A Filipino woman in Singapore who cheated two restaurants of over S$10,000 using edited PayNow screenshots successfully appealed to have her jail sentence reduced by 10 months.

Santos-Tumalip Maria Monalyn Bagaporo, 33, deceived these restaurants into delivering 59 meals without actually making payment, "because she wanted to order food for her friends and impress them", according to the prosecutor.

Previously on Nov. 13, 2025, she pleaded guilty to four charges including cheating and theft, and was sentenced to one year and 11 months' jail.

For her appeal hearing, she was represented by lawyer Sujesh Anandan, son of the late criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan.

He represented her pro bono and, on Aug. 28, successfully appealed to cut her jail term to one year and one month, Shin Min Daily News reported.

How she cheated the restaurants

Between 2022 and 2025, Bagaporo placed food delivery orders from restaurants and submit doctored PayNow screenshots as proof of payment, which the restaurants unknowingly accepted.

The PayNow transactions in the screenshots were actually payment transfers to herself. She used an app to edit the picture, changing the recipient to the name of the restaurant.

She would also edit the details of the sender's account, making it appear like she was making payments through different bank accounts.

Using this method, she made 35 orders from Home of Seafood amounting to S$3,891.75, and 24 orders from Baci Baci that added up to S$6,167.52.

Apart from restaurants, Bagaporo also cheated a hair salon at Orchard by using the same fabricated screenshot method to obtain gift vouchers valued at S$763.

During Bagaporo's sentencing in November 2025, the prosecution also pointed out that she reoffended four times while on court bail, using the same dishonest scheme.

The appeal

The day after she was sentenced, Bagaporo reached out to Pro Bono SG for legal representation through her sister, according to a court judgement dated Mar. 25, 2026.

In the appeal, Sujesh argued that Bagaporo's original jail sentence was too harsh because similar cases in the past received a lighter sentence despite involving greater losses or more instances of deception, Shin Min reported.

He urged the court to reduce her sentence for the cheating charge to seven months.

The prosecution objected to this, arguing that seven months is too low, and called for the original sentence to remain.

In his appeal for a more lenient sentence, Sujesh also told the court that a shorter sentence would allow Bagaporo to return home to the Philippines to reunite with her son sooner.

He said that she was pregnant during investigations for her case, and was granted permission to return home to give birth in 2023.

Not long after her son was born, she brought him to Singapore to continue assisting with police investigations.

After she was remanded from September 2025, however, mother and son have been separated.

Sujesh argued that the court should consider a lighter sentencer as Bagaporo had made full restitution for the losses she caused, expressed sincere remorse for her wrongdoing, and was cooperative throughout the investigation.

The judgement

Justice Kannan Ramesh, who presided over the appeal case, noted that past cheating cases involving a similar amount of losses as Bagaporo's typically received a sentence of three to six months in jail, according to a transcript of his oral judgement.

He also pointed out that Bagaporo's scheme of cheating the restaurants was simple, and she made no attempt to conceal her identity.

However, she did continue to reoffend while out on bail, which elevates her culpability, the judge added.

Ultimately, considering these factors, the judge decided to reduce the sentence for the cheating offence from 18 months to eight months.

This meant that Bagaporo's total jail sentence was cut by 10 months, from a year and 11 months, to a year and one month.

In court, Bagaporo's sister cried tears of joy when she heard the verdict, and thanked Sujesh after the hearing, according to Shin Min.

Over S$30.4 million worth of SG Culture Pass credits have been spent since the scheme's launch, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said on Sep. 2.

This is about 10 per cent of the S$300 million allocated to the scheme.

The scheme gives all Singaporeans aged 18 and above S$100 in credits to encourage participation in local arts and heritage activities.

The credits are valid from Sep. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2028, and can be used to purchase tickets from authorised ticketing partners for eligible local performances, exhibitions, and other cultural experiences.

Over S$30.4 million worth of credits have been used

In its one-year update, MCCY said the scheme has supported more than 1,400 cultural programmes, 3,100 books and 23 films since its launch, involving over 900 arts and heritage partners, 76 publishers and 17 bookstores.

