A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to jail for stomping on his father's chest and hitting him multiple times with a remote control after getting upset over rental income.

According to a report by The Straits Times (ST), the incident left his father, then aged 72, with rib fractures and a scalp laceration.

His father is now 75-years-old.

The son, Teo Yao Zhong, pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt and was sentenced to 21 months’ jail on Aug. 20.

Upset over rental income

The incident took place in 2023 at the home where Teo lived with his father, ST reported.

The prosecution said Teo’s father had rented out a room in the unit to a tenant to supplement his income.

It was not disclosed in court what either Teo or his father did for a living.

Court documents seen by Mothership showed that before midnight on Jan. 19, Teo became upset because his father had not shared the rental income with him and began throwing household items around the home.

When his father tried to stop him, Teo used a remote control to hit him on the head multiple times.

His father used his arms to defend himself, but tripped over items scattered on the floor and fell.

Teo then used his foot to stomp on his father’s chest while his father tried to push his feet away.

Some objects thrown landed near police officers

Teo eventually stopped the assault and resumed throwing items around the home.

His father then fled the unit, called the police and waited for officers at the void deck.

When police arrived, officers saw injuries on the father's forehead and took him to the emergency department at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Meanwhile, other officers attempted to calm Teo down, who continued to behave aggressively inside the unit.

Despite multiple warnings from police, Teo continued throwing items around, including a large television.

Several of the objects landed near the officers.

Teo was arrested and released on bail on Jan. 20, 2023.

Prosecution: father was vulnerable due to his age

The prosecution sought a jail term of between 20 and 21 months for Teo, saying his father was vulnerable because of his age and was unable to stop his son from throwing items around the unit.

Teo, who was unrepresented, said in mitigation that he could not recall what had happened that day, but accepted that he had done wrong and had nothing further to add, ST reported.

At the start of the hearing, Teo had asked for the case to be adjourned to a later date as he needed time to clean his room.

When the judge asked why he had not cleaned it earlier, Teo said he had started cleaning but could not finish because the room was too messy.

The judge rejected his request for an adjournment and proceeded with the hearing.

For voluntarily causing grievous hurt, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and may also be fined or caned.

Two years ago, Matin Holmberg left his engineering job to become a Senior Prison Officer.

For the 32-year-old, there has always been something appealing about wearing the uniform and serving the nation.

“I always look forward to going back for my reservist and putting on the uniform,” he said.

Now a Senior Correctional Unit Officer (SCUO) at Institution B2, Holmberg shares with Mothership the challenges and opportunities he has found in his new career.

Making the switch

Back when he was serving his National Service (NS), Holmberg completed his Basic Military Training (BMT) with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

He was then seconded to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), where he became a Rota Commander.

It was the experience of both agencies which inspired Holmberg’s passion to serve.

He later went on to pursue a Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering, and began his career in the aerospace industry.

After a few years, however, he felt it was time for a change and decided to sign up as a Senior Prison Officer with the Singapore Prison Service (SPS).

It was fitting as he had always envisioned serving the country in one way or another.

His father, with whom he shares a close relationship, served in the SCDF for more than 30 years before retiring.

With a broad smile, Holmberg recalled growing up listening to stories about how his father had impacted others' lives.

“I think the values he upholds, like integrity and being genuine, and the lessons he learned from being in the force are admirable. So the man that he is is what I wished to become as well,” Holmberg said.

When asked how his family reacted to his career switch, he laughed, “My wife was very happy because I can put food on the table.”

Holmberg also acknowledged that job stability was one of the factors behind his decision.

Ultimately however, the biggest draw for him was the opportunity to do meaningful work, continue learning and build a long-term career.

Nine months of training

Before stepping into his new role, Holmberg underwent nine months of training with SPS.

The programme consisted of two phases.

The first was five months of residential training at the Home Team Academy (HTA), where Holmberg and his fellow trainees stayed on campus five days a week.

There, they received practical and operational training to prepare them for work in the Singapore Prison Service, he said.

This was followed by four months of on-the-job training.

During this phase, trainees were deployed to various prison institutions to gain first-hand experience and better understand the realities of working in a prison environment.

The training left a lasting impression on Holmberg, who credits several mentors with shaping the officer he is today.

