A 24-year-old Singaporean man has been sentence to 17 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting his younger half-sister and filming a woman in the shower at a university hostel.

The sexual assaults committed against his half-sister only came to light when he confessed to his father about them after his arrest for voyeurism.

According to The Straits Times, the man pleaded guilty to five charges: aggravated rape, aggravated sexual assault by penetration, aggravated outrage of modesty, producing child sexual abuse materials and voyeurism.

Nine other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

He cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the identities of the victims.

Half-sister was aged eight to nine at time of offences

According to court documents seen by Mothership, the man was around 19 to 21 years old at the time of the offences.

His half sister lived in a HDB flat with her father, mother, older brother and helper.

The man stayed with his grandmother.

Sometime in 2022, he started tutoring his younger half-sister, who was around eight to nine years old.

The man began staying over in the half-sister's bedroom, which she shared with her older brother, over the weekends.

Sexually assaulted half-sister on three occasions

Between 2022 and 2023, the man sexually assaulted his half-sister on three occasions.

Sometime in the second half of 2022, his half-sister was about to fall asleep in her bed, while the man was lying down on a mattress in the same bedroom.

After the lights were switched off, the man knelt down beside the victim and touched her private parts.

He also exposed himself to her before going back to sleep.

Sometime between June 2023 and September 2023, the man instructed his half-sister to perform a sex act on him when she playing mobile games in the bedroom.

The half-sister stopped after feeling disgusted.

The man went on to masturbate himself and ejaculate on a piece of tissue in front of her.

On the third occasion, which also took place in 2023, the man and his half-sister were again in the bedroom.

He pulled down her pants and proceeded to penetrate her with his finger.

Apart from the sexual assaults, the man also took photographs of her showering, which he kept on his phone.

Voyeurism at university hostel

The next year on Jan. 22, 2024, the man arrived at a university hostel to spend time with his girlfriend.

Later that evening, he heard noises coming from the common toilet.

At the time, a 23-year-old female university student was taking a shower.

The man went over to the toilet.

He then proceeded to video the female student using his mobile phone.

As he was recording, the female student shouted, prompting the man to stop and delete the recording.

That night, a police report was made about the incident. The man was arrested the next day on Jan. 23.

Comes clean to father about sexual assault

Following his arrest, he confessed to his father about the sexual assaults he committed against his half-sister.

His father called the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline to seek assistance, and the matter was referred to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Child Protective Services (CPS).

A CPS officer then made a police report on Jan. 26 regarding the assault against the man's half-sister.

Investigators found the photos he took of his half-sister on his phone.

A medical report noted that the half-sister felt scared, sad, and angry since the sexual abuse began in 2022.

She also had recurrent thoughts and nightmares of the abuse, became afraid of males, had difficulty trusting others and had difficulty focusing during classes.

Judge found behaviour not due to youthful folly

The prosecution sought 15 to 17 years of jail and 24 strokes of the cane, according to court submissions.

In relation to his half-sister, the prosecution noted that the man is her half-brother and is 12 years older than her.

"Instead of being her protector and guardian, the accused subjected the said victim to unimaginable suffering in the safety of her home by sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions when she was between eight and nine years old," the prosecution argued.

They added: "Even after the offences against the first victim ceased, the accused continued to reoffend against the second victim, who was his fellow schoolmate."

During the sentencing hearing on Nov. 11, the judge noted that the man committed multiple offences over a period of at least one year, ST reported.

She also noted that the man's criminal behaviour was not a one-off incident due to youthful folly, ST wrote.

The court was told by the man's lawyer that he was pursuing university studies on a scholarship.

The lawyer also pointed that the man had shown great remorse by confessing to his father and pleading guilty.

Following the sentencing, the man was allowed a deferment of his sentence so he can spend time with his grandmother and help her with matters relating to a relative who recently died, according to ST.

He was granted S$120,000 bail and ordered to surrender to the State Courts on Dec. 11.

Singapore Airlines' (SIA) CEO Goh Choon Phong has hinted that the airline might be open to reconsidering their new business class seat colourway.

The Business Times (BT) reported that Goh was speaking at a SIA town hall on Nov. 11 when he responded to criticism over the carrier's business class seat revamp.

Noting the negative feedback proliferating online, Goh reportedly said, "We'll look at it, we'll see what's feasible."

However, he believes that customers will come to like the seats after experiencing its comforts for themselves, reported BT.

The airline's new business class seats garnered criticism online after it unveiled its new cabin overhaul as part of a S$2 billion investment on Nov. 7.

While response to the economy, premium economy, and first class seats were varied, netizens were highly vocal about the business class' new grey-and-yellow colourway.

Users called it "dull" and "depressing", with some likening it to a "dental office".

"Hardly feels like I am going on holiday," one wrote.

