Five employees of Korea Artiz Studio's Singapore outlet have filed salary claims between Aug. 10 and Aug. 18, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is now investigating the wedding photography studio for possible offences under the Employment Act.

This is according to a joint statement by MOM, the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), shared with Mothership in response to queries regarding the employees of the temporarily shuttered outlet.

Company failed to make CPF contributions by deadline

According to the statement, TADM received the five salary claims from Korea Artiz Studio employees over the nine-day period, and is arranging mediation between the parties.

Separately, the CPF Board said it had detected non-payment of CPF contributions when the company failed to make payment by the deadline in July 2026. It has since initiated prosecution action against the company, with the case currently before the courts.

MOM, CPF Board and TADM said they will continue to assist the affected workers with their salary and CPF arrears, and reminded employers of their obligations to pay salaries and CPF contributions on time.

Abrupt closure

On Aug. 19, the Singapore outlet of Korea Artiz Studio, a wedding photography studio founded in Busan in 2008, appeared to have abruptly ceased operations.

A notice pasted outside its studio along Bras Basah Road had cited internal operational issues, stating that employees had not received their outstanding salaries and that management had not given a clear response.

The closure came after the studio's Taiwan outlet shut down abruptly on Aug. 10. In Singapore, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it received over 66 complaints from affected couples between Aug. 14 and Aug. 18, involving more than S$271,000 in prepayment losses.

According to its Google listing, the studio is listed as temporarily closed.

Recent Google reviews also showed a notice, which appeared to have been written by an employee, that had been pasted at the door of the studio at Carlton Hotel apologising to customers for the "unexpected situation".

"Due to recent internal operational issues within the company, all employees have currently not received their outstanding salaries. At the same time, we have been unable to obtain any clear or formal response, update, or further arrangements from the company's management," the notice read.

The notice further stated that the studio was unable to confirm or guarantee whether any scheduled services could proceed as planned at this time, adding that customers should avoid making a trip down to the studio until further notice.

Getting help

Employees in Singapore who are not paid their salaries on time can file a claim with TADM, which will help workers recover their salaries either through mediation or by referring the case to the Employment Claims Tribunals for determination.

Those who require assistance can contact TADM through its website.

Top image via Google, MOM/Facebook

The owner of a long-running BBQ stall in Bukit Panjang has died in his sleep, just over three months after closing the business he had run for more than 30 years.

Chua Leong Quay died on Aug. 23 at the age of 71, according to Shin Min Daily News.

His stall, 163 Ikan Bakar BBQ, had operated for 22 years at Blk 163 Gangsa Road before closing on May 10 this year.

Shin Min cited rising costs as the reason for closure.

On medication for a heart condition but overall in good health

His wife of 40 years shared that while Chua was diagnosed with a heart issue more than a decade ago, he had been on medication and was in good health.

After closing their stall at Blk 163, Chua also helped sell chicken cutlets at a night market in Sembawang, his wife shared. However, he wanted to stop working there at the end of August.

Chua was supposed to head to Sembawang for work on the day he passed.

At 10am, his wife noticed he was in bed later than usual, but she didn’t think much of it.

She only sensed something was amiss when she asked him what he wanted for lunch.

"When I touched him, he was already cold,” she shared.

A good husband

Chua's wife told Shin Min that Chua was a good husband. While he's not perfect, he had not ever raised his voice at her and they had learnt to live with each other's shortcomings.

The couple knew each other since young and grew up together in Bukit Panjang. They had a son and a daughter.

The family made a trip to Taiwan in June but Chua did not follow along.

Chua's daughter told Shin Min that she had planned to bring the family to Taiwan again in October, this time with Chua.

More than just a stall

Chua's wife shared that the BBQ stall is more than just a shop to them -- it's their second home where bonds were forged.

Many people reached out after they closed the stall at Blk 163 and the couple had hope to reopen elsewhere.

Just a week before Chua's passing, he asked about the stall at Blk 163 and said he missed it very much.

Chua learnt how to make and sell BBQ dishes from a relative in the 1980s.

The couple began selling grilled dishes in 1989 at Block 378 Clementi Avenue 5, before moving to the Gangsa Road stall in 2004.