“They call it the ‘jailcraft’ that you try to learn from them, and then you create your own ‘jailcraft’. Those lessons are very valuable, and I am who I am today because of my mentors,” he said.

One mentor, in particular, taught him the importance of being "firm and fair".

Those are values Holmberg continues to embody in his role at Institution B2, which houses remand inmates.

Day in the life

So what does a typical day look like for SCUO Holmberg?

“A lot of walking,” he joked, though it turned out to be quite true.

He usually starts his day at 5am, fitting in exercises such as Muay Thai or a run before work, depending on his shift.

He works AM and PM shifts, with occasional 12-hour shifts on weekends.

A typical shift begins with the opening muster.

“This is where we make sure that all inmates are accounted for, but more importantly, safe, healthy, and responsive,” he shared.

This is followed by inmate movements for interviews, court sessions, Out Of Cell Activities (OCA), such as exercising in the yard or attending rehabilitation programmes, external transfers, tele-visits, and face-to-face visits.

Around noon, inmate movements pause for the midday muster.

The afternoon then consists of more inmate movements for transfers, visits and rehabilitation programmes before the day ends with a closing muster.

Beyond these routine duties, Holmberg is also responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the inmates under his care and maintaining operational continuity should incidents arise.

He also leads a team of officers who rely on him to make operational decisions.

By the end of each shift, Holmberg estimates he has probably clocked around 15,000 steps.

Wearing many hats

Some people may wonder why he traded a comfortable desk job for a “blue-collar job”.

But Holmberg stressed that being a prison officer involves far more than simply "locking up inmates".

“Prison officers wear many hats,” he said.

Besides the physical demands, officers also need strong communication skills and high emotional intelligence.

“Let’s say things go out of hand, you still need to make a lot of decisions under immense pressure. So it is not a low-skill job. It takes someone special to do the job,” he added.

Holmberg recalled one incident involving an uncooperative inmate.

“When we were doing our routine cell search, he refused to listen to instructions to squat down. I think we instructed him about four or five times (to do so),” he shared.

“He later turned aggressive and was a danger to those around him.”

As the inmate was physically larger than him, Holmberg and his team worked together to safely remove the uncooperative inmate from the correctional unit and escort him to a punishment cell.

“This is a clear act of defiance and we do not accept this kind of behaviour in Singapore’s prisons,” he said.

The experience reinforced the importance of thinking quickly, staying calm and knowing how to de-escalate tense situations.

At its core, however, the job is about working with people, Holmberg said.

That means taking time to listen to inmates and helping them navigate through difficult emotions.

He recalled helping one inmate, who had never met his newborn baby, secure an open visit.

It became a touching moment for both the new father and Holmberg, who was glad he could help make it happen.

While some people may have the misconception that inmates are “scary”, sometimes they just need a listening ear, he said.

Over time, Holmberg realised these experiences had also changed him outside of work.

“I have found that the patience and empathy I have developed over the two years have allowed me to connect to my loved ones on a deeper level,” he said.

What it takes

Holmberg strives to embody four key qualities: being genuine, honest, firm and fair — values he learned from both his father and his mentors.

According to him, inmates are selective about which officers they approach because they have "all the time in the world" to observe and assess those around them.

As a result, Holmberg makes it a point to treat every inmate consistently, without playing favourites or applying double standards.

“When you are firm and fair, inmates respect the boundaries you set,” he said.

Over the past two years, Holmberg admitted good-naturedly that he has earned a reputation for being "rabak" because of his strict nature.

“But those same inmates also know that when they have a complex issue that needs resolving, they can come to me, because they know wholeheartedly that I will do my best to help them,” he said.

To him, that is what being genuine and honest looks like in practice.

“Just maintain your discipline, that’s all I ask,” he added.

Dynamic work environment

Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Holmberg appreciates the variety of career opportunities available within SPS.

Thanks to regular posting cycles and a wide range of roles beyond inmate management, he sees plenty of room for growth.

Potential career paths include postings to SPS headquarters or other specialised units.

Asked whether he worries about being posted somewhere new, Holmberg said no.

“I see it as a natural progression, and also an opportunity for me to know more people.”

