The elderly man who was shoved to the ground at a coffee shop along East Coast Road after patting a young girl on the head has suffered a fractured back, according to his family.

Fractured back

Earlier, in an Instagram Story posted on Aug. 17 by Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle, 73-year-old Yeo Song Khoon was shown seated in a wheelchair and wearing a hospital gown.

The post said Yeo, who has been selling wanton noodles at the stall for more than 40 years, had finally agreed to seek medical attention following the incident.

However, he returned to work that same day.

Speaking to 8days, Yeo's family said he was advised to remain in hospital for observation after undergoing a medical check-up on Aug. 16, but declined to stay.

He was required to sign a form acknowledging the risks of leaving the hospital, the family said.

According to his family, Yeo's doctor has advised that spinal surgery would be the best option for his condition.

If Yeo decides against surgery, he will instead require physiotherapy and medication, they added.

The store's Roxy Square outlet was closed on Aug. 18 and 19, and is scheduled to reopen on Aug. 20.

Yeo is expected to return to work on Aug. 21.

What happened

The incident was first shared on Aug. 15 on the Facebook and Instagram pages of Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle.

In CCTV footage, Yeo can be seen walking past a family's table and patting a young girl on the head.

The girl's mother then reached out her hand in an apparent attempt to stop Yeo.

The girl's father, who was wearing a cyan T-shirt, was seen rushing back to the table after noticing the commotion.

He subsequently grabbed Yeo by the arm and swung him around, causing the elderly man to fall to the ground.

Others later helped Yeo up at the coffee shop.

The girl’s father subsequently apologised and offered to buy Yeo a drink, but he declined.

"I don't want to cause any trouble": Yeo

In an interview with 8world, Yeo said he had patted the girl on the head as he found her "very adorable".

"Old people like to pat young children's heads," he said.

Despite the incident, Yeo said he did not want to make a fuss over what happened.

"I don’t really mind, just let him off. It’s okay to just leave it, it’s all right. I don’t want to cause any trouble," he said.

His family has since made a police report.

Yeo, who was already experiencing an injured leg and difficulty walking, said he began experiencing back pain about two to three hours after the fall.

However, the pain was eased by painkillers, allowing him to return to work.

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After 57 years, Canteen 398 at Piccadilly Road will reportedly be closing permanently on Sep. 19.

According to a sign captured in a diner's TikTok video, the last day of operation will be Sep. 18.

The sign did not explain the reason for the closure.

The couple who runs the canteen apparently told an Instagram user that they planned to take a break and retire.

The canteen's history

Also known as Boh Geh Uncle Canteen, the coffee shop is believed to be Singapore's oldest surviving coffee shop, dating back to 1969.

It was originally a Corporal Mess for the British, then served National Servicemen at the nearby Seletar Camp.

After decades, the canteen has retained its rustic, old-school style with an outdoor dining area set up among overgrown greenery.

Its three stalls — two for food and one for drinks — offer simple meals at relatively affordable prices, making the place popular with workers in the area.

In 2012, the canteen was slated for closure to make way for Seletar Aerospace Park, which was supposed to be built over much of the space.

However, it survived the development plans.

Singaporean pop queen Stefanie Sun was recently spotted at a Bukit Timah coffee shop having breakfast with her parents.

Photos of her out and about in public in Singapore were posted on Xiaohongshu.

They drew praise from online commenters, who said the 48-year-old blended in perfectly in her casual attire and appeared to have no airs with no minders around.

Sun was spotted in a baggy t-shirt, shorts, slippers, and black-rimmed spectacles.

Online responses

Online commenters responded to the photos by praising Sun.

They said she appeared youthful and relaxed while out and about in public.

One commenter wrote: "She looks like a female college student. She looks great."

Another added: "Is the diva eating at an affordable restaurant?"

"Being a singer is just a job. She goes to work and goes home. It's fine," another commenter wrote.

One commenter also noted: "Singaporean artistes are more relaxed. They don't usually have many people watching them in private."

Sun has completed part of her "Aut Nihilo" tour, which ran in 2025 and early 2026.

She performed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in April 2025.

She will be performing in China from September 2026.

A fourth-year Keio University student who worked part-time as a receptionist at a sports facility in Tokyo allegedly stole a credit card from a locker room, with police estimating losses totalling 1 million yen (S$8,018).

On Aug. 16, 2026, 22-year-old Karen Shinzawa was arrested after she was suspected of using a master key that was at the reception desk to commit the crimes.

According to Fuji News Network (FNN), she used the key to open lockers in the sports facility located in Hiroo, Shibuya Ward, one of the most upscale residential districts in the capital.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is investigating whether she committed other crimes.

