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.

A woman from China went missing after allegedly heading to Thailand at the invitation of a stranger.

According to Sinchew, a post circulating online looking for the woman, named Qi Meng, says she boarded a plane to Thailand from Malaysia on Aug. 2.

Local media reported that the woman had then gotten into a car at the airport, she allegedly did not know the driver.

Other reports, however, pointed out that the posts about the missing woman had originated from Cambodia, and not China.

There was also speculation that Qi had actually arranged to go with someone she had recently met online.

The case, however, is still under investigation.

Sinchew reports that the family has approached the Chinese embassy in Thailand for help.

A Thai special operations police officer was seen showing up to a live school shooting incident in shorts on Aug. 7.

The shooting left 23 wounded and seven dead, comprising three teachers, three students and the shooter, reportedly a 14-year-old student.

The officer was identified as Sergeant Major Setthawut Sangmueang, Bangkok Post reported.

Sick leave

According to local police, Sangmueang was reportedly on sick leave and had a doctor’s appointment on the day of the incident when he heard of the shooting.

He cancelled the appointment, put his gear into his vehicle and rushed to the school to support law enforcement efforts.

“That reflects an uncompromising commitment to public safety and around-the-clock readiness to perform his duty. Although his outfit was not ready, his skills and spirit always are ready,” local police said.

Sangmueang was also a member of the Metropolitan Police Division 7 team, which was taking part in a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) competition in Bangkok.

The team left the competition and responded to the incident at the school.

Attire

In other countries, tactical police officers have been seen responding to emergencies and exercises in shorts, sometimes while off-duty.

Most notably, such attire has been seen being donned by European tactical police officers from units, such as the Netherlands ’ Special Intervention Service (DSI) and Germany’s Spezialeinsatzkommando (SEK) and GSG 9.

These appearances have also been referenced in popular culture, such as movies and tactical first-person shooters, including "Ready or Not", a game simulating SWAT operations.

The rejuvenated Istana Park will be more than three times its current size, and potentially connected to the Istana grounds, said the National Parks Board (NParks)  on Aug. 12.

The expansion is part of plans to transform Orchard Road into a family-friendly "green oasis" in the heart of the city.

Speaking at the Temasek Shophouse, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan shared updates about the project, which was originally announced in 2020.

He added that the "full vision" for the park will be shared next year.

The revamped park is part of the Orchard Road Rejuvenation Plan, led by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and NParks.

Park features

The project will see the current Istana Park merged with the existing Dhoby Ghaut Green and Penang Road Open Space, along with a 500m section of Orchard Road between Buyong Road and Handy Road, that will be pedestrianised.

The expanded Istana Park will be organised into three distinct zones: Orchid Park and Orchid Plaza, Istana Park, and Dhoby Ghaut Green.

Orchid Park and Orchid Plaza

Orchid Park and Orchid Plaza are envisioned to showcase the diversity and versatility of native orchids across a range of habitats, from trees to wetlands.

NParks is studying the incorporation of nature-based solutions into the park, which can help to address resilience and biodiversity concerns.

This includes multi-functional water gardens to manage stormwater runoff, and eco-active “totems” to support the biodiversity population in the park.

Istana Park

The Istana Park, originally located across the road from the Istana gates, could potentially be redeveloped into a formal foregarden connected to the Istana grounds.

This would feature a potential new Ceremonial Driveway leading up to the Istana, replacing the existing Festive Arch as the formal entrance to Istana Park.

Mature trees could be planted along the driveway, providing shade and framing the approach to the Istana grounds.

NParks is also exploring the possibility of introducing new indoor attractions including galleries to showcase heritage and natural flora.

Dhoby Ghaut Green

Through the pedestrianisation of Orchard Road, Dhoby Ghaut Green will be transformed into a refreshed green space contiguous with the Istana Park, Plaza Singapura, MacDonald House and Temasek Shophouse.

Activity Promenade

The existing stretch of Orchard Road between Buyong Road and Handy Road is expected to be transformed into a pedestrianised Activity Promenade.

It is envisioned to be a flexible, multi-functional space possibly adapted for rest and recreational activities.

These include outdoor art sessions, public performances, street markets, and civic festivals.

Nature Playgarden

The park will also feature open recreational spaces integrated with nature.

One possible addition would be a nature play garden with natural play structures and lush landscaping, targeted at children and families.

Garden dedicated to honouring Singapore women

There will also be a garden dedicated to honouring Singapore women within Dhoby Ghaut Green.

It will celebrate the pioneering spirit and contributions of Singapore women.

The garden was first announced by then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2021, and proposed in the White Paper on Singapore Women's Development in 2022.

Full vision to be shared in 2027

The "full vision" for the park will be shared in 2027, said Tan.

Members of the public can share their suggestions at the exhibition located at Temasek Shophouse until Aug. 26, especially on programmes and activities that could be organised in the redeveloped Dhoby Ghaut area.

Singaporean lawyer and politician Lim Tean was deported from Malaysia to Singapore and arrested by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Aug. 11, 2026.

SPF said Lim had failed to surrender to the State Courts on Aug. 3 to begin serving his prison term, instead leaving Singapore illegally while on court bail.

Lim was sentenced by the District Court on Feb. 17, 2025, to six weeks’ imprisonment and a S$1,000 fine for three charges of carrying out acts as an advocate or solicitor without a valid practising certificate.

Following appeals by Lim against his conviction and sentence, and by the prosecution against the sentence, the High Court increased his sentence to three months and one week’s imprisonment on Feb. 23, 2026.

After the Court of Appeal dismissed Lim’s application to refer questions of law of public interest on Jul. 6, he was ordered to surrender at the State Courts on Aug. 3 to begin serving his sentence.

He failed to turn up, and a warrant of arrest was issued the same day.

Lim was arrested in Malaysia by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) on Aug. 6 and handed over to the SPF on Aug. 11.

Investigations into the circumstances of his illegal departure are ongoing.

Two Singaporean men were previously charged in court on Aug. 8 for allegedly conspiring to arrange for Lim to illegally leave Singapore for Malaysia.

Director of CAD, Peggy Pao said: “The police are resolved to pursue and bring to justice those who commit crimes in Singapore, regardless of where they flee. We will continue to work closely with our wide network of overseas law enforcement partners to locate, arrest and secure the return of criminals to face justice in Singapore. I would like to thank the RMP for their prompt assistance in this case."