The couple had been scouting coffee shops around Clementi, hoping to return to where they first started, but no units were available.

The family thanked everyone for the support during this difficult time.

"We take deep comfort in knowing how much he loved his craft and how many lives he touched," they shared on 163 Ikan Bakar BBQ Facebook page.

A 32-year-old Indonesian man will be charged in court for carrying an offensive weapon at Changi Airport, after a knife was found concealed in his shoe on Thursday.

Told to remove his shoes before going through X-ray screening

According to a Singapore Police Force (SPF) news release, police were alerted on Aug. 27 at about 1:10pm to a male passenger concealing a knife in his high cut shoe at the Terminal 4 Departure Centralised Screening area.

The knife, measuring 19.5cm with a 12cm blade, was found inside the man's sock, wrapped in layers of plastic bags and sealed with tape, the release stated.

It was detected when a Certis Cisco aviation security officer operating the X-ray machine spotted a suspicious sharp object in the man's right shoe, after he was told to remove his shoes before going through the X-ray screening lane.

The man was then escorted to a search room, where the knife and its sheath were found concealed in the shoe.

To be charged with carrying an offensive weapon

The man will be charged with carrying an offensive weapon in a public place, in court on Aug. 29.

If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to three years in prison and not less than six strokes of the cane.

Police said they take a serious view of any attempt to bring offensive weapons into public spaces, and reminded travellers that those found in possession of offensive weapons without lawful purpose will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.

Top image via Singapore Police Force

A woman in China developed blood in her urine after being forced to do 200 squats as punishment for not hitting her key performance indicators (KPIs).

According to South China Morning Post, the punishment rendered the woman unable to stand properly or walk, and she was later diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis.

The condition occurs when damaged muscle tissue breaks down rapidly and releases harmful proteins into the bloodstream, which may lead to kidney failure.

The woman, surnamed Yang, had recently relocated to Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province.

She started working as a financial consultant at a loan assistance company in June 2026.

After the ordeal, Yang demanded 15,000 yuan (S$2,836) from her manager, who rejected her demands and suggested she take legal action.

Work quota of 200 calls a day

SCMP reported that the role was similar to that of a telesales representative.

Her team manager, surnamed Zhang, mandated that each team member make 200 calls, invite one client and secure one client expressing intention to collaborate every day.

On Jul. 28, after failing to complete her work quota, Yang was given the option to either complete 100 squats or pay 50 yuan (S$9.45) for each unfinished task.

Yang chose to do 200 squats to keep her job, saying, "I have no money".

She recorded herself doing the squats at various spots in the office building as proof.

Urine turned dark

After completing the squats, Yang reported feeling severe pain in her legs.

However, she did not seek medical attention until five days later when her urine turned dark, citing her financial situation.

Her creatine kinase level exceeded 16,000 U/L, whereas a level of 1,000 U/L is typically sufficient for a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis.

Yang avoided kidney failure and said she spent 1,400 yuan (S$265) on treatment.

As she was recovering and could not work or complete her punishment, she resigned on Jul. 30, reported SCMP.

Yang believed the company was purposefully forcing her to quit by imposing unrealistic goals.

Demanded reimbursement

Yang contacted Zhang and demanded reimbursement for her medical fees, transport costs, as well as 15,000 yuan (S$2,836) in compensation for personal injury.

This was to cover her living expenses for 75 days as she could not work.

Yang sought help from a local conflict-resolution television show, and Zhang admitted to violating labour laws to a reporter who interviewed him.

However, Zhang insisted that the incident had nothing to do with the company and said he could not accept Yang's compensation requests.

Yang registered her case with the company's labour inspection unit, and staff assured her they would investigate the matter.

According to SCMP, Chinese labour laws stipulate that employers who insult or use physical punishment on their employees may face up to 15 days of detention.

Flash floods and mudslides swept through Nepal's border region with Tibet on Aug. 26, leaving hundreds dead and scores missing.

The death toll in Nepal has risen to at least 469 people, with around 900 people unaccounted for, BBC reported on Aug. 28.

