A man disqualified from driving for life in 2023 after three past drink driving convictions was charged again for the same offence.

Lee Shin Nan was accused of drink driving in a car on Sep. 10, 2025 without the owner's consent and despite his disqualification, The Straits Times reported.

After a police officer stopped him around 1am, he allegedly failed to give the officer his breath sample.

He was later found to have at least 135mg of alcohol in 100ml of his blood, above the prescribed limit of 80mg.

On Jul. 16, he was handed five charges for these alleged offences.

Previous convictions

Lee was previously convicted of drink driving three times in 2009, 2012, and 2023.

For his first offence, he was fined S$2,800 and banned from driving for two years.

For his second, he was sentenced to two weeks’ jail, fined S$4,000, and banned from driving for four years.

For his third, he was jailed eight weeks, fined S$10,000, and disqualified from holding a driving licence for life.

According to a judgement dated Dec. 18, 2023, Lee appealed against the imprisonment term and the lifetime disqualification order.

The judge dismissed his appeal and affirmed the sentence imposed, saying that is was fair.

The court will review Lee's bail, set at S$30,000, on Jul. 17, ST reported.

Mona Koh, one of Singapore's most famous mamasans, has passed away at the age of 80.

The "Queen of the Nightclubs" died on Jul. 15, according to a post by Facebook tribute page Death Kopitiam.

Koh, a Singaporean of Indonesian descent, became a mamasan in her 20s.

A mamasan manages female staff and acts as the proprietress of entertainment establishments.

She gained her legendary status in the 1980s and 1990s after starting to run her own nightclubs, where her fees rose to S$15,000 a month, according to Death Kopitiam's post.

S$15,000 in the 1990s is about S$39,000 in today's dollars.

The post also described her services as "sought by most of the businessmen when they need to entertain".

1994 shooting

On Oct. 15, 1994, Koh was ambushed and shot twice at Katong People's Complex, which is now replaced by i12 Katong.

She sustained two bullet wounds to her face and back, with the latter shattering a spinal bone and paralysing her from the waist down.

According to a Straits Times article at the time, the suspect was described by police as a "slim, dark Chinese man".

He was never caught and the motive for the attack was never established, making it one of Singapore's most prominent unsolved crimes.

Koh, who has two adopted children, continued working in a wheelchair despite her injury.

She was also actively involved in charity, as she visited and helped the elderly every weekend, according to Death Kopitiam.

The Thai Festival 2026 held at the Royal Thai Embassy in Orchard from Jul. 10 to 12, 2026 drew about 80,000 attendees.

The three-day event was organised to promote Thailand's vibrant creative economy, the embassy said in a post-event news release.

Among those in attendance were Singaporeans, the Thai expat community, and international tourists, the embassy noted.

The Thai Festival has traditionally been an annual flagship event.

It was paused during the pandemic and made its return in 2025.

Businesses

The event served to bring Thai businesses and entrepreneurs into Singapore, according to the embassy.

More than 100 participating Thai brands, artisans, and vendors showcased their offerings to consumers.

Vendors reportedly experienced sales that exceeded expectations, and many sold out their merchandise before the festival concluded, the embassy noted.

Notable brands that participated in the festival included INGU, a Thai skincare brand that had gone viral on TikTok.

The festival also welcomed eateries, such as Plu Restaurant, a Michelin-rated establishment, and Emily’s Mee Kai Cheek, which returned after making a successful run at last year’s festival.

Culture

A cultural highlight of the event was a “Chud Thai” exhibition showcasing the eight styles of Royal Thai dresses at the Elephant Hall located on the second floor of the embassy.

It was created to honour the legacy of the late Queen Sirikit.

Her model for the national costume laid the groundwork for Thailand’s 2026 Unesco "Chud Thai" proposal.

Performances

The festival’s main stage entertainment blended traditional Thai cultural performances with contemporary music.

There were performances by the Chanakarn Thai Dance troupe and the Human Puppet troupe, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, who presented “Rabam Si Phak” ("Dance of the Four Regions").