While every job has its ups and downs, Holmberg says he has no regrets about making the switch.

For those interested in making a difference like Holmberg, you can check out SPS's various job opportunities here.

This branded article by the Singapore Prison Service gave this writer a newfound perspective on prison officers.

Nine members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force fell to the ground after a second-storey wooden deck collapsed beneath them.

They were there to arrest a 26-year-old man for failing to register as a sex offender.

Body camera footage from the Jul. 21 incident showed the officers standing in a line outside an apartment door in Huntsville, Missouri, when the deck suddenly gave way.

The officers, several of whom were holding firearms, fell straight down. However, none of their weapons were discharged during the incident, according to ABC News.

7 officers injured

Seven officers were taken to hospital following the fall.

Steven Lewis, the U.S. marshal for the eastern district of Missouri, told ABC 17 News that the officers had little time to react when the deck collapsed.

Lewis said: “Someone described it almost as if a trap door opened and it fell that way.”

“Not away from the structure, but straight down, which gave them almost no time to react,” he added.

The injured officers included four deputy U.S. Marshals and three local law enforcement officers.

Their injuries included broken bones, torn muscles and concussions, none of which were life-threatening, according to NBC News.

All seven were later treated and released from hospital, ABC News reported.

The suspect was subsequently taken into custody, U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Abigail Meyer told ABC News.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will trial a humanoid robot at the Downtown Line Little India MRT station from Aug. 31 to Sep. 11, 2026.

In a Facebook post on Aug. 20, LTA announced that the robot, “Olly”, will be seen familiarising itself with the station environment before the trial.

During its pilot, commuters can ask it for directions and other general questions regarding the MRT lines.

Olly will be available on weekdays between 10am and 12pm.

It will also be supervised.

This pilot is part of LTA's exploration of how AI-enabled technologies can support public transport operations and improve the commuting experience.

A 20-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to 18 months’ supervised probation after attempting to film his older sister showering on two occasions.

The court also imposed a curfew, ordered him to complete 40 hours of community service, live at his paternal aunt's home, and attend a therapy programme, among other conditions.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism and was sentenced on Aug. 17.

The man and incident locations cannot be identified as a gag order was imposed to protect the victim.

First attempt

In court documents seen by Mothership, the man and his sister, who is two years older, lived together.

On Jul. 9, 2024, at about 9:53pm, his sister was showering in the common toilet.

The man went to the service yard of his flat, which had a frosted window with louvres looking into the toilet.

He held his phone below the window and recorded a 19-second video.

However, the video was black, but it captured the audio of his sister showering.

Minutes later, he held the phone up to the window panel and positioned it close to the bottom louvre.

He took a 47-second video.

However, he did not capture his sister showering, and it only showed the window and the wall beneath it.

Second attempt

On Jul. 12, 2024, between 12am and 1am, the man went to the service yard intending to record a video of his sister showering again.

He then extended his phone through a small opening in the middle of the window louvre.

When the man was adjusting the angle of his phone, his sister spotted the phone and screamed twice and shouted “Oi”.

At about 4:03am, his sister lodged a police report.

The man was arrested on the same day, and his phone was seized.

Deterrence

The prosecution sought both probation and reformative training.

They said the man was 18 years old at the time of the offence and argued there was a need for deterrence.

“The accused had targeted the victim, who was his sister, within their shared family home, where the victim had every reasonable expectation of privacy and safety,” they said.

The prosecution added that his multiple attempts suggest “his conduct was premeditated rather than an isolated lapse of judgment”.

Developmental needs

They further stated that the man’s father was “often unaware” of the man’s developmental needs and “seemed to feel helpless and had limited capacity to give guidance” to him.

“The accused’s father appeared to have condoned the accused’s offending by downplaying the seriousness of his actions. Beyond a verbal reprimand to the accused, his father failed to take any follow-up actions or to process the gravity of the incident between the siblings,” they added.

The prosecution also said the man had received prior warnings for theft with common intention in November 2018 and mischief with common intention in June 2023.

In 2021, the man attended the Guidance Programme — a six-month diversionary programme for youth offenders who commit minor offences — and received four warnings for failing to attend individual sessions without valid reasons.