Among those missing are several Singaporeans, including a married couple who were travelling with a tour group when the disaster struck.

Singaporean couple among those missing

Nine Singaporeans were reported missing as of Aug. 27, according to an official situation update published on the Nepal Tourism Board's website.

Two of them, 53-year-old Sumit Rawla and his 49-year-old wife Shubakshi Rawla, were travelling with a tour group operated by Himalayan Glacier when the floods struck.

The group comprised 15 Australians, 10 Canadians, nine Nepalese, eight Americans, two Britons, two Singaporeans, and one Russian-American dual citizen.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Shubakshi's sister, 45-year-old Dipti Bhatnagar, said the couple had been married for 25 years and have two daughters, aged 20 and 16.

The family of four lives in Canada.

Last spoke to her sister on video call

Dipti told the Chinese-language newspaper that the last time she spoke to her sister was at around 7am on Aug. 26, when the two had a video call.

Shubakshi was staying at a hotel in Timure, a border town in northern Nepal near the border with Tibet, China, she said.

"She even introduced me to the hotel's facilities," she said.

"Little did I know that just an hour after we ended the video call, I would no longer be able to get in touch with her."

Shubakshi had also told her that the couple were preparing to cross the border into Tibet, Dipti added.

Following the disaster, Dipti brought her nieces to India to await news of their parents.

The two daughters later posted a video on Instagram appealing for information about their parents.

They said they had been unable to contact them for nearly 48 hours and were extremely worried.

"We’re obviously just like sad and we’re confused because we want to know stuff and nobody’s telling us anything," one of the daughters said.

The sisters said the Singapore Embassy and Singapore High Commission have been actively assisting the family, but also appealed to local authorities to work with telecommunications companies to provide location information from their parents' smart watches, saying this could potentially help rescue teams locate missing people more quickly.

"This is a sincere request. We really miss them and we really want to see our parents soon."

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"I don't know what to tell our 7-year-old daughter"

Another Singaporean, who wanted to be known only as Selvaganesh, 43, told Shin Min that his wife, 40-year-old Shalinny Deavy, was on a pilgrimage in Nepal when the floods struck.

It was Shalinny's first pilgrimage trip to Nepal, he said, adding that the last message he received from his wife was at around 9:15am on Aug. 26.

She told him she was about to clear immigration at the Nepal-China border and would contact him again when she was able to.

The couple have been married for 10 years and have a seven-year-old daughter together.

That night, he told their daughter that her mother was missing.

"She said she misses Amma, and before she went to school, she said to tell Amma to call in the evening as she wants to talk to her," Selvaganesh was quoted as saying. "I don’t know what else to tell her."

66-year-old Singaporean also missing

Singaporean S. Maniam, 66, who was travelling with the same pilgrimage group as Shalinny, is also missing.

His younger brother told Shin Min that Maniam was the eldest of five siblings and had joined pilgrimage groups before.

Before leaving, Maniam exercised every morning at around 4am or 5am to prepare himself physically for the 15-day trip, his brother said.

The family last heard from him at around 8am on Aug. 26.

"He said he was about to enter an area without communication signals and expected to reach the Chinese border at around 1pm. After that, we lost contact with him," his brother said.

Maniam is married and has three grown-up children, he added.

The family subsequently contacted Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and is waiting for further instructions.

"The family is prepared to fly over at any time, but MFA told us that the area is still unsafe and asked us to wait for further updates," his brother said.

He described the past few days as extremely agonising for the family, which is deeply worried about Maniam's safety.

"Our biggest concern right now is to get more information as soon as possible, and we hope he can return home safely," he said.

Three Singaporeans climbing the Himalayas when flood struck

Shin Min also spoke to another 29-year-old Singaporean who was climbing in the Himalayas.

The man was travelling with his wife, brother-in-law, a Nepalese mountain guide and a porter, and the group was heading towards Annapurna Base Camp.

He said they did not feel any tremors or hear any loud noises when the disaster occurred, and only learnt about the flash floods afterwards.

The group is now considering taking a helicopter down once weather conditions improve, as the descent route and transportation could be affected.