Musical performances and mini-concerts were also held throughout the festival.

The event concluded with musical performances by Thai Labour Volunteers’ ISAN Band and Friends of Thai Workers Association (Singapore)’s V&C Band.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) spotted 373 offences and impounded 182 non-compliant personal mobility devices (PMD) in June 2026.

The offences were spotted by its active mobility enforcement officers, LTA said in a Facebook post on Jul. 16.

During a nine-day joint enforcement operation between LTA and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in June 2026 alone, more than 200 offences were spotted and more than 100 active mobility devices and motor vehicles were seized, it was previously reported.

The enforcement operations were conducted in Sengkang, Punggol, and Yishun.

Common offences detected included keeping non-compliant powered assisted bicycles (PABs) and using improper, obscured or tampered number plates.

Non-UL2272 e-scooters were also impounded under the new regulations that took effect from Jun. 1, 2026, which prohibit keeping such devices even when not in use.

Since January 2026, LTA has detected and seized more than 600 non-compliant active mobility devices.

Speed limit signs

The authorities are also installing real-time speed limit signs in areas with higher active mobility usage to encourage safe riding behaviour.

This allows users of mobility devices to check their travelling speed limit against the prevailing path speed limit before they are detected by the enforcement detection cameras.

Importer taken to task

LTA also took action in June 2026 against an importer, Shiplah! Technologies Pte Ltd, for importing a non-compliant PMD without a valid LTA import permit.

The company was charged and fined S$1,500.

The device was seized.

Since the start of 2026, there were 11 offences involving retailers.

Common offences among retailers include displaying and selling non-compliant devices.

Detection capabilities

Enforcement officers have been equipped with speed guns to detect and enforce speeding violations on public paths in Singapore since 2018.

LTA has also installed speed detection cameras to tackle speeding violations and will progressively expand the camera network over the next few years.

Enforcement action against speeding devices could only previously be taken when such devices were observed exceeding speed limits while in motion, but not when stationary.

A portable speed measurement device has been developed and is capable of detecting illegal modifications by testing a device’s top speed while stationary.

The speed measurement device was first deployed in November 2025.

Intensified enforcement efforts

LTA officers will continue to conduct regular ground patrols, including late-night operations, to detect and apprehend errant users.

Regular enforcement operations are also conducted on retailers to ensure they are selling, displaying and advertising compliant active mobility devices, and that mobility scooters sold are registered.

Community volunteers will also conduct joint patrols and strengthen enforcement and engagement efforts.

LTA said it takes a serious view of such offences and will continue to take firm action against retailers and individuals suspected of offering illegal device modification services, as such alterations put both device users and the public at risk.

Motorised devices sold are to meet safety standards.

Since Jun. 1, 2026, only LTA-registered mobility scooters may be advertised, displayed, and sold.

Before purchasing a mobility scooter, consumers should ensure they have obtained a Certificate of Medical Need or are exempt from the requirement.

LTA has reminded members of the public that importers must ensure that all mobility devices are compliant with Singapore’s regulations and have valid LTA import permits before importing them.

Members of the public were also reminded to exercise care and responsibility when riding active mobility devices.

Those who ride recklessly or dangerously and endanger others may be liable for the offence of rash act.

The woman seen in the People's Park Complex's Beijing Royal Massage Parlor fight was reportedly arrested by the police after allegedly getting into another fight with a female masseuse on Jul. 15, 2026.

Wang (transliterated pseudonym) previously claimed the altercation occurred because she demanded an explanation from a male masseur after realising she had apparently become pregnant with his child.

She also alleged that he caused her to miscarry.

Another fight

Shin Min Daily News reported that at about 7pm on Jul. 15, another incident took place outside a massage parlour on the second floor of the mall in Chinatown.

A short-haired woman dressed in black had reportedly been arguing with a masseuse in a pink dress.

The short-haired woman was seen to have slapped the masseuse, Shin Min reported, adding that they then got into a physical altercation.