Used card to purchase 2 cosmetic products

According to Yahoo Japan, Shinzawa allegedly stole the credit card from a female customer in her 50s in April.

Shinzawa then used the card to fraudulently purchase two cosmetic products worth a total of 14,000 yen (S$112).

It appears that Shinzawa entered Keio University's Faculty of Policy Management in 2023 and served as the manager of the university's ski club, reported Yahoo Japan.

According to a self-introduction article published on the ski club's Instagram Threads account, Shinzawa was born in New York, graduated from high school in California and returned to Japan in 2022.

Partially denied charges

According to FNN, Shinzawa was believed to have been working at the facility as a part-time receptionist for several years.

The master key was reportedly accessible to all employees.

When questioned by police, Shinzawa partially denied the charges, stating, "I used it impulsively because I wanted the product," and "I picked it up in the changing room."

Authorities confirmed that other users of the sports facility also suffered losses totalling 1 million yen (S$8,018) and plan to pursue further charges.

Three males, aged 15, 19, and 21, were arrested for their suspected involvement in a case of theft of a motorcycle.

The police were alerted to the theft on Aug. 17, at about 10pm.

The victim reported that his motorcycle, parked at a car park along Tampines Street 83, was allegedly stolen.

Officers from Bedok Police Division and Police Operations Command Centre established the trio’s identities.

The three males were arrested on Aug. 18 within 15 hours of the report.

The stolen motorcycle was recovered.

A 21-year-old and a 19-year-old will be charged on Aug. 19 with theft of a motor vehicle with common intention.

The offence carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine.

Police investigations into the 15-year-old boy are ongoing.

The police advised motorcycle owners to park their motorcycle in well-lit areas, install an anti-theft alarm for their motorcycle and ensure that it is well-maintained.

Motorcycle owners are also to remove the ignition key and lock their motorcycle whenever it is left unattended, and not to leave spare keys or transponders inside any storage compartments of the motorcycle, the police added.

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) has reached out to Johor's Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) on the issue of construction waste being illegally dumped in Pontian, Malaysia, the agency said in response to Mothership's queries.

This follows earlier media reports that the waste reportedly originated from Singapore.

The waste includes broken tiles, metal bars and construction equipment.

Construction waste export not allowed: NEA

Malaysian outlet New Straits Times reported on Aug. 17 that NEA's group director for resource and sustainability phoned the director of the Johor waste management authority and informed him that all exports of construction and demolition waste from Singapore to Malaysia will be halted.

NEA confirmed in its statement that a call took place between NEA and the Johor waste management agency, SWCorp.

During the call with SWCorp, NEA affirmed that Singapore does not allow construction and demolition (C&D) waste to be exported for disposal, the agency said.

Under Singapore’s regulatory framework, C&D waste must be properly processed and sorted locally for recycling, NEA explained.

"Homogeneous material streams such as ferrous scrap recovered from C&D waste are considered recyclables and can be exported, subject to the relevant regulatory requirements," the agency added.

Not yet established if Singapore companies were involved: NEA

NEA acknowledged that SWCorp has named nine Malaysian companies that it is investigating in relation to the illegal dumping.

"It is not yet established if Singapore companies were involved," NEA clarified.

NEA said it has issued an advisory to licensed waste disposal facilities handling C&D waste in Singapore, reminding them of regulatory requirements.

The agency also said:

"NEA takes a serious view of any illegal disposal of waste, as it pollutes the environment and can be a hazard to public health.

NEA will continue to work closely with the Malaysian authorities to investigate the matter."

Pontian locals told The Straits Times that convoys of trucks would rumble through the roads at night, affecting their sleep and damaging roads.

CNA previously reported that Johor is probing nine Malaysian firms suspected of being responsible for the illegal waste dumping.

The waste is believed to have been transported from Singapore via Tuas before being discarded on the land plots in Pontian, CNA wrote.

A 31-year-old man was arrested for drink-driving after he was involved in a traffic accident.

The incident occurred at Loyang Avenue in the early hours of Aug. 16.

In videos circulating online, a black vehicle appeared to have crashed into a bollard at a bus stop.

Smoke appeared to be emanating from the vehicle’s damaged engine.

Another car was parked at the side of the road, and a motorcycle was seen lying in front of both vehicles.

Debris was scattered along the incident site.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the incident at about 2:05am that day.

The accident involved two cars and a motorcycle.

A 31-year-old male car driver and a 20-year-old male motorcyclist were conveyed conscious to Changi General Hospital.

The male car driver was arrested for drink-driving.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, Zaqy Mohamad, has asked the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) to review its safeguards, especially on informal activities involving children.

Zaqy said this in a video posted on Aug. 18, which comes after the news of a "religious influencer" who sexually abused two young boys at mosque premises was sentenced to 27 years and 10 months' jail and 24 strokes of the cane.