Meanwhile, four Singaporean climbers travelling with Malaysian mountaineer Datuk Mohanadas have safely arrived in Tibet and will continue their pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.

Mohanadas said his 56-member group comprises 39 Malaysians, four Singaporeans and three Canadians, according to Shin Min.

In a Facebook update, he said the group and its route were unaffected by the disaster.

He also expressed condolences to those who died and their families, as well as others affected by the disaster.

MFA in touch with affected families

In a statement on Aug. 27, MFA said it is in touch with the families of Singaporeans affected by the flash floods in Nepal.

The Singapore High Commission in New Delhi and the Singapore Embassy in Beijing are working closely with the Nepali and Chinese authorities, it added.

The High Commission in New Delhi has also deployed a crisis response team to Nepal to provide consular assistance to affected Singaporeans.

Singaporeans travelling to or residing in Nepal are encouraged to eRegister with MFA.

Those requiring consular assistance can contact the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi, the Singapore Embassy in Beijing, or MFA’s 24-hour duty office.

The Singapore Red Cross has also pledged S$50,000 in humanitarian aid to support immediate response and relief efforts, according to a media release on Aug. 27.

It will also launch a public fundraising appeal to help those affected by the disaster.

Singapore residents who have lost contact with immediate family members in affected areas can contact the Singapore Red Cross at rfl@redcross.sg.

Police in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, say a note believed to have been left by a 48-year-old man claimed his family had suffered RM260,000 (S$82,049) in losses and debts due to his wife's alleged contact with a love scammer.

His wife, 47, and their two children, a nine-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy, were found dead at their home in Desa ParkCity.

The man later fell to his death from the building, it was believed.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Commissioner Fadil Marsus said in a statement that the man, a company director, had expressed regret in the note over what he believed was his wife's involvement with a love scammer, Malay Mail reported.

What the note said

Fadil said: "In the note, the suspect reportedly said he was distressed that his 47-year-old wife continued trying to contact the scammer despite the financial losses."

He added: "The suspect later described the situation as having gone too far and saying he felt ashamed in front of their children."

How they were found

Police were alerted at about 3:32pm on Aug. 27 to a report of a man believed to have fallen from a residential building at Persiaran Residen, New Straits Times (NST) reported.

Officers subsequently went to the family's home and, with help from the Fire and Rescue Department, gained access to the residence.

Three people were found dead in separate rooms.

They had suffered serious neck injuries, according to preliminary checks.

“A five-centimetre stab wound was found on the deceased’s neck,” Fadil told Malay Mail after a post-mortem examination on the nine-year-old girl was concluded.

He also added that a knife and a pair of gloves, thought to have been used in the killings, were retrieved from a drawer in the main bedroom.

Investigations ongoing

Police are investigating the deaths of the wife and the two children as murder.

At the age of 18, Singaporean powerlifter Muhammad Hazrul has broken a world record.

Hazrul, a student at Temasek Polytechnic, was competing at the 2026 IPF World Championships in Sun City, South Africa, on Aug. 21.

He deadlifted 273kg, breaking the previous world record of 271kg in the Sub-Junior Men's 66kg category.

The student also placed second overall in his category.

Speaking to Mothership, Hazrul shared that getting to the world stage took more than just hours in the gym.

Failed to make it to football team

As a kid, Hazrul was always keen on sports.

But when he failed to make it to the football team in secondary school, he joined a gym "to pass the time".

One of his seniors noticed him and thought he had potential. He introduced him to powerlifting, and Hazrul took to it like a duck to water.

For the past three and a half years, the teen has been training in the sport. Last year, he entered the 2025 Singapore Nationals and finished second.

It was an achievement, but he had an even bigger dream: The World Championships. "I told myself that I would work as hard as possible to achieve that goal," he said.

Almost burnt out

To fund his way to the World Championships, he took up a part-time job at an Anytime Fitness gym.

The teen refused to ask his mum for money, even after she offered. He knew supporting his dream financially would be difficult for her.

So he pushed himself to fund his dream himself.

Hazrul had to balance his work alongside studying and training. "I would go to school, train, return home, and study. Or I would go to school, work, return home, and study," he told Mothership.