An image showed the masseuse in the pink dress pinned to the ground, with the short-haired woman on top position.

The masseuse reportedly shouted for help.

However, no one intervened, and the boss of another massage parlour said people were afraid to do so due to the extent of the fight.

Shin Min reported that it understood that the short-haired woman is Wang, who was the woman involved in the fight previously and who made claims that she was pregnant and miscarried subsequently.

Prior to the fight, the masseuse had apparently been trying to solicit customers when she was allegedly asked by Wang to be quiet.

Scene of incident

Following this, Shin Min visited the mall on Jul. 16.

The manager of a nearby massage parlour said that while Wang previously frequented the massage parlor on the third floor, she recently moved to the second floor where the masseuse in the pink dress works.

Shin Min noted, however, that the masseuse's massage parlour was not open on the morning of Jul. 16.

After the fight on the night of Jul. 15, the police were alerted and Wang was subsequently led away by police officers, Shin Min reported.

Public nuisance

Responding to Mothership's queries, the police said they received a call for assistance at 1 Park Road on Jul. 15 at 7:25pm, which is the address of People's Park Complex.

A 53-year-old woman was conveyed to the hospital and another 40-year-old woman was arrested for public nuisance.

When Shin Min contacted Wang on the morning of Jul. 16, she said she was in the hospital and did not want to speak more.

Responding to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that at about 7:35pm on Jul. 15, SCDF received a call for assistance at 1 Park Road.

SCDF conveyed the 53-year-old woman conscious to Singapore General Hospital.

Police investigations are ongoing.

A car collided into the rear of a bus in Ang Mo Kio.

A 67-year-old man died.

The incident occurred on Jul. 16 at about 8:30am, beside a bus stop near Block 246B along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Incident

Chen (transliterated), a 55-year-old resident, told Shin Min that he first heard a loud crash and then looked out to find that a traffic incident had occurred below his block.

According to him, a red car had collided with the rear of a bus that was about to leave the bus stop.

The car’s airbags were deployed due to the impact of the crash.

He claimed that passersby rendered help, and several men worked together to open the car doors to get the man and a lady passenger out of the vehicle.

The man, who drove the vehicle, appeared to be wearing a light blue top.

Chen claimed that the man could initially walk on his own, but he later collapsed and appeared to lose consciousness.

The woman in the car was apparently shocked and sat down to rest while passersby provided her aid.

Chen said the driver may have suddenly felt unwell or suffered a medical episode while driving.

Emergency responders subsequently arrived at the scene and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the man.

He was then lifted into an ambulance and conveyed to the hospital along with the woman who was with him.

Police officers cordoned off the area to conduct investigations.

In response to queries, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said a 67-year-old male car driver was conveyed to the hospital unconscious and later died.

A 61-year-old female passenger in the same vehicle was taken conscious to the hospital.

Investigations are ongoing.

A python was seen at a grass patch in MacPherson on the night of Jul. 14, 2026.

Based on a video seen by Mothership, two National Parks Board (NParks) officers were seen handling the python at a grass patch.

Python at MacPherson grass patch

A Mothership reader who witnessed the incident had been out jogging and added that a passerby had called NParks about the snake before officers came down to handle the situation.

"It was such an eye-opening experience to see such a big snake around our area and we were amazed at how professional and brave the rescue officers while handling the python," said the reader.

NParks responds

Responding to Mothership's queries, NParks's Wildlife Management group director How Choon Beng said NParks was alerted to a sighting of a reticulated python at MacPherson on Jul. 14.

The python, estimated at about 2m to 3m long, was safely removed from the site and sent to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation (CWR) for veterinary assessment.

Pythons play an important role in regulating the ecosystem by keeping the population of pests, such as rodents, low. The reticulated python is native to Singapore and can be found in a variety of habitats in Singapore, including canals and large drains, such as this location.

If members of the public encounter a snake in a public area, they should observe from a safe distance, stay calm, and back away slowly, giving it space to retreat. Do not approach or attempt to handle the snake as it may attack in self-defence.