More than S$30.4 million in SG Culture Pass credits have been used by about 411,000 Singaporeans, said the ministry.

Of this, around S$2.9 million was spent on Sing Lit books, while about S$1.6 million was used on local films.

"We have seen a big uptick in people who have never read Sing Lit being open to trying and giving our local authors a go," said Alex Chua, the founder of Book Bar.

"Hopefully this will raise awareness on the local literary scene and promote a good reading culture across all age groups."

Of the 1.4 million Singaporeans who have registered for the SG Culture Pass, 68 per cent had not attended a local arts and culture event in the previous five years, MCCY said.

Young adults and those in their 30s made up the largest share of credit users.

Those aged 18 to 35 accounted for 43 per cent of credits used, followed by those aged 36 to 54 at 38 per cent.

Those aged 55 and above accounted for the remaining 19 per cent.

Across all age groups, live events accounted for the largest share of credit utilisation.

New portal to encourage seniors to use credits

MCCY said it is also developing a new portal to help seniors make greater use of their SG Culture Pass credits.

Called the Group-Assist Portal, it will support organisations in arranging group outings to arts and cultural programmes for seniors.

The ministry said it recognises that seniors prefer to experience social activities with friends and loved ones, and has therefore been working with partners such as Active Ageing Centres, Community Clubs and nursing homes to organise group outings for them.

These partners help to identify suitable events for seniors, redeem SG Culture Pass credits, and make arrangements for the outings.

The portal will be piloted in November and December 2026.

MCCY will continue to review the scheme

MCCY has also partnered other organisations to broaden the reach of the SG Culture Pass.

As part of a National Day campaign with Klook, eligible SG Culture Pass bookings unlocked a matching local arts and heritage experience for migrant workers through local charity ItsRainingRaincoats.

The ministry also partnered dating app Coffee Meets Bagel to promote cultural activities suitable for couples.

MCCY said it will continue to work with partners to reach new audiences and encourage more Singaporeans to participate local arts and heritage activities.

"MCCY will continue to review the SG Culture Pass and work with sector partners to ensure that the scheme remains relevant, inclusive and effective in fostering participation," it said.

"This includes continuing to refresh the range of eligible offerings and exploring ways to expand the network of authorised ticketing platforms."

From Sep. 15, Thailand will be reducing the length of visa-free stays for tourists from dozens of countries and territories, by half, its foreign ministry announced on Sep. 1.

Visa-free stays will be limited from the previous 60 days, to 30 days.

Limit misuse of visa-free entry system

Reuters previously reported that this was an effort to strengthen immigration controls and limit foreigners misusing the visa-free entry system by getting involved in illegal activities or unauthorised extended stays.

Foreign nationals have been accused of various crimes, CNA reported, adding that this includes drug offences, sex trafficking and operating businesses without proper permits.

Shorter or longer visa-free stays

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA) website, Singaporeans visiting Thailand as tourists are granted visa-free entry for up to 60 days under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme (TVES).

This applied to over 90 eligible countries and territories, which include the 29-nation Schengen area in Europe, China, India, the U.S. and certain South American countries.

Singapore is among 60 countries and territories facing the reduction, which also include China, the U.S. and 27 EU countries, CNA reported the Thai foreign ministry's consular affairs department as saying.

The status for about 20 other countries remains unclear, to which a foreign ministry official declined comment.

In comparison, those from Peru, Brazil and South Korea will get an increase in visa-free stays, from 60 days to 90 days.

Tourism

According to CNA, a government spokesperson told AFP in May 2026 when Thailand's Cabinet approved the measure that tourists may extend their stays once, at the discretion of an immigration officer.

The latest official figures state that since the start of 2026, Thailand has attracted 20.9 million foreign tourists, a 3 per cent drop on the same period in 2025.

Joo Chiat Car-Free Day will take place on Oct. 3, 2026.

A section of Joo Chiat Road between Dunman Road and East Coast Road will be closed to traffic from 3:30pm to 9:30pm, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Sep. 2.