"It was extremely difficult to sustain because it felt as though I was working every day without a break...

I often asked myself, 'How many more shifts can I take before I burn out?'"

In addition to work, he had to give up social activities and closely manage his diet as he prepared for the competition. Some days, he felt "completely empty", he said.

“It was an extremely lonely journey, but what kept me going was knowing that every sacrifice brought me closer to the dream I wanted most."

Breaking a world record

After months of hard work, Hazrul made it to South Africa.

But upon stepping onto the platform, he felt "extremely nervous". "The crowd, and the thought of thousands of people watching me through the livestream got the better of me," he confessed.

On his second attempt, he tried the record-breaking weight.

But he failed because of cramps and competition jitters.

With one attempt left, Hazrul knew it was his last chance to succeed.

He returned to the platform, felt the weight of the bar, and pushed himself until the bar moved upward.

Then came the three white lights, confirming that the lift attempt was successful.

He had deadlifted 273kg, breaking the previous 271kg world record.

Overwhelmed, he fell to the ground before a coach helped him back to his feet.

It was the culmination of months of hard work — "not only in the gym but also working to earn enough money to chase this dream", he said.

"I felt an overwhelming sense of joy... The experience made every sacrifice I had made feel truly worthwhile."

Tears of joy

Hazrul finished second overall in his category with a 613kg total.

He recorded a 220kg squat, 120kg bench press and 273kg deadlift, finishing just 7kg behind the world champion.

Standing on the podium with a silver medal around his neck, Hazrul said he felt a "sense of pride" representing Singapore on the world stage.

But it was only later that night, while sitting on a shuttle back to his hotel, that Hazrul fully realised what he had achieved.

As he thought about his months of sacrifices that resulted in his record-breaking attempt, he cried tears of joy.

His family's support

Behind the achievement was, of course, the support of his family.

The teen calls his mother his biggest supporter. Throughout his powerlifting journey, she listened to his problems, attended his competitions, and was present through the highs and lows.

"Whenever she is there, I always notice her and hear her voice first," he said.

He also credits his older brother as being the "father figure" who pushed him to become the independent young man he is today.

"He played an important role in shaping me into someone with strong mental fortitude," he explained.

As this is his final year in the Sub-Junior category, Hazrul now has his sights set on becoming a Junior Under-23 World Champion.

"Breaking a world record at 18 taught me that dreams are not meant to remain in your head. If there is something you truly want, you will not stop working towards it," he said.

"I will continue working hard and, most importantly, enjoying the process of becoming the athlete and person I aspire to be."

Sales will continue for the Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream in Singapore.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in an Aug. 28 statement that the prohibited ingredient Sudan IV was not detected in the samples submitted by two companies, APR SG Pte. Ltd. and Rirora International Pte. Ltd.

As such, the sale of the unaffected batches can resume.

Minute amounts of Sudan IV were found in only two samples of the Medicube product sold by Venus Beauty Pte. Ltd, and these batches will be recalled.

Suspension of sale lifted for APR

APR, Medicube's parent company, told Mothership it was officially informed by HSA that as of Aug. 26, 5:55pm, the suspension of the sale and supply of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream was lifted.

It added that all quantities of the Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream currently stored in Singapore belong to the aforementioned batch.

Recall of two affected batches from Venus

Prior to this, HSA had directed the three companies marketing the Medicube cream to suspend sales of the product on Jul. 31 while it tested their product samples.

HSA told Mothership that its testing detected minute amounts of Sudan IV in two samples of the product sold by Venus Beauty Pte. Ltd.

On Aug. 26, HSA instructed the recall of these affected batches.

The two affected batches are 2E122I.2E117I and 2E191G.2E193G.

Product batch numbers can typically be found on the item's packaging or container.

Additional safeguard

As an additional safeguard, HSA has instructed the three companies to ensure that every batch of their Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream products intended for sale in Singapore is tested by an accredited laboratory for the absence of Sudan IV.

This should be done before supplying the batches locally.

These companies must also provide HSA with their test reports of their products for local sale, the agency said.