Pets should also be kept on a tight leash as they might approach and alarm the snake. The snake should be left alone, especially if it is in its natural habitat.

Members of the public can call the Animal Response Centre helpline at 1800-476-1600 for assistance.

More information on snakes can be found on NParks' website.

A 48-year-old man was arrested on Jul. 15 following a three-hour standoff with the police at a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Clementi, where he allegedly locked himself and his mother inside.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the incident took place at a fifth-floor unit at Block 731 Clementi West Street 2.

20 police officers positioned outside the unit

When Shin Min arrived at the scene at around 10pm, the area below the block had been cordoned off and many residents had gathered around to watch.

At least two tactical vehicles, three Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) fire engines and several police vehicles were seen at the scene.

Police officers were stationed on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of the block.

A safety air cushion had also been deployed below the unit.

At around 10:45pm, SCDF personnel were seen lowering a safety net from an upper floor to the window of the unit.

Officers equipped with riot shields were positioned outside the unit, Shin Min reported.

At about 11pm, a man in a blue shirt was escorted to a police vehicle in handcuffs.

Witness statements

A resident, surnamed Huang, told Shin Min that the man lived with his elderly mother and had been unemployed for several years, relying on her income as a cleaner.

He said several people he believed to be counsellors had visited the unit at about 6pm, but the man refused to open the door.

Police subsequently arrived at around 8pm and asked him to come out.

"I did not see the police force entry into the unit," Huang said. "I believe the man eventually opened the door."

Another resident said police officers entered his fourth-floor unit, while SCDF personnel remained on standby during the operation.

He added that he heard the man shouting and swearing repeatedly before the arrest.

When Shin Min later visited the unit, an elderly woman and another woman were present, but both declined to comment.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed receiving a call for assistance at around 7:50pm on Wednesday.

Upon arriving, officers established that a 48-year-old man had locked himself in his residential unit and might pose a danger to himself.

Officers from the Special Operations Command, Crisis Negotiation Unit and SCDF responded to the incident.

At about 10:45pm, police officers managed to gain entry into the bedroom of the residential unit where the man was.

The man was subsequently apprehended under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008.

Repeated disturbances over the years

Several residents told Shin Min that they had experienced repeated disturbances from the unit over the years.

One resident said the man could often be heard shouting, sometimes late at night, causing distress to neighbours.

"He lives upstairs, so the noise is very loud," he said. "I once went to his door hoping to speak with him, but he never answered."

The resident added that he had installed soundproof windows to reduce the noise and said he would have considered moving if he had young children at home.

Another resident said she understood the man to have a mental health condition and that he would sometimes shout for 15 to 20 minutes each time.

She said she had lived in the block for about five years and had experienced the same issue almost daily, adding that disturbances had continued despite reports to the authorities.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has begun a four-year upgrading programme to install new tactile tiles with improved durability and skid resistance at pedestrian crossings, the agency said in response to media queries.

The upgrading programme will take place islandwide progressively over the next four years and is estimated to be completed by 2030.

The new tiles will have better durability and are more resistant to skidding and slipping.

In June, a former Singapore Airlines (SIA) air stewardess fractured her ankle after slipping on yellow tactile tiles near Thomson Medical.

Following ankle surgery, she collapsed and died two weeks later.

Alternative tile material study began in 2024

LTA said that tactile paving was installed at pedestrian crossings since 2010 to guide visually impaired pedestrians.

These tiles comply with international standards for skid resistance, including in wet conditions, LTA said.

In a media reply in August 2024, LTA said that it was studying an alternative tile material with improved skid resistance and durability.

In that same reply, LTA also said that since April that year, it had started implementing an improved tactile tile layout in collaboration with social service agencies, including the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped and the Guide Dogs Association.

The new design featured a 300mm gap between tactile tiles to reduce the risk of slips in wet weather, while still ensuring sufficient guidance for the visually impaired.