This will allow members of the public to explore the heritage neighbourhoods on foot or by bicycle.

This is the first time an area outside the Central Business District will be closed to vehicles for the annual event.

The event was co-created with community partners, local businesses and residents and in conjunction with World Car-Free Day 2026.

A series of activities are slated to take place from September to November 2026 as part of World Car-Free Day this year.

Joo Chiat Car-Free Day

During the day, LTA and partners will host interactive exhibits, sustainability showcases and family-friendly activities in Joo Chiat.

Members of the public travelling by train to Joo Chiat can catch a music performance staged by SMRT at TEL Marine Parade Station from 4pm to 5pm.

Visitors can also participate in a bike tour, as well as dance, pickleball and rollerblading activities.

In the evening, local community groups will organise activities for all ages.

Cultural activities, children activity areas, and live performances will take place within and around Joo Chiat Community Club.

Joo Chiat businesses will also be brought onto the streets for the first time, with zones for food and beverage consumption, pet activities, and fitness classes.

LTA said the programmes showcase how streets can be transformed into vibrant community spaces that encourage social connections, placemaking and appreciation of local heritage.

This also complements LTA's broader efforts to encourage walking, cycling and public transport through initiatives, such as expanding the cycling network, improving first- and last-mile connectivity to public transport, and creating more people-friendly streets across Singapore, LTA added.

Gamification

LTA is also partnering the Health Promotion Board to encourage more people to incorporate walking into their everyday journeys.

Healthy 365 app users can earn a special edition World Car-Free Day badge by clocking at least 10,000 steps for four consecutive days during the challenge period.

More details will be available on the LTA website.

Interactive mobile game

LTA also said it has developed an interactive mobile game with the Government Technology Agency (GovTech).

The game can be accessed through the CrowdTaskSG platform and is available from Sep. 1 to Nov. 30.

It will require participants to walk, cycle and take public transport to locations across the island as they complete different challenges.

World Car-Free Day

Every year around Sep. 22, cities across the globe celebrate World Car-Free Day to encourage motorists to give up their cars for a day.

The event highlights the benefits of a car-lite lifestyle, including reduced air pollution, lower carbon footprint and walking and cycling in a safer environment.

World Car-Free Day showcases how our cities might look, feel, and sound if we go car-lite.

The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix will take place a week later from Oct. 9 to 11.

Yishun 10 is set to close on Mar. 2, 2027 to make way for a new mixed-use development.

Frasers Property announced the plans on Sep. 2, which would mark the end of one of Singapore's pioneering suburban entertainment destinations in its current form.

Yishun 10 opened in May 1992.

It was Singapore’s first multiplex with 10 cinema halls.

What is going up in its place

The new development will comprise about 110 residential units, along with a retail podium on the ground floor.

There will also be a landscaped facilities deck on the second storey.

It is targeted for launch in mid-2027 and completion in 2031, and will be the first residential launch in Yishun Central in over a decade.

The site sits next to Yishun MRT station and the Yishun Integrated Transport Hub, with underground pedestrian access to Northpoint City.

A call for memories

Alongside the announcement, Frasers Property has launched "Yishun 10 Memories," an initiative to document the building's place in the community.

Together with placemaking consultant Studio Lapis, it aims to gather stories and trace the site's evolution as “one of Singapore's pioneering suburban entertainment destinations”, and to look at ways of working those memories into the new development.

Early plans include upcycling old fixtures from Yishun 10, weaving community stories, artworks and murals into the new development, and compiling memories and materials contributed by the community.

Former and current patrons, residents and tenants can email their memories, photographs and memorabilia to yishun10memories@studiolapis.sg by Oct. 31, 2026.

Soon Su Lin, chief executive officer of Frasers Property Singapore, said:

"Yishun 10 holds a special place in the hearts of many Singaporeans who grew up in its immediate community. Through Yishun 10 Memories, we invite the community to share their stories, memories and experiences, as we embark on the next chapter of the Yishun Central site with a new mixed-use development that supports evolving lifestyle needs and aspirations."