Consumer advisory

HSA noted that Sudan Red dyes, including Sudan IV, are not permitted for use in cosmetic products.

Although the quantities detected in the affected batches are in minute amounts and are unlikely to pose any serious health risks from previous use, HSA warned consumers to stop using the affected products.

Those who have concerns related to refunds should also contact the seller.

The agency has not received any local reports of "adverse events" associated with the product to date.

Consumers are also advised not to purchase or use cosmetic products from dubious or unfamiliar sources, particularly where the products' source or quality cannot be verified.

HSA added that consumers should purchase from reputable retailers with an established presence in Singapore so that there is recourse if problems arise.

Cosmetic product notification is not HSA approval

Cosmetic products are regulated under the Health Products (Cosmetic Products – ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations 2007, the agency said.

Under the regulations, dealers must notify HSA before any cosmetic products can be placed on the market.

The notification facilitates regulatory follow-up by HSA if safety concerns arise.

HSA pointed out that product notification is not a form of premarket approval and should not be construed as product certification or registration by HSA.

Dealers of cosmetic products must ensure that their products comply with the regulatory requirements.

This includes the prohibition and restriction of the use of certain ingredients, the reporting of serious adverse effects to HSA and product labelling.

Any person who supplies cosmetic products that do not comply with the regulatory requirements, including having prohibited ingredients in their products, may face enforcement action.

Anyone found to have supplied such products may face a fine of up to S$50,000 and/or up to two years' jail.

A former swimming coach has been handed a jail term and caning after he molested his 10-year-old female student three times in a month.

49-year-old Quek Yeong Kang, who also went by Alex, was sentenced to two years' jail and three strokes of the cane after he claimed trial to three charges of molestation.

He alleged that the victim had complained about him so that she could change coaches.

Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan convicted Quek of the three charges, rejecting his evidence, "including his denial of the charges and his bare assertion that the victim had fabricated the allegations against him".

There is a gag order on the girl's identity.

Molested girl on 3 separate occasions

According to the judgment seen by Mothership, Quek had been a swimming coach for about 20 years, from 2003 to 2023.

The victim, who was about to turn 13 at the time of the trial, testified that her first class with Quek was on Oct. 7, 2023.

The victim attended Quek's classes on Saturday evenings alongside her sister, her brother and six other students.

The molestations occurred in subsequent classes on Oct. 14, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, 2023.

She said she had swum a couple of laps on Oct. 14 and was standing in the water when Quek came up behind her and touched her vagina.

She initially thought it was an accident but said it kept going on for two or three separate occasions.

She used two dolls to demonstrate Quek's actions and said he repeated the molests on Oct. 21.

The victim noted that she felt uncomfortable and said Quek had molested her two or three times in the class.

Confided in sister

On Oct. 28, Quek molested her three to four times in the same manner.

During the class, the victim asked her sister if Quek had ever touched her privates, and her sister confirmed that he had.

After the class, as the siblings were walking out of the swimming complex, the victim told her elder brother that Quek had touched her and their sister.

Victim told father

On Oct. 29, 2023, at around 8:50pm to 9pm, the victim told her father that Quek had been touching her and her sister.

The children's father informed his wife before he called Quek's co-coach, telling him what had happened and requesting Quek's number from him.

The father called Quek on the speakerphone and questioned him.

The victim's mother, who was present for the call, said that Quek could not answer and was stuttering.

The victim's father made a police report that night at around 9:17pm through a "999" phone call.

CCTV footage

The victim was shown CCTV footage from all three dates and pointed out parts where she thought Quek had molested her.

The victim was also asked if she had not enjoyed Quek's classes and had wanted to change coaches.

She said she wanted to switch to Quek's co-coach but denied that her motive for making the complaint was to change coaches and that it was the touching that made her disclose the offences.

Her younger sister, who was 11 years old at the time of the trial and nine at the time of the alleged offences, also testified and said Quek had touched her while she was floating in the pool.

Tickled students

Statements were also given to the police by four other students from the swimming class.

While they confirmed that  they had not been touched inappropriately, three of them noted that Quek had tickled students during lessons.

The first student said the accused had tickled his and his brother's feet but found it unusual as Quek pressed his feet.