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At the townhall, SIA’s chief commercial officer Lee Lik Hsin also called the furore a good learning point, but reiterated that he hopes customers will mind the colours less after experiencing the seats. 

"I suppose, you know, it’s the 80-20 rule; you can’t please them all,” he reportedly said. 

"Modern", "refreshing"

Julia de Bono, the CEO of design firm Designworks, told Australian publication The Age that they wanted the business class seats to be "modern, progressive, and refreshing".

"It's more like a suit with a sneaker," she said.

BMW Group-owned Designworks came up with the new business class seat design, including its colourway.

A video showing SIA executives reportedly speaking at a Q&A also saw them claim that the seats were designed in accordance to customer feedback.

Ong Wah Li, vice-president of product experience, called it "modern, fresh, yet elegant and refined, that's suited to business travel."

She also acknowledged that SIA's warm and classic aesthetic had served it well over the years, but said that the new business class design was intended to have "its own character".

Responding to concerns that the four cabin classes all had different colours, and thus had a lack of continuity, Ong stressed that SIA "does not subscribe to a fixed colour palette across [their] cabins".

According to BT, aside from the colour scheme, the new business class seats come with a slew of new features.

These include a larger footwell, a sliding privacy door, as well as a reclinable seat that can turn into a flat bed. 

An SIA spokesperson told BT, “As with all our products, we will continue to closely monitor feedback and draw on operational insights to refine and enhance elements of the customer experience."

Long John Silver's outlet at White Sands in Pasir Ris is slated to close on Nov. 18, 2026.

Nov. 17 will be the outlet's final day of operations in the shopping mall.

Photos of the store's closure notice circulated on social media, as seen in this Instagram post by another business, My Digital Lock.

The poster noted that the nearest outlets in the area could be found at Eastpoint Mall, Paya Lebar Square and 18 Tai Seng.

According to Long John Silver's website, the chain still has a total of nine outlets in Singapore.

In addition to the three outlets in the east, the other outlets are: Junction 8, Northpoint City, Wisteria Mall, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Hillion Mall and Yew Tee Point.

In a July 2025 Mothership article, it was reported that the chain had 17 outlets in Singapore at the time.

Netizens weigh in

The White Sands outlet opened in November 2023, based on a Facebook post from the chain.

Most netizens reacted to the news with sadness, with many commenting on the post of the closure notice with crying emojis.

Others were more sceptical, opining that Long John Silver's food was average.

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The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is inviting Singaporeans to share their views and suggestions for the upcoming Budget 2027.

It is scheduled to be presented in February 2027, a Nov. 12 MOF press release stated.

Views, suggestions

Singaporeans, organisations and businesses can provide views and suggestions from Nov. 12, 2026 to Jan. 6, 2027.

This includes themes such as strengthening economic resilience and competitiveness, investing in workers, and providing greater assurance for Singaporeans.

According to the release, they may do so through any of the following feedback channels.

This includes the Singapore Budget Website, REACH Budget 2027 Microsite, REACH Singapore Facebook, REACH Singapore Instagram, and the PA ShareYourViews Webpage.

Engagement

In addition, REACH, the Singapore Government's feedback and engagement unit, will be conducting a physical pre-Budget Listening Point to gather public views and suggestions for Budget 2027.

Further details will be announced on REACH's social media platforms closer to the date, the release stated.

It added that the People's Association (PA) and its grassroots organisations will also engage Singaporeans through PA's ShareYourViews initiatives in neighbourhoods across Singapore and over online community channels, to gather views and suggestions for Budget 2027.

Members of the public may refer to the PA webpage for details of physical ShareYourViews engagements.

Related articles

A 37-year-old female cyclist died after an accident in Katong involving a tipper truck on Nov. 11.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said it was alerted to an accident at the junction of Amber Road and Amber Gardens at around 3:15pm on Wednesday.

The female cyclist was pronounced dead at scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic.

The driver of the tipper truck, 47, was arrested for driving without reasonable consideration causing death.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Footage of the aftermath of the accident was posted onto TikTok.

In the video, a blue tent was seen on the road next to a tipper truck.

Part of the road and the adjacent pedestrian walkway appeared to be cordoned off, and several police vehicles and officers were at the scene

Nvidia is reportedly looking to oust its CEO Jensen Huang amidst the U.S. government's investigations into his relationship with Alice Huang, an alleged Chinese spy.

On Nov. 8, Huang admitted to having an affair in an email to company staff.

Allegations of a second affair have also emerged between Huang and Nvidia's healthcare vice-president Kimberly Powell, company staff told the New York Times.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Nvidia's board is planning to meet as soon as Nov. 11 to determine Huang's fate.

The company is reportedly working with an external firm to identify potential replacements for Huang, Bloomberg reported.

Naming a temporary chief in the meantime is also said to be under consideration.