Hazy conditions may be expected in Singapore over the next two weeks as dry weather is forecast to persist across the surrounding region into the first fortnight of September 2026, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).

Increase in smoke haze in the region

In its fortnightly weather advisory issued on Sep. 1, MSS said prevailing dry conditions have led to an escalation in hotspot activity and smoke haze in the region.

Dense smoke haze was observed over southern and central Sumatra, as well as various parts of Kalimantan, on most days since around Aug. 21.

While sporadic showers may occur during the second week of this month, dry conditions are expected to persist over most of the surrounding region throughout the fortnight.

Under prevailing southeasterly or southwesterly winds, Singapore could experience hazy conditions should the fires intensify, said MSS.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates if conditions change.

Should Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) enter the Unhealthy range (101-200), NEA will issue daily haze advisories.

Fair conditions expected on most days

Fair and occasionally windy conditions are expected on most days in Singapore, particularly during the first week of September.

Localised short-duration thundery showers may occur over parts of the island in the late morning and afternoon on a few days.

Total rainfall for the first fortnight of September is forecast to be below average over most parts of Singapore.

Daily maximum temperatures are expected to range between 33°C and 35°C on most days, and could exceed 35°C on a few days.

Nights are also expected to remain warm and humid, with minimum temperatures staying above 27°C on most nights.

Dry conditions in late August

The last two weeks of August 2026 were also marked by dry conditions, with fair weather prevailing on most days, as south-west monsoon conditions continued over Singapore and the surrounding region.

There were short thundery showers over parts of the island on some days, while moderate to heavy thundery showers also affected the eastern, southern and central parts of Singapore in the early morning of Aug. 30.

The highest daily total rainfall of 53.8mm during the second fortnight of August was recorded around Telok Blangah that day.

The period was also warm, with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 34°C on most days.

The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.5°C was recorded in Seletar on Aug. 25.

Minimum temperatures remained above 27°C on several nights.

The island also recorded "well below average rainfall" during the second fortnight of August, MSS said.

Rainfall around Admiralty was about 99 per cent below average during the period.

A household appliance retailer in Singapore sued a customer for defamation after she posted a negative review on Shopee.

However, the retailer, Asia Excel, lost the suit and was ordered to pay costs of S$4,000 to the customer, according to a judgment made publicly available on Aug. 31.

Saying that ratings and reviews are "part and parcel" of the ecological system of e-commerce platforms, the judge noted that not all negative reviews are defamatory.

The judge found that the customer's review was not defamatory in this case, adding that it comprises comments which are a matter of public interest, and the defence of fair comment applies in any event.

He added that sellers must be prepared to "take the bad with the good" when buyers give their ratings and reviews, as it is part of conducting business online.

Negative review

The customer, Chua Poh Hiok, had purchased a cooker hood from Asia Excel via Shopee and later posted a review on Nov. 13, 2024, on its listing page on the platform.

She expressed frustration that the seller repeatedly reminded her that there would be no refund or return once the item had been delivered and signed for.

According to Chua, the seller also repeatedly insisted that someone had to be home to receive the item.

Her review in full:

"Please do not buy from this seller. They will call u and keep saying once delivered, no damaged to exterior means cannot return of refund. On top of it, they insist n insist u must wait at home for delivery and make sure u sign d delivery, once signed, no refund/return. Now, what if after installation, it is faulty? How to receive and make sure immediately it is not faulty? It is very frustrating that they n their delivery man will keep reminding u, once acknowledged receipt means everything is acceptable and cannot return. And they give u delivery time like 10am to 1pm n tell u, someone must check n sign once delivered or else charge u $35 for a re-delivery if no one at home. Consider the above before you buy."

Retailer claims review defamatory

Asia Excel argued that the review was defamatory and meant that customers should not buy items from them.

The judge, however, disagreed, pointing out that Chua had set out her personal experience purchasing from the seller for the reader to consider, before deciding whether or not to buy any items from them.