Zaqy said he was "deeply disturbed" when he learnt about the case.

"What happened should never have happened. Not to any child. Not anywhere. And certainly not in a place where our children and families should feel safe."

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'Mosque is more than a building'

Zaqy said the mosque is a gathering place of prayer and where children learn about their faith.

"It is a place where we should feel safe. So when that trust is abused, especially involving our children, it hurts us deeply as a community."

He addressed the anger and concern of the public and clarified: "The individual was not a mosque staff member or volunteer. He was also not an accredited religious teacher under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme."

"He was not conducting a formal religious class organised or approved by the mosque."

But he noted that the perpetrator's lack of affiliation did not make what happened any less serious.

"The fact remains that some of these interactions did take place within a mosque."

Measures announced but Zaqy asks MUIS to go further

Zaqy added that he, MUIS and mosque leaders had discussed gaps in how informal activities are overseen.

He said: "MUIS has announced measures to strengthen security, including patrols and CCTV

monitoring. But I have asked MUIS to go even further and review our safeguards carefully, especially informal activities and gatherings involving children and youths."

"Our mosques must remain open and welcoming. But open and welcoming must also mean safe."

'Should not let our guard down'

Zaqy stated that there was also a wider lesson that "we should not let our guard down simply because someone appears religious or speaks with authority about religion."

Especially as today, relationships can also begin online and children follow people and "may place their trust in someone who appears knowledgeable about religion".

"Most people use that influence for good. But sadly, there are also those who may abuse it."

Zaqy added: "Parents and caregivers need to stay close to our children and know who they are interacting with, online and offline."

"And our children must know this: If anyone makes you uncomfortable, asks you to keep something secret, or crosses a boundary, tell someone you trust. Your parents, loved ones or religious or mosque leaders. You will be heard."

'Trust is precious'

Zaqy concluded by stating that "for generations, our mosques have been places of worship, learning and belonging".

"Our asatizah have guided and supported generations of Muslims in Singapore."

He said: "That trust is precious. But trust also carries an amanah. When something goes wrong, we must be prepared to ask hard questions, learn from it, and do better."

Amanah is an Arabic word that can be directly translated as trust.

However, the term is best understood as a responsibility to uphold trust with morality, integrity, and honesty, according to MUIS.

Zaqy continued: "And when it concerns the safety of our children, that amanah must come first."

"We owe it to every parent who entrusts their child to our community and our mosques. And above all, we owe it to our children."

Social media platforms and online messaging services will be required to implement anti-scam safeguards by Jan. 31, 2027.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) introduced three new codes of practice (COP) for online services on Aug. 17, an Aug. 18 press release said.

SPF announced a new COP for online messaging and conferencing services, a new COP for social media services that replaces the existing COP for online communication services, and an enhanced COP for e-commerce services.

Messaging code

The messaging code will require online messaging platforms to implement measures that make it harder for unknown contacts to engage users, or to alert users to potential scam risks posed by unknown contacts.

The designated online messaging and conferencing services that pose the highest risk of scams to users in Singapore are WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat, Apple iMessage, Apple FaceTime, Google Message, Google Meet.

They will be required to adhere to the new code.

Examples of the requirements include requiring the end-user’s consent before an unknown contact can add them to a chat group or channel.

These platforms are also required to display contextual warnings or risk indicators when receiving messages or calls from an unknown or suspicious account.

This includes showing the account creation date and country of origin of an unknown or suspicious account to the end-user, so that they can make informed decisions on whether to engage or continue communication with such accounts.

Additionally, these platforms are required to provide end-users with the option to silence, filter or block messages or calls originating from accounts or telephone numbers that are not present in the end-user’s contact list.

The code will also introduce requirements to prevent the spoofing of the Singapore government through profile names or pictures.

In 2025, online messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram alone accounted for about 23 per cent of total scam cases.

Investment scams are a key concern on online messaging platforms.

In this variant, scammers approach victims using accounts the victim does not know, appearing as "unknown contact”, to offer lucrative investment products.

Government officials impersonation scams are another key concern for online messaging platforms.

In 2025, about 18 per cent of such cases took place on WhatsApp.

SPF also observed that other messaging platforms, such as Google Meet, were used to perpetrate phishing scams involving the impersonation of police officers.

Due to the urgency of government officials impersonation scams cases, requirements relating to spoofing of the Singapore government must be complied with by Sep. 30, 2026.

Social media code

The newly introduced social media code will require social media platforms to ensure that content in advertisements on their platforms does not further a crime.

Social media services Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pose the highest scam risk to users in Singapore and are required to adhere to the code.

The code requires preventing the publication of any advertisement accessible to Singapore users if there is reason to suspect it furthers a scam.

