A 27-year-old man was acquitted of alleged sexual assault involving penetration and outrage of modesty after a judge found that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Both charges, which involved a vulnerable person, were alleged to have taken place on Oct. 30, 2024, Justice Kwek Mean Luck wrote in his judgement published on Oct. 9, 2026.

Background

The judgement noted that the 23-year-old complainant, who was around 21 years old during the alleged offence, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a child.

He was found to be to be extremely weak in verbal skills but relatively better in non-verbal skills and processing speed.

The complainant, who attended a school serving students with autism and intellectual impairment until he was 18, now has a job which his vocational institute linked him up with.

Prior to Oct. 30, 2024, the accused, who was 25 at the time, did not know the complainant.

Dispute

The judgement stated that at about 10:15pm that day, the accused approached the complainant after seeing him walking and pushing a bicycle within the estate.

They continued their conversation at a nearby bench.

The pair left after a while and made their way to a block.

They then took a lift together from the ground floor to level 19 of Block 14 at around 10:23pm, before sitting on the steps of the level 19 staircase.

At around 10:31pm, they took a lift back to the ground floor and went their separate ways.

According to the judgement, the dispute is regarding what happened at the staircase of level 19.

Prosecution's case

The prosecution argued that according to the complainant's oral testimony, he had seen a bicycle with a punctured tyre at the carpark, and pushed it as he wanted to throw it at a dustbin.

When the accused apparently asked him for the time, the complainant said his phone battery was weak.

The accused then supposedly asked him to sit on a bench to talk, where he asked the complainant several questions, including whether he was circumcised.

According to the prosecution, the complainant followed the accused to the block, supposedly "because he always says yes and was scared that [the accused] would do something bad".

They then went to the level 19 staircase, where the accused asked the complainant a second time if he was circumcised.

The prosecution argued that the accused then allegedly committed sexual assault involving penetration and outrage of modesty of the complainant.

Two prosecution witnesses also testified that the complainant disclosed the sexual offences to them on Nov. 2, 2024, or Nov. 3, 2024.

Defence's case

As for the defence, the judgement stated that the sole witness was the accused himself.

The accused completely denied the offences, and also denied asking the complainant if he was circumcised, eventually leaving the bench as he apparently noticed a police car nearby and was afraid of being fined for the vape in his hands.

The accused argued that he walked in the direction furthest away from the police car and claimed the complainant followed without being asked to do so.

He then supposedly pressed level 19 without looking, before talking to the complainant for no more than five to 10 minutes before heading down.

Assessment of testimony in light of ASD

Given that the complainant was diagnosed with ASD, the prosecution argued that the court ought to take that into account, and put forth that the complainant was susceptible to suggestion and had weak social resistance skills.

It was also argued that children or juveniles should not be measured by adult standards on how an average adult may be expected to react.

However, the defence countered that even if the complainant's testimony were to be treated as coming from the equivalent of a minor, the testimony of a minor should be treated no differently from that of an adult complainant.

The defence added that the test remains the same, namely that the court could only convict the accused on the uncorroborated testimony of the complainant if his evidence was so reliable or unusually compelling.

The judge said that regardless of the complainant’s personal characteristics, his testimony had to be "unusually convincing" if it was the sole basis for a conviction. However, he said the court could take his ASD into account when assessing how reliable his evidence was.

Corroboration

In terms of whether there was corroborative evidence such that the complainant's testimony need not be "unusually convincing", the prosecution submitted that the complainant's testimony was not subject to the “unusually convincing” standard.

They argued that it was independently corroborated by four pieces of evidence.

Firstly, video footage from the lift apparently showed the complainant's reaction immediately following the accused's alleged sexual assault, rushing into the lift, pressing the "door close" button and holding down the button even as the accused reached the lift.

This could supposedly be used as independent evidence to assess the veracity of the complainant's testimony.

Secondly, the CCTV footage showed observable changes to the complainant's clothing before and after going to level 19, as well as the accused and complainant's movements before going up to level 19 and the walking path the complainant took immediately after leaving Block 14.