She had ended the review with the line, “Consider the above before you buy," the judge noted.

Asia Excel also listed out four other meanings they understood from the review as defamatory:

• That they would continuously call customers to state that once delivery is done, any damage to the exterior of the product would not be subject to return or refund.
• That they would continuously insist that customers must be home for the delivery and once customers signed, there would be no return or refund for the product “no matter what”.
• That their delivery man would continuously remind customers of the above, causing frustration.
• Upon giving a delivery time, someone must sign upon delivery, failing which a S$35 delivery fee will be charged if no one is at the stated delivery address.

However, the judge said the company had largely paraphrased the text of the review, without pleading the defamatory meanings.

Substance of review justified: Judge

The judge identified the portion of Chua's review on Asia Excel's delivery team calling her on its return and refund policy to be the "substance" of the review.

By their own account, the retailer said it texted Chua on Sep. 13, 2024 at around 11:52am that someone needs to be at her premises to check the electrical appliance upon delivery.

The company had also said only visible damages like scratches or dents need to be reported upon delivery, while functional defects are covered by the product warranty itself.

Additionally, the company said it made clear the delivery timing and various policies the day before on Sep. 12.

Upon analysing the company's account, the judge said that the substance of Chua's review is "wholly justified", adding that the gist of the review reflects the information communicated by the company.

Review comprises comments of public interest: Judge

The judge ultimately found that Chua's comments were not defamatory, and were instead comments which a "fair-minded person can honestly make on the facts" and comments that are a matter of public interest.

He also noted that platform owners actively encourage buyers of goods to give ratings and post reviews on products and sellers on their platforms.

"Ratings and reviews are necessary for the efficacious operation of such e-commerce platforms," he added, saying sellers must be prepared to take the bad with the good when buyers give their ratings and reviews.

"The tort of defamation protects the reputation of individuals and businesses. But not every negative review is defamatory. With the proliferation of online shopping, we need to guard against any increase in unmeritorious defamation actions stemming from negative online reviews posted on e-commerce platforms."

The body of a 25-year-old man was discovered in a residential hall at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Aug. 31.

The police confirmed with Mothership that they received a call for assistance at 32 Nanyang Crescent at 11pm that day.

32 Nanyang Crescent is the address of Hall 13, one of NTU's residential halls on campus.

Police said the man was found lying motionless and was pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedic.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play.

Police investigations are ongoing.

NTU providing support to family

In response to Mothership's queries, an NTU spokesperson said the university is "deeply saddened" by the passing of a student on campus.

"Our immediate priority is supporting the student's family, affected students and the wider campus community during this difficult time," the spokesperson said.

NTU’s Campus Security responded to a call for assistance on Aug. 31 night and subsequently called the police and SCDF paramedics to the scene, they added.

The spokesperson said they are unable to provide further details while police investigations are ongoing.

"NTU wellbeing staff and counsellors are in touch with the student's family and affected students to provide support and assistance," they said.

A man, 62, was seen climbing out of a flat window in Toa Payoh and later pronounced dead at the foot of the block on Aug. 31.

The incident occurred at Block 205 Toa Payoh North.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they received a call for assistance at about 2:10pm.

In response to media queries, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) told Mothership it had visited a residential unit at about 2pm during an anti-drug operation.

The Singaporean man was seen climbing out of the window and subsequently fell from the unit, CNB said.

CNB officers had not gained access to the unit yet at the time, it was added.

Drug paraphernalia were recovered from the unit.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play.

Fell from eighth floor

Stomp reported that the man fell from the eighth floor bedroom window, according to a witness.

The witness added that the man "jumped".

“A female officer downstairs was in shock,” he added.

Helplines

If you or someone you know are in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)

National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Punggol Container Park will be closing, with several tenants being asked to vacate over the next few months.

The landlord City Sprouts, also a tenant at the space, shared in a statement with Mothership that they had to commence the process of informing tenants about the need to vacate after the landowner, Singapore Land Authority (SLA), confirmed that they will have to return the land back to SLA.

