Forum

The prosecution said Liow has been a regular user of Sammyboy Forum since his days in National Service.

Investigations revealed that between Mar. 31, 2023, and May 27, 2024, Liow posted a total of 67 obscene images on the Sammyboy forum under the usernames “sabii” and “xiaoqianqian”.

He claimed that he had obtained these images from other adult forums and posted them on the forum to share them with other users.

These comprised upskirt images of women and voyeuristic images taken of women using the toilet.

Had history of sexual offending

The prosecution noted Liow's history of sexual offending, where he was convicted of possessing obscene films and sentenced to jail in 2003.

He was also caned and sentenced to jail for outrage of modesty in 2017.

While Liow himself was not involved in making the obscene images, the "potential reach of the images is greater" given the public nature of the forum, the prosecution said.

"The accused possessed ten recordings of eight different female victims using the toilet, with their buttocks exposed. There is a significant level of intrusion into their privacy as they were carrying out acts of a private nature, and the length of the recordings are not insubstantial," the prosecution noted.

In five of the recordings, the victims’ faces would have been fully visible had they not been wearing masks, they added.

The prosecution sought a jail term of between two months and five weeks and two months and seven weeks for Liow.

Developed urged to take photos of pretty girls in late 30s

According to CNA, Liow's lawyers said in their mitigation plea that Liow developed an urge to take photos of pretty girls in his late 30s.

He claimed that the pictures were "not obscene" and that they were "not for sexual arousal", CNA reported.

He further claimed that posting the pictures on the forum was just to "share his interest" with other users and that he has since stopped doing so since his arrest.

The defence said Liow has worked as a safety officer for eight years and was "upfront and forthright" with his employer about the case, CNA reported.

His employer reportedly "valued his honesty" and was prepared to consider re-employing him after his release, subject to management approval.

The defence sought no more than 11 weeks' jail for Liow, adding that he is the primary caregiver for his elderly father and gives regularly to charity.