Following allegations of the second affair, the company's shares dipped about eight per cent after hours, following a recent slide after Huang's alleged relationship with Alice Huang was first revealed.

Jensen Huang, 63, is facing another affair allegation, The New York Times (NYT) reported, based on conversations with five people who worked at Nvidia.

NYT identified the other party as Kimberly Powell, 48, the vice president of healthcare at Nvidia.

Powell joined Nvidia in 2008, according to her employee profile.

Both Huang and Powell are married to other people.

The two were reportedly caught on camera being affectionate at a hotel during a Nvidia conference in March, according to two people who worked at the company, NYT said.

When contacted by NYT, Huang told them, "I don't think you should be talking to me directly."

Nvidia will be having their board meeting on Wednesday to decide whether to oust Huang, Reuters reported. Nvidia's stock price fell nearly 10 per cent on Wednesday after news broke that Huang might be removed.

The latest scandal follows reports of Huang allegedly having an affair with a former exec at a Singapore-based company, who was alleged to be an intelligence asset for China.

Indonesia's Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned, according to Reuters and Bloomberg.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has accepted his resignation, Bloomberg reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Gibran had earlier expressed his intention to resign during a meeting with Prabowo on Nov. 10.

This was shared during a press conference by Indonesian State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, who said the decision was in response to developments surrounding recent court rulings, The Jakarta Post reported.

On Oct. 30, the Indonesian Supreme Court invalidated the high-school equivalency certificate submitted by Gibran to register for the 2024 presidential election.

The ruling intensified calls for Gibran to step down.

A day ago, Prasetyo denied reports that Prabowo had rejected Gibran's intention to step down.

Instead, Prabowo offered advice during their meeting, he said.

Gibran also "requested an opportunity to prove the validity" of his educational certificates through the State Administrative Court.

Who is Gibran and why was his candidacy controversial?

Gibran, 39, is the eldest son of Joko Widodo (also known as Jokowi), who served as Indonesia's president from 2014 to 2024.

Before becoming vice-president, Gibran served as mayor of Surakarta, also known as Solo, in Central Java.

He was 36 when he was selected as Prabowo's running mate for the 2024 presidential election.

At the time, Indonesia required presidential and vice-presidential candidates to be at least 40 years old.

However, on Oct. 16, 2023, the Constitutional Court introduced an exception allowing candidates under 40 to run if they had previously held or were holding elected public office.

As Gibran was then the elected mayor of Surakarta, the ruling made him eligible to contest the election.

The decision attracted controversy because the court's then-chief justice, Anwar Usman, was Gibran's uncle and Jokowi's brother-in-law.

Anwar participated in the ruling, which was decided by a 5–4 majority.

He was later removed as chief justice in November 2023 after the Constitutional Court's ethics council found him guilty of serious ethical violations over his involvement in the ruling.

Why are his educational qualifications questioned?

As early as 2023, when Gibran was still campaigning for vice president, his educational qualifications had been under scrutiny.

According to the elections records, he attended Orchid Park Secondary School in Singapore from 2002 to 2004, then continued his studies at UTS Insearch, a college affiliated with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in Australia.

He later received an advanced diploma at the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) as a full-time student, which the school confirmed in October 2025.

Through a partnership between MDIS and the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom, he obtained a a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Marketing from the University.

The controversy around Gibran's education started when an online commentator questioned Gibran’s degree, questioning how he had attained a British degree while studying in Singapore.

The dispute later grew to focus on whether he completed senior high school or an equivalent level, which is legally a requirement for presidential and vice-presidential candidates in Indonesia.

In September 2026, a petition was filed urging ​the court arguing that Gibran's ⁠overseas education credentials did not satisfy Indonesian eligibility requirements for the vice presidency, and thus his position should be annulled.

What did the courts decide?

Two separate court rulings in October 2026 raised further questions about Gibran's eligibility to serve as vice-president.

Constitutional Court ruling on Oct. 6, 2026

On Oct. 6, 2026, Indonesia's Constitutional Court said it "did not find convincing evidence" that Gibran had a foreign certificate proving he had completed senior high school or an equivalent qualification.

However, the court dismissed the petition seeking to remove him from office, finding that the petitioners lacked legal standing.

It also explained that the case could no longer be treated as a dispute over the 2024 presidential election results, as Gibran had already been sworn in as vice-president.

Supreme Court ruling on Oct. 30, 2026

Gibran has repeatedly defended his educational qualifications.

"If I hadn't graduated from high school, how could I have gone to university? I even completed my Bachelor's degree in Singapore," he said on Oct. 7, 2026, a day after the Constitutional Court's decision.

In a separate case, the Jakarta State Administrative Court rejected a lawsuit challenging Gibran's high-school equivalency certificate on May 21, 2026. Its decision was upheld by the Jakarta State Administrative High Court on Aug. 12, 2026.