This was said to be consistent with the complainant's account.

Thirdly, the accused was also said to have told a Lucas lie that he saw a police car while at Block 14, which the prosecution argued could serve as independent corroboration of the complainant's testimony.

A Lucas lie is a deliberate lie on a material issue, out of fear of the truth, and clearly shown to be false by independent evidence.

Lastly, the complainant was also said to have told witnesses about the alleged sexual assault within days of it happening, and filed a police report, this was said to serve as corroborative evidence.

However, the judge was unable to agree with the prosecution that the complainant's testimony was independently corroborated by the four pieces of evidence.

While the judge accepted that the complainant hurrying into the lift and pressing the "door close" button seemed consistent with his account, the judge said the complainant’s behaviour in the lift afterwards did not suggest fear.

He chatted with the accused, did not shrink away when the accused tapped his shoulder, and initiated a handshake before they left.

While the absence of visible fear is not determinative, the judge said, the footage does not corroborate "his version of events".

As for the changes in clothing appearance, the judge did not find that much weight could be placed as there could be "a variety of reasons" why the complainant's shirt was half-wedged in.

"For example, it is plausible that the shirt is wedged in as such because of how [the complainant] sat down and moved up when leaving the stairs."

As for the Lucas lie, the judge noted that evidence showed no such police car, but did not find that the accused had lied deliberately.

When asked during cross-examination why he thought that the car he saw was a police car, the accused testified that the car he saw was a "white car".

He had a vape in his hands, so he took a "glance", thought it was a police car, and left.

The judge also accepted that the complainant had made complaints to two people shortly after the incident, and accepted that these two were "truthful witnesses" with no motive to falsely implicate the accused.

Beyond reasonable doubt

In contrast, the judge did not find material inconsistencies in the defence's case.

In closing, the judge agreed with the prosecution that there did not appear to be any reason why the complainant would be motivated to falsely implicate the accused.

He, however, noted that the absence of motive is not sufficient for the case against the accused to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

A 17-year-old Singaporean teen who was hiking Hong Kong's Lion Rock on the morning of Oct. 10 with her two friends apparently had to be rescued by helicopter after becoming unwell.

She was then sent to the hospital, HK01 reported.

Vomited, chills

At about 6:50am on Oct. 10, local police were said to have received a report from the mother of one of the three female hikers that they had gone hiking on Lion Rock.

According to HK01, the three were reportedly from the same school.

The Singaporean teen was purportedly an exchange student there.

They set off at about 5am to climb the 495m-high mountain to watch the sunrise.

After about an hour, she was said to have felt very cold and subsequently vomited.

It was supposedly her first time climbing Lion Rock.

According to HK01, rescue personnel responded to the incident, after which the woman was rescued by a Government Flying Service helicopter before being taken to the hospital by ambulance.

The teen is now reported to be in stable condition.

The South China Morning Post reported that the other two teens did not sustain injuries and have returned home.

The current El Nino is producing "very dry weather" in the region, which makes forest fires a lot harder to put out.

Singapore is aware of Indonesia's efforts to do that, and "stand ready to assist" wherever they can, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said to media at Our Tampines Hub on Oct. 10.

Fu also said she has been in touch with Indonesia's Minister of Environment, Jumhur Hidayat, and has offered her support and appreciation for the effort that he has put in containing the forest fires.

"I'm also supporting any regional efforts to have discussions on regional cooperation on haze issues."

Fu also talked about the plans in place to protect the public health of Singaporeans amidst the haze situation.

Fu pointed out the worsened situation was due to increased hot spots in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and "unfavourable" wind conditions.

Although some rain is expected over the weekend, Fu said that haze levels could exceed 200, going into the "Very Unhealthy" range.

There are measures in place by the Haze Task Force should levels reach that range.

"Just to reiterate, we are concerned about the well-being of our people. We are on top of the situation. We have plans put in place, and we'll do whatever is needed to protect the public health of Singaporeans."

Police investigations revealed that a 16-year-old Malaysian girl was killed after she allegedly rejected a classmate.