The prosecution highlighted that the man “likewise minimised his sexual offences and clearly has difficulties appreciating the gravity of harm of his ‘prank’ on his sister".

"Rather, he believed that his sister was neither hurt nor affected," they added.

The prosecution concluded that reformative training "would provide the sustained and structured intervention necessary to address the accused’s unresolved needs, while retaining a sufficiently deterrent element".

A United States Army battalion is reportedly authorising four days off to let soldiers play "Grand Theft Auto VI” during its launch in November 2026 if they reenlist.

In a Facebook post, the memorandum was purportedly directed to active-duty enlisted soldiers assigned to or attached to the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion who are eligible for reenlistment.

The memorandum was reportedly dated Jul. 28.

Soldiers who signed a reenlistment contract between Aug. 1 and Nov. 14 will apparently be granted a “special” four-day pass.

The pass is eligible from Nov. 20 to 23.

“This special pass is specifically designated to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6),” the memorandum read.

Its purpose was to supposedly “promote retention, boost morale, and reward the continued dedication” of the soldiers within that battalion.

According to Kotaku, the memorandum was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Ryan D. Hodgson, who took over command of the battalion in July 2026.

Soldiers apparently pointed out details of the memorandum online, including the commander’s name, the communication numbers included, its formatting, and other details.

The memorandum's authenticity remains unclear.

Media conglomerate MM2 Asia and its subsidiary MM2 Entertainment were ordered to make partial payments of S$263,000 in outstanding Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.

The company received a final adjournment on Aug. 19, CNA reported.

Contributions

MM2 Asia faces three charges of failing to pay CPF contributions to one employee from November 2025 to Jan. 6, 2026.

MM2 Entertainment faces eight charges that involved four employees in November and December 2025.

MM2 Asia has approximately S$22,000 in outstanding contributions, while MM2 Entertainment owes about S$241,000.

The total amount owed by the company and its subsidiary was not disclosed.

Melvin Ang Wee Chye, founder and executive chairman of MM2 Asia, reportedly told the court that an ongoing scheme of arrangement had constrained its ability to make CPF payments.

Its funds apparently could not come in until the process was completed.

In a previous court mention, the court directed MM2 Asia to pay at least S$11,000 and MM2 Entertainment at least S$60,000.

Ang said MM2 Asia remains committed to paying the sum.

However, it was prioritising staff salaries with the funds available.

He also claimed that MM2 Entertainment had paid S$20,000 towards its outstanding contributions on Aug. 18.

The prosecution reportedly said they would need time to verify the payments and noted that the company would still be S$40,000 short.

They sought a final adjournment for MM2 Asia and MM2 Entertainment to make the required payments.

It would proceed on three charges against MM2 Asia and eight against MM2 Entertainment.

The prescribed fine ranges from S$1,000 to S$5,000 per charge for first-time offenders, and the court will decide on the sentencing.

Both companies were granted a final adjournment, with a direction that they make the partial payments in full by the next hearing.

The case was adjourned to Sep. 16.

Financial issues

This comes after reports of MM2 Asia facing financial difficulties and undergoing restructuring.

It apparently owes millions of dollars to creditors and faces repayment demands from landlords over the now-defunct Cathay Cineplexes chain it used to operate.

MM2 Asia reportedly recorded a net loss of S$199.4 million for the year ended Mar. 31.

Trading in its shares was suspended on Nov. 10, 2025, after it said it could not demonstrate it could continue as a going concern.

MM2 Asia and MM2 Entertainment subsequently applied for moratoriums to facilitate their restructuring.

A 31-year-old man was charged with trafficking etomidate vaporiser pods (Kpods) after a traffic accident.

Tan Jun Yuan Jovan was charged on Aug. 12 under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 (TVCA).

On Aug. 10, the traffic police attended to a road traffic accident involving Tan’s rental car and a taxi.

Officers found two vaporisers and 94 vaporiser pods during a search of the car.

Health Sciences Authority (HSA) officers were alerted and took over the seized items at the scene.

Traffic police officers then arrested Tan and handed him over to HSA to assist with the investigation.

He apparently tested positive for etomidate in an instant urine test and admitted that he vaped etomidate in the morning before the accident.

He was remanded for a week.