Recent incident

On Jun. 22, 40-year-old Venecia Ng slipped and fell on yellow tactile paving tiles which had become slippery after rain.

She had worked as a SIA stewardess for 10 years before moving on to a role at Thomson Medical.

Ng was crossing the road from a shophouse office to the hospital building when she fell.

She fractured her ankle and underwent surgery on Jun. 30.

While things went well initially, Ng complained of breathlessness and collapsed afterwards in the wee hours of Jul. 2.

Ng subsequently passed away.

Her death certificate, seen by Mothership, states her cause of death as multi-organ failure following pulmonary thromboembolism, a condition where blood clots block the arteries in the lungs.

LTA said that the tactile tiles at the spot where Ng fell were installed in June 2025.

"LTA has inspected the tiles at the location and they are unimpaired," it said.

"We are saddened to learn of Ms Ng’s passing and express our heartfelt condolences to her family," it added.

Two teenagers in Singapore, a girl and a boy, died after using methamphetamine, also known as "Ice", in early 2025.

The state coroner found that they had lethal amounts of the drug in their systems after they inhaled it and made meth pills, according to The Straits Times.

State Coroner Adam Nakhoda had provided his findings in court on Jul. 15.

Identifying details, such as their ages, names, and addresses cannot be reported due to a gag order.

Had been in contact about drugs

Two days before their deaths, on Jan. 29, 2025, the two teens talked about illegal substances on Telegram.

It was not known if they were dating or how they got acquainted, the state coroner said.

What boy and girl told each other

The boy admitted to smoking and vaping before, and told the girl he tried Kpods.

The girl said she had tried Ecstasy.

They planned to smoke weed and the boy said he would buy it from a friend.

However, the boy could not get weed in the end.

Consumed meth

On Jan. 30, 2025, the boy went for a Chinese New Year gathering at his friend's place and left for home around 10pm to 11pm.

On Jan. 31, 2025, at around 3am, he texted the girl to say that he lost a lot of money gambling.

He then wrote: “Let’s do some meth lol”.

The girl responded that she would read more about meth online.

They then discussed how to consume meth.

The boy filled four pill capsules with meth.

The girl waited for her parents to sleep before leaving the house.

At about 4:40am, the boy booked a private-hire vehicle for the girl when she said she could leave home.

She reached the boy's house at about 5:15am and they went to his bedroom.

At about 5:30am, the boy's domestic helper heard chairs dragged around the boy's bedroom directly above her room.

Discovered something amiss

The boy's brother returned home at about 2pm and saw women’s shoes outside the home.

He looked into his the bedroom occupied by the teen boy and girl and saw women’s undergarments on the floor.

He closed the bedroom door to give the teen brother privacy and left the house only to return at about 3:30pm.

The women's shoes were still there.

Body found

The brother went to the teen brother's room at 4:45pm.

The body of his brother, who was on the floor in his underwear, was cold and darkened.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force were alerted.

The domestic worker alerted the boy's other brother.

The other brother performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A crying sound coming from the toilet alerted them to the girl who was undressed and seated on the toilet floor.

But she was unresponsive.

Paramedics arrived at about 5pm.

The boy was pronounced dead at 5:01pm.

The police were alerted.

The paramedic examined the girl and found her blood pressure was low and she had bruises.

The girl was intubated and given medication at Changi General Hospital.

She died at 10:45pm.

Drugs found

Two small bags of white substance on a poker table and a blister pack of pills were found in the boy's room.

Four pills had been removed from the blister pack.

A digital weighing scale and a handbag, believed to belong to the girl, were also found.

Coroner extended condolences

A video from the boy’s phone recovered via forensics showed him and the girl inhaling methamphetamine and acting manic.

Blunt force injuries on the boy could have been caused by hitting furniture in his bedroom due to his uncoordinated movements from taking meth.

The state coroner did not find evidence that they took the drugs to commit suicide and accepted the police's conclusion that there was no foul play.

He said it was a case of drug experimentation gone wrong and extended his condolences to the teens' families at the hearing.