According to the Johor police chief, the motive was jealousy and revenge.

The girl had apparently rejected the teen and was in a relationship with his best friend, The Star reported.

Johor Police Chief Ab Rahaman Arsad said that the victim was repeatedly hit on the head with a pipe during the incident.

Beyond injuries to the head, she also suffered from other defensive wounds, The Star wrote.

According to Sinchew, the victim and the suspect had been in the same class for years.

Police have seized a mobile phone, jersey, a 96cm iron rod covered with a necktie, and other items in connection with the case.

Found by her grandmother

On Oct. 3, Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal was found unconscious and covered in blood in a school hall in Yong Peng, Johor.

Johor Police Chief Ab Rahaman Arsad said she sustained several injuries to her head and body and was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was found by her grandmother after the woman became concerned that her granddaughter had not returned home that evening.

Within hours, the police arrested three boys, and one suspect was brought before a magistrate on Oct. 4 and was remanded.

Local police said the boy had no prior criminal record.

The status of the other two suspects is unclear.

The case is being investigated for murder.

Malaysian politician Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, 34, and celebrity Bella Astillah, 32, are officially married.

The solemnisation reception was held at Menara 118 building in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 10.

A total of 200 guests witnessed the reception, according to New Straits Times.

It was livestreamed on Malaysian channels and online platforms from 9am.

Over the next few weekends, the couple will hold another wedding reception in Kuala Lumpur as well as community receptions in Syed Saddiq's constituency in Muar and Kota Kinabalu in Bella's home state of Sabah.

Describing it as a kenduri rakyat (the people's feast), the receptions in Muar and Kota Kinabalu openly invite the public to celebrate the happy occasion with them.

To give back to the community, the couple has prepared 10,000 wedding doorgifts for receptions in Muar and Kota Kinabalu.

The doorgifts and food will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, but Syed Saddiq said the couple will be there to "spend time with the guests who attend", according to Malay Mail.

Malaysian politician Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman and celebrity Bella Astillah held their solemnisation ceremony on the morning of Oct. 10.

Livestreamed on Malaysian channels and online platforms from 9am, the ceremony took place at Kuala Lumpur's Menara 118, with 200 guests in attendance.

Politicians

Among them were Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, whom Syed Saddiq previously invited to his wedding.

He had joked that the invitation marked an "upgrade" in bilateral ties between the two countries.

Workers' Party (WP) chief and Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh and his wife were also spotted at the ceremony.

Others in attendance included former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo.

Wedding events

The solemnisation is one of the couple's several wedding events.

Over the next few weekends, the couple will hold another wedding reception in Kuala Lumpur as well as community receptions in Syed Saddiq's constituency in Muar and Bella's home state in Sabah.

An earlier report mentioned that they got engaged on Mar. 28, 2026, where the engagement ceremony was livestreamed on Astro's social media platforms.

It took place at 3:30pm that day and was attended by family and close industry friends.

In his speech, Syed Saddiq said he was speaking not as a member of parliament or debater, but as the "luckiest man on this earth".

Related stories

Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen’s mother-in-law, Jennifer Wang, has gone viral for her youthful appearance at 69.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, Jennifer’s granddaughter, Jasmine Yen, 21, posted a video celebrating her Jennifer's birthday.

The video showed Jennifer wearing a fitted spaghetti-strap dress, with netizens expressing shock at her youthful looks.

Jasmine introduced her grandmother in the post and wished her a happy birthday.

Jennifer drew praise in the comments, with some even saying they looked like mother and daughter.

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Jennifer is the mother of Yen’s wife, Cissy Wang, 45.

Cissy was formerly a model and is married to film legend, Donnie Yen, 64.

Cissy also posted birthday wishes for Jennifer.

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With Yen wishing his mother-in-law a happy birthday as well.

The police have arrested two men, aged 35 and 39, for criminal trespass at the F1 Singapore Grand Prix event area.

On Oct. 9, 2026, at about 3pm, the police received a report that a man had been detained by F1 Singapore Grand Prix staff within the event area along Republic Boulevard.