The park, which launched around 2017, is home to a cluster of food and drink establishments operating out of repurposed shipping containers in an open-air setting.

SLA replied to Mothership's queries that the lease to City Sprouts cannot be extended as the site is required for future residential redevelopment.

The state property at 50 Punggol East Road will have to be returned to the agency by Dec. 31 upon lease expiry, SLA wrote in their statement.

Tenants' reactions

Some tenants expressed surprise when they learnt the news.

According to chat screenshots seen by Mothership, The Smok Hous found out in early August that it needs to move out by Oct. 31.

The halal smokehouse, which started as a home-based business, set up shop in Punggol Container Park in November 2025.

Owner Isrudy Shaik told Mothership they signed an annual contract to rent the space for about one year.

They were told to operate until Nov. 1 and were given another five days after that to clear all equipment and furniture.

As for what's next, Isrudy is still searching for a new location.

Filipino restaurant Tara Na only opened in Punggol Container Park four months before.

Similar to The Smoke Hous, they were informed that they need to vacate by the end of October despite signing a rental agreement until December 2026, Tara Na's owner Nurnisa Jonson told Berita Harian.

In a video with Isrudy, Nurnisa said, "It's really sad because the people just started to come here, and suddenly [with] one news, they'll all be gone."

The owner of ChickyFish, a longtime restaurant in the park since its establishment 10 years ago, shared in the same video that he was sad about the closure.

He hopes that more people will visit the area and make some memories while it's still around.

Uncertainty about the future

Several tenants were given a later deadline of December to move out.

Details about the last day of operations and future plans remain uncertain to some.

Fitness gym Ark Bloc, which has been around in the park since 2022, wrote on their social media that they have been given "limited information" about the move.

"Our current timeline extends until December 2026, although we have not yet been provided with a confirmed final date of operations."

Its neighbours Hai Bin Prawning and Punggol Billiard both told Mothership they will be closing by December.

An employee at Punggol Billiard who has worked there for five years said they will be sad to leave. They do not know where the billiard hall might move to next.

Hoping to get an extension to operate during year-end festive period

One of the long-time tenants, Whisk and Paddle, told Mothership that hey have always been aware that their tenancy at Tebing Lane would end on Dec. 31, as it was stated in their contract.

However, the cafe had understood that they could operate until that day, but in late August they were asked to fully vacate the premises by Dec. 31.

"This means we have to cease operations much earlier to carry out reinstatement works, with very short notice," the team said.

December is also a festive season where F&B businesses like Whisk and Paddle expects more demand.

They have been seeking assistance from their Member of Parliament (MP) to negotiate with their landlord for some flexibility to operate through December.

They believe it would also allow more time for a smoother transition for their fellow tenants in the area.

Recognise the disruption caused and will help tenants through this transition where possible: City Sprouts

City Sprouts told Mothership they sought to communicate the situation to the affected tenants as early as reasonably possible as they recognise that any closure or relocation can be disruptive to businesses, "especially for F&B operators who have invested significant time and resources into their operations."

To give tenants more time for the transition, they commenced this communication process with their tenants ahead of the require timeline and provided tenants with "substantially more" notice than the typical 60-day notice period, City Sprouts said.

They clarified that City Sprouts has not formally contacted any F&B tenants directly as they have a main sub-tenant that manages the F&B tenants. This sub-tenant was expected to communicate with them about the requirements to cease operations.

Having said that, City Sprouts has remained available to address queries and facilitate the transition where possible, the company said.

"We will continue to work constructively with affected parties during the transition and will provide reasonable assistance and clarification where possible within the constraints of the land return timeline."

A "deeply difficult" outcome

City Sprouts added that the outcome is "deeply difficult" for them, and that they understand the disappointment and uncertainty it creates for their tenants because they share that disappointment.

"We are genuinely heartbroken to have to leave a place that we have spent so much time and energy building together with everyone who has been part of it."

The decision to cease operations was not made by City Sprouts voluntarily but because they have to comply with the landowner's requirements, they emphasised.