However, on Oct. 30, 2026, Indonesia's Supreme Court overturned both decisions and declared the certificate invalid.

Gibran had submitted the certificate when registering for the 2024 presidential election.

The ruling prompted renewed calls for his resignation, although it did not automatically remove him from office.

Why did Gibran resign?

Gibran's resignation comes amid mounting pressure over his educational qualifications and growing calls for his impeachment.

According to The Straits Times, Indonesian lawmakers began gathering signatures on Nov. 7, 2026, for a motion that could lead to impeachment proceedings.

Protests calling for his resignation or removal have also taken place across Indonesia since October 2026, including outside Parliament in Jakarta on Nov. 10, 2026.

These developments come amid reported tensions between Prabowo and Gibran's father, former president Joko Widodo.

According to The Jakarta Post, their relationship has been strained following cabinet reshuffles since September 2025 that removed or reassigned several of Jokowi's allies.

Most recently, Prabowo's chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo (no relation), known to be close to Widodo, was dismissed and arrested for allegedly wiretapping the president.

After expressing his intention to resign, Gibran said he did not want the controversy surrounding his educational qualifications to drag on.

He also said he would continue defending his credentials through legal proceedings.

Impeachment petition

On Nov. 11, more than 100 Indonesian lawmakers have signed a petition challenging Gibran's eligibility to remain in office, potentially paving the way for impeachment proceedings, according to Reuters.

The petition, signed by lawmakers from several political parties, follows court rulings that found problems with the education documents Gibran used to qualify for the 2024 presidential election.

What's next?

With Gibran's resignation, Indonesia must elect a new vice-president to serve the remainder of the presidential term, which ends in 2029.

Under Indonesia's Constitution, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) must convene within 60 days of the vice-presidency becoming vacant, to elect a replacement from two candidates nominated by President Prabowo.

This means Indonesians will not vote directly for their new vice-president.

More than 100 Indonesian lawmakers have signed a petition challenging Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's eligibility to remain in office, potentially paving the way for impeachment proceedings, according to Reuters.

The petition, signed by lawmakers from several political parties, follows court rulings that found problems with the education documents Gibran used to qualify for the 2024 presidential election.

PKS (Partai Keadilan Sejahtera) lawmaker Muhammad Kholid confirmed that more than 100 parliamentarians had signed the petition.

Kholid said the petition argued that Gibran "no longer meets the requirements as VP candidate" following the court rulings.

He said the petition would be handed to the House speaker, potentially setting in motion a parliamentary process that could result in Gibran's impeachment.

Supreme Court annuls Gibran's education certificate

Indonesian election rules require vice-presidential candidates to have completed senior high school or an equivalent qualification.

Gibran, who studied overseas, used an education-equivalency certificate to meet this requirement when he contested the 2024 presidential election alongside Prabowo Subianto, now Indonesia's president.

However, on Oct. 30, 2026, the Supreme Court annulled the certificate and ordered the education ministry to withdraw it.

PDI-P's 110 lawmakers agree to pursue parliamentary motion

Separately, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has agreed to pursue a parliamentary motion over the controversy surrounding Gibran's educational qualifications.

PDI-P faction leader Utut Adianto announced the unanimous decision following a closed-door meeting on Nov. 11, 2026, according to CNN Indonesia.

He added that all 110 members of the party's parliamentary faction could sign the motion if necessary.

The PDI-P announcement comes as more than 100 lawmakers from several political parties have signed a petition challenging Gibran's eligibility, according to Reuters.

Political uncertainty surrounding Gibran

The developments come amid reported tensions between President Prabowo Subianto and Gibran's father, former president Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, according to Reuters.

Gibran had expressed an intention to resign during a meeting with Prabowo on Nov. 10, 2026.

While Prabowo did not outright reject his resignation offer, he, according to the President's spokesperson, offered advice to Gibran in return.

"Mr. President is like a father to me. He has given me a great deal of advice and input regarding the current developments," Gibran told reporters at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, November 10, according to Tempo.

Gibran said one of Prabowo's suggestions was to continue pursuing the matter through the State Administrative Court (PTUN), submitting all his academic records from elementary school through his undergraduate studies.

Gibran has not formally resigned or been impeached.

A total of 157 non-compliant devices were impounded in Singapore in October 2026 following a series of enforcement actions taken by the authorities.

The Land Transport Authority said in a social media post on Nov. 10 that a 16-day operation targeted non-compliant active mobility devices parked at public housing estates and along corridors, as part of efforts to address fire safety risks.

In addition, a three-day blitz on errant riding on pedestrian overhead bridges was also carried out.

In total, 585 active mobility offences were spotted, LTA added.

LTA said it would continue to take firm action against errant users and retailers.

The public can report errant users online.