The second student remarked that Quek had tickled other students and found it unusual, stating that he felt "only family members should tickle others in such a manner".

The third student noted that Quek would tickle him and his sister on the stomach after their laps and that it would last a few seconds.

The student said Quek would do this to others in the class and added that Quek's co-coach never did that.

Fellow coach testified

Quek's fellow coach testified that coaches should only hold students' hands or arms above water level when demonstrating strokes so that it was visible to parents and other students.

He acknowledged that when teaching strokes such as the front crawl, a coach's hands would necessarily go underwater but maintained that unnecessary physical contact under the water should be avoided as it could give rise to complaints.

He said in the 13 years he had known Quek, he had never received any complaints from parents or students about him and had never personally observed the accused behaving inappropriately towards any student.

Quek testified that molest was 'almost impossible' given the height difference

Quek maintained he had not touched the victim and said it was "almost impossible" for him to do so given their height difference and the way he taught her the freestyle stroke.

He testified that he would avoid touching the "main body" of a student but admitted to tickling the students at the waist or belly button area as a form of discipline.

The prosecution also showed him CCTV footage and put forth that he had touched the victim's buttock in one clip.

Quek initially denied this but later conceded that he made contact, elaborating that he was rushing the victim to put on her goggles quicker.

Judge rejected defence's submission

Tan noted that while the CCTV footage did not show Quek molesting the victim, this was unsurprising as the alleged acts happened briefly and underwater.

Tan added that the footage had considerable evidential value nonetheless as it confirmed the physical setting that the victim described and showed Quek making physical contact for which he lacked credible coaching justification.

Court documents noted that the footage also captured the victim's reactions, including kicking Quek away in the incident on Oct. 21, 2023, consistent with her growing discomfort.

Tan added that the victim was unusually convincing, with clear, consistent and compelling evidence.

The victim also candidly testified that she did not want to accuse when she was unsure.

The judge also noted that when Quek's co-coach asked him about the allegations, Quek responded with "I don't know" despite clearly denying the allegations to the victim's father moments earlier.

Judge said accused had no remorse

Tan said that while Quek had no prior convictions, he had shown no remorse throughout the proceedings and put the victim through the ordeal of testifying in court.

Tan added that while Quek had several health conditions including heart disease and diabetes, it did not warrant a reduction in his sentence or the exercise of judicial mercy.

The victim suffered psychological harm as a result of Quek's conduct and was diagnosed with adjustment disorder.

According to court documents, "she experienced fear, anger, insomnia, nightmares, recurrent intrusive thoughts, fear of males, being easily startled, and difficulty focusing in class".

Japan's north-central prefectures of Toyama and Ishikawa have been hit by heavy torrential rain, with officials calling on residents to protect themselves from flooding and landslides.

The Japan Times reported that hundreds of thousands of residents were subject to evacuation orders.

According to NHK World, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a level 5 emergency warning, its highest alert, for five municipalities.

A spokesperson for the agency's atmosphere and ocean department said: "We are seeing rainfall unlike anything we have experienced before".

"There is an extremely high possibility that disasters are already happening, especially in the expected flood area, which is under the level 5 alert."

Cars submerged

Over 320 millimetres of rain fell in the cities of Himi and Hakui while Hodatsushimizu saw around 230 millimetres.

NHK World reported that these figures broke records, with multiple landslides, overflowing rivers and flooded homes observed.

According to Kyodo News, around 180,000 people were urged to take safety measures.

Several cars have been submerged, but there have been no reports of casualties so far.

The agency said a front extending eastward from the Sea of Japan is expected to move southward through Friday.

Heavy rain also hit Niigata Prefecture, which neighbours Toyama.

2 cases where rescuers saved people from submerged cars

According to The Japan Times, 10 rivers in Ishikawa were flooded, and some levees were breached.

Authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture said there have been at least two cases in which rescuers helped drivers and passengers from cars.

Around 270 households were stranded as roads were blocked due to landslides.

The Hokuriku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution reported that over 1,000 households were without power as of around 4:30pm on Aug. 27; the figure was half what was reported earlier that day.