This includes assessing whether the advertisement uses URL cloaking to hide a destination website’s URL or otherwise contains suspicious content.

Social media platforms are required to promptly remove suspected scam advertisements that are accessible to Singapore users, including those reported by users.

Advertisers’ identities must be verified by checking government-issued records before advertisers targeting Singapore users are permitted to publish any advertisement on their platforms.

Additionally, social media platforms must disallow the publication of advertisements offering financial services and/ or products to Singapore users, unless the advertisers are licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) or other applicable Singapore authorities, or a licensed authority, to do so in Singapore.

In 2025, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounted for about 30 per cent of total scam cases.

Facebook alone accounted for about 18 per cent of total scam cases.

Designated social media services are required to implement appropriate systems, processes, or measures to comply with the social media code by Jan. 31, 2027.

E-commerce code

The enhanced e-commerce code builds upon existing requirements for seller verification and payment protection.

E-commerce platforms, Carousell, Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Business Pages, will be required to introduce stronger consent measures before permitting logins from new or unrecognised devices.

The enhanced e-commerce code also adopts the safeguards introduced in the social media code to protect end-users against the exploitation of online advertisements by scam actors.

Designated e-commerce platforms will be required to implement the appropriate systems, processes or measures to comply with the e-commerce code by Jan. 31, 2027.

Enforcement

Where the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) Office assesses that a provider of a designated online service has not complied with an applicable requirement, it may issue a rectification notice requiring the designated online service to remedy the non-compliance within a specified period.

Under the current OCHA penalty framework, failure to comply with a rectification notice without reasonable excuse is an offence that carries a maximum fine of S$1 million.

In the case of a continuing offence, the designated online service may be liable for a further fine of up to S$100,000 for each day, or part of a day, the offence continues after conviction.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed legislative amendments in parliament in August 2026 to strengthen the OCHA penalty framework.

Under the proposed framework, for each instance of non-compliance with a code of practice or implementation directive, the OCHA Office may either issue a financial penalty not exceeding S$10 million, or direct the online platform to rectify the non-compliance through a rectification notice or a compliance order.

Failure to comply with a rectification notice or a compliance order without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence, punishable with a fine up to S$10 million.

In the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of up to S$300,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.

The police urged members of the public to remain vigilant against online criminal harms.

While designated online service providers are expected to do more to enhance the safety of their services under the COPs, users should continue to take precautions when interacting and transacting online, the police said.

When a man broke into his ex-girlfriend's home to reclaim his PlayStation console, he found that another man was in the house.

After questioning the other man about his relationship with the girl, he started to punch him repeatedly in the head, face, and ribs.

The victim was sent to the hospital and diagnosed with several injuries including a fractured thumb.

The assailant, Lincoln Lim Jun Hong, pleaded guilty on Aug. 17 to one charge of causing hurt. Two other charges for trespassing with the intent to cause annoyance were taken into consideration for sentencing.

The 36-year-old was fined S$5,000 in default of 25 days in jail. He has since paid the fine.

The trespassing

On the night of Feb. 19, 2023, Lim entered the home of his ex-girlfriend by keying in the password to her electronic door lock.

He knew the password from when they used to date.

According to court documents seen by Mothership, he broke into his ex-girlfriend's home to get his PlayStation console as she had informed him that she intended to end their relationship.

Argument

That night, the ex-girlfriend had invited a male friend to her house to play video games.

When Lim went into her house and saw her friend seated on a sofa, he asked her to explain what the other man was doing there.

She replied that her friend was merely playing video games in her home.

Lim was not satisfied with this response, and started to talk about the status of their relationship, both inside and outside her home.

Lim later left her house, but soon returned and began to directly question the victim about his relationship with his ex.

The victim did not engage with him, which made him increasingly agitated.

Fight

The two men ended up in a physical altercation, during which Lim punched the victim repeatedly in the head, face, and ribs.

Lim also pinned him down on the sofa, "[throwing] three hooks at his head region", Lim later admitted.

The victim raised his arms to block himself from the punches.

Afterwards, Lim picked up a plastic bar stool and threw it at the victim, who got hit.

Lim then left the house, and returned again to ask the victim further about his relationship with his ex, before finally leaving for the last time.

At some point during the altercation, the ex-girlfriend called her mother for help, and her mother made a police report, saying that her daughter's ex-boyfriend was causing a scene at her house.

Due to the fracture, the victim's left thumb was immobilised in a splint.

His other injuries were contusions on the forehead, left elbow, and left shoulder blade, as well as a superficial laceration on a finger.

According to court documents, Lim also has a previous offence for getting into a fight with three people at Marquee Club in September 2022, and punching, kicking, and pushing a woman.