Laboratory testing also revealed the seized pods contained etomidate.

A vaporiser and pod seized were allegedly intended for Tan’s consumption.

The rest were apparently intended for supply.

Investigations into the vaporiser and etomidate trafficking offences are ongoing.

Tan is also assisting in the traffic police’s investigations under the Road Traffic Act 1961.

The case was mentioned again in court on Aug. 19.

The case has been adjourned to Sep. 28.

Under TVCA, etomidate and its analogues are listed as specified psychoactive substances in the schedule.

Importers found guilty are liable to three to 20 years’ jail and five to 15 strokes of the cane, while suppliers found guilty are liable to two to 10 years’ jail and two to five strokes of the cane.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened financial penalties on any nation that helps Iran evade sanctions, calling it the "most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country".

In a Truth Social post on Aug. 20, Trump said: "This will be economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale."

"No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a greater opportunity to make a deal than me. Tragically, for them, they have failed to take it."

Trump claimed that Iran was "hanging by a thread" and that "their navy is gone, their air force is destroyed, their military factories are now rubble, their currency is worthless".

'Tremendous economic consequences'

Trump said: "Any country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face tremendous economic consequences."

Trump wanted "oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies" to be shut down immediately.

He called on allies to stand with the U.S. to "isolate and defeat the Iran threat" and noted that "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon".

According to CNBC, Trump has waged a pressure campaign on Iran since April under Operation Economic Fury, which targeted what it calls the regime's global terror financing and revenue streams.

Iran responds

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took to X on Aug. 20 to condemn the "Economic D-Day" and accused America of creating a diversion from its own crisis: "unprecedented debt & surging interest costs".

"Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat—and enmity of Iranians. US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide."

CNBC reported that Araghchi had previously accused the U.S. of escalating sanctions after rounds of failed negotiations to force Iran into submission, and said the approach to the conflict was a barrier to any negotiated exit.

UAE suspends trade and financial dealings

This escalation comes a day after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) suspended all trade and financial dealings with Iran despite being one of Iran's most important commercial partners.

According to NBC News, on Aug. 19, the UAE accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles towards it.

Both missiles splashed down in the Persian Gulf.

In a statement on X on Aug. 19, the Emirati Foreign Ministry said it decided to impose punitive measures but also said the country remained committed to "dialogue, cooperation and regional integration".

UAE's Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afra Al Hameli, said: "In light of regional escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security, all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice".

CNBC reported that Iran denied firing the missiles.

The UAE was Iran's largest source of imports, supplying more than 30 per cent of the country's total imports in 2024, according to the World Trade Organization.

Strait of Hormuz

According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz ran at levels well below pre-war numbers.

Preliminary data show 73 transits between Aug. 10 and 16, down from 91 the previous week.

The U.S.'s national debt has soared past US$40 trillion (S$50.8 trillion), the highest number in the country's history.

The record number on Aug. 19 comes amid large-cost federal spending, including in defence, Social Security and Medicare.

High-cost spending

According to AP News, the staggering number has been growing by US$1 trillion (S$1.3 trillion) every five months over the past year.

In October 2025, it reached US$38 trillion (S$48.3 trillion) and in March 2026, it hit a record US$39 trillion (S$49.5 trillion).

Contested administration decisions like U.S. President Donald Trump's war on Iran were among the factors contributing to the high debt.

Other past high-cost packages passed by Congress, like Trump's 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill and several Covid-19 relief bills by Trump and former President Joe Biden are expected to pile onto the federal debt over time, reported CNN.

At the same time, the country's aging society means there are fewer workers to support the number of beneficiaries.

The US$40 trillion (S$50.8 trillion) is said to have hit earlier than expected. The Congressional Budget Office had earlier predicted the U.S. to hit that number only in the 2028 fiscal year.

Affecting Americans' livelihoods

According to AP News, experts say the debt is affecting Americans' livelihoods, from raising borrowing costs for mortgages and cars to lowering wages for businesses with less available funds to invest.

Good and services are also getting increasingly expensive for the average American.

"If we want to improve our living standards, today and for the next generation, now is the time for lawmakers to put our nation on a more affordable and sustainable path," a U.S. fiscal think tank said.