Preliminary investigations revealed that at about 1.45pm, two men had purportedly attempted to enter an F1 Singapore Grand Prix event area along Temasek Avenue without valid tickets.

According to the police, the 35-year-old man was denied entry after his ticket was found to be invalid, while the 39-year-old man managed to enter the event area despite holding onto an invalid ticket.

He later allegedly gained unauthorised access to a restricted area meant for F1 Singapore Grand Prix staff and performing artistes.

The 39-year-old man was subsequently located and detained by F1 Singapore Grand Prix staff within the event area, and arrested by police at the scene.

The 35-year-old man was also later arrested along Temasek Boulevard. Both men are known to each other.

The 39-year-old man will be charged in court on Oct. 10, 2026, with two counts of criminal trespass under Section 447 of the Penal Code 1871.

The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to three months, a fine of up to S$1,500, or both.

Investigations against the 35-year-old man are ongoing.

The police said they take a serious view of unauthorised entry into restricted areas at major events, as such acts may compromise the safety and security of the event.

With the possibility of haze conditions worsening in the upcoming days, the Singaporean government's Haze Task Force (HTF) has convened and stands ready to roll out the next tier of action plans and advisories to protect the health and well-being of the public.

In a press release issued on Oct. 9, the HTF outlined the measures it was preparing to take to ensure public health, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with chronic lung and heart diseases.

The HTF is led by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and comprises 28 government agencies.

As of 7pm on Oct. 9, the 1-hour PM2.5 concentration readings were 69 – 123µg/m3, in Band 2, Elevated, and the 24-hr Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) was 136 – 192, in the Unhealthy range.

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Deteriorating haze situation

NEA said that the 24-hour PSI may exceed 200 and enter the very unhealthy range as the haze situation had deteriorated over the past week due to an increase in hotspots in southern and central Sumatra, as well as unfavourable wind conditions.

It advised the avoidance or minimisation of outdoor activities, particularly for the elderly, pregnant women and children, and especially for those with chronic lung or heart conditions, advising those who felt unwell to seek medical attention.

Healthcare institutions such as public hospitals, polyclinics, and nursing homes have activated their haze preparedness measures, closing windows in wards and corridors, using air purifiers, and reducing ambient temperature through portable air coolers where appropriate.

Mask distribution

Should the PSI enter the very unhealthy range, the People's Association (PA) grassroots organisations will start distributing N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans, such as those who may be more vulnerable to the effects of the haze or may have limited means of obtaining N95 masks.

Mask vending machines will also be made available at selected public transport hubs and social services offices.

Eligible Singaporeans can collect N95 masks or ask family members or friends to collect masks on their behalf using the eligible person’s NRIC at vending machines at selected public transport hubs, Social Service Offices and PA venues.

Eligible persons include:

• Pioneer Generation (PG)
• Merdeka Generation (MG)
• CHAS Orange card holder
• CHAS Blue card holder
• Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC) holder
• Recipients of ComCare Assistance

Pregnant women, children (seven to 16 years old), and individuals with medical conditions such as asthma may collect masks at PA venues with their NRICs.

NEA said N95 masks are generally not required for short outdoor exposure, such as commuting between home and school or work, or when indoors.

It advised vulnerable persons to consider wearing an N95 mask when the air quality forecast is in the very unhealthy range (PSI > 200) and if they have to be outdoors for several hours.

However, vulnerable persons with difficulty breathing at rest or on exertion should consult their doctor before using an N95 mask. Any person who feels discomfort when using a mask should take a break from using it.

NEA reassured the public that there are sufficient stocks of N95 masks in retailers' warehouses and government stockpiles.

Preschools and schools

While the PSI is in the very unhealthy range, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) requires preschools to cease all outdoor activities and strenuous indoor activities.

Preschools are required to ensure that all children remain in enclosed and well-ventilated indoor spaces with doors and windows closed, as well as with fans and air conditioners switched on.

Preschools are to prepare at least one enclosed room with air purifiers turned on to temporarily accommodate children who may be unwell or develop respiratory problems due to the haze.

Likewise, the Ministry of Education and schools have plans to ensure the well-being of staff and students during haze, and all students will be kept in well-ventilated, indoor, enclosed spaces with air purifiers turned on.

Teachers have also been instructed to be on the lookout for students who are unwell or have pre-existing conditions.

Classroom lessons will continue but may be modified where appropriate, such as students being assigned work confined to sit-down classroom settings and avoiding outdoor activities.

Schools will monitor the 1-hour PM2.5 readings throughout the day and adjust activities as needed.

National examinations

Arrangements have been made by schools for students sitting for national examinations to take their papers in enclosed spaces and for air purifiers to be provided, allowing examinations to continue should haze conditions unexpectedly worsen.

Should school closures be necessary and coincide with national examinations, the affected examination papers will be rescheduled, and the examination period extended.

As was the case in 2015, MOE will consider closing schools when the air quality forecast for the next day is Hazardous (24-hour PSI>300).

In making any decision to close schools, MOE is mindful of the disruptions to families’ care arrangements for their children, and will take into consideration all available information, health advisories and forecasts from the relevant authorities regarding the next day’s haze situation.

Announcements on the rescheduling of examinations will be made together with the announcement on school closure, and school and private candidates will be informed through their schools and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, respectively.

Should a candidate be unable to sit or continue with the examination, their health must take priority. Schools can escalate the situation to the SEAB in accordance with existing procedures for special consideration, so the candidate will not be penalised.

Employees working outdoors

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reminded employers not to compromise on the health and safety of their employees, especially employees involved in outdoor work, referring employees to the haze guidelines and tripartite advisories.

It advised employers to adopt the following risk-mitigating measures when the 24-hour PSI enters the very unhealthy range.

• Avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor work for healthy employees.
• Minimise outdoor work for vulnerable workers, especially the elderly and pregnant women.
• Avoid outdoor work for workers with chronic heart and lung conditions.
• Use mechanical aids, implement job rotation, schedule indoor rest breaks and ensure adequate hydration.
• If prolonged or strenuous outdoor work is not avoidable, and an employer still requires an employee to work due to extenuating circumstances, the employer is strongly urged to provide suitable masks (e.g., N95 masks or equivalent).

Haze shelters

Air-conditioned rooms in community clubs (CC), selected residents' committees, and Residents' Network Centres will be set up as haze shelters, allowing members of the public to seek respite from the haze when PSI enters the very unhealthy range.

Residents may contact their nearest CCs for the haze shelter locations and operating hours. If the 24-hour PSI crosses into the hazardous range (PSI > 300), the opening hours of the shelters will extend to 10 pm.

Five Myanmar nationals have been given 21 years' jail over the death of a Belarusian model who was trafficked to a scam compound in Myanmar under the guise of a modelling gig in October 2025.

Vera Kravtsova, a 26-year-old singer and aspiring model, thought that she was meeting modelling recruiters in Bangkok, but ended up being trafficked across the Thai-Myanmar border.

She was reportedly made to work at a scam compound in Myanmar.

Her family lost contact with her in early October 2025, and they were told her body had been "cremated" after they did not meet ransom demands to repatriate her body.

Arrest warrants issued

According to Burmese news outlet DVB, the five individuals were sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Arrest warrants were also issued for three other Myanmar and two Tajkistanis nationals in relation to the case.

It is not known how the local police tracked and arrested the five suspects.

Background

Kravtsova reportedly left Minsk around early September 2025 for a purported modelling gig in Bangkok.

She later ended up in Myanmar and was forced to carry out scam work at a compound.

Sometime in early October 2025, her family stopped hearing from her.

They were later told that the 26-year-old had died.

The family received messages demanding US$500,000 (S$646,400) for the return of her body.

They refused to pay, and were told her body had been "cremated".

Russian outlets claimed that her organs had been sold because she failed to bring in enough earnings for the syndicate.

Myanmar recently passed an anti-scam law, punishing those found guilty of being involved in forced labour, torture and cyber-fraud operations with life imprisonment or capital punishment.