A man allegedly fled from the police on a motorcycle and got into an accident with a car in Farrer Road on Aug. 18.

The 37-year-old man was arrested.

He was found with a vaporiser and pod.

A 26-year-old pillion rider was found to be in possession of substances believed to be controlled drugs.

What eyewitnesses saw

A Shin Min Daily News reader took photos in the aftermath of the accident.

An eyewitness told Shin Min that a motorcycle was wedged under a car and two men were lying on the ground.

She said the motorcycle knocked down two small trees before colliding with a car.

A substance, believed to be blood, as well as debris, were seen on the road.

At least two traffic police motorcycles were at the scene.

Stopped during police patrol

A traffic police officer on patrol had signalled for the motorcyclist to stop for a check at about 5pm on Aug. 18 along Adam Road.

The man sped off instead and officers gave chase.

The motorcycle skidded during pursuit and got into an accident with a car.

The motorcyclist and his pillion rider were conscious when taken to the National University Hospital, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force said.

The motorcyclist was arrested for dangerous driving and driving without a valid licence, the police said.

He is being investigated for failing to stop when ordered by an officer and riding without insurance coverage.

The vaporiser-related offence has been referred to the Health Sciences Authority.

The suspected drug-related offence will be dealt with by the Central Narcotics Bureau, police said.

A teenage boy allegedly sustained injuries on his leg after being bullied by a group of boys in public.

A woman who witnessed the ordeal said he also appeared weak and dizzy, even struggling to stand up.

Despite this, he left the scene with the others when she attempted to intervene.

Boy was surrounded

The passerby highlighted her concerns for the boy's safety in a Facebook post dated Aug. 19.

According to her, the incident occurred at 462A Yishun Avenue 6 at about 6:10pm on the same day.

The alleged victim, whom she described as a secondary school boy, was seen with bruises on his leg.

His slippers were also broken, she said.

The woman told Lianhe Zaobao that she noticed others watching the group of teenagers.

She initially thought they were playing around, she explained, until she witnessed one of the boys slapping the victim's face.

Realising that the boy was being taunted, the woman then took pictures on her phone, which she later shared in her post.

She also confronted them and stopped the assault, which prompted the boys to flee on their bicycles and on foot immediately.

"He tried to stand up and fell down," she said in the post. "He looks very weak!"

She added that the boy told her he had been hit.

"I strongly believe he needs medical attention as he has signs of giddiness," she wrote.

Victim ran away with alleged bullies

Speaking to the media, the woman added that she initially advised the boy to stay at the scene while she called for the police and an ambulance.

However, the other boys urged him to flee instead, which he complied with.

Neither the police nor an ambulance was eventually called.

In her post, the woman called for the police to look into the matter and review CCTV footage.

"This is atrocious. So many against one boy!"

The elderly man who injured his back after being shoved to the ground at Roxy Square coffee shop for patting a young girl on the head is back at work.

According to a Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle Instagram Story, 73-year-old Yeo Song Khoon was working at the stall on Aug. 20 tending to customers’ orders.

When Mothership visited the store on Aug. 21 at around lunch time, Yeo was seated at the stall and taking orders.

Among the customers were well-wishers who had visited Yeo to check on him and offer their support.

Customer brings daughter to encourage Yeo

Jo Ng, 40, told Mothership that he has frequented the coffee shop since his secondary school days and knows Yeo for his habit of loudly calling out order numbers.

He brought his one-year-old daughter to the stall, hoping to encourage Yeo to interact with young children as per usual and to check in on him.

Ng said he hoped that allowing Yeo to interact with his child would be "therapeutic" for him.

When Ng approached Yeo and asked if he would pat his daughter’s head, Yeo jokingly declined, then patted her and took photos with them.

Ng said that Yeo told him his back was still painful, but that he was doing okay.

He also offered to connect Yeo with a physiotherapist he knows, but Yeo declined.

Yeo told him that he would leave the matter in the police’s hands and let them conduct their investigation.

Ng said he was thankful to see that Yeo had not been traumatised by the incident and was still comfortable patting another child on the head.

During the time when Mothership was at the stall, two mothers also brought their young daughter to visit the elderly man.

One even brought a "Get Well Soon" balloon for him.

Background

The incident was first shared on Aug. 15 on the Facebook and Instagram pages of Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle.

CCTV footage shows Yeo patting a young girl on the head before her mother appeared to stop him.

The girl's father, a 40-year-old man, then rushed over, grabbed Yeo by the arm and swung him around, causing him to fall to the ground.

Yeo, who has been selling wanton noodles at the stall for more than 40 years, had suffered a fracture on his back after the incident, according to his family.

When asked if Yeo will be going for a surgery, his family said that it's up to him.

Yeo told Mothership on Aug. 21 that he is currently taking painkillers for his back.

An employee at a town council management agency has been charged for allegedly taking bribes from the directors of three engineering and construction firms.

Phua Gim Chuan, 63, had allegedly received a total of S$220,000 from three other men as a payment to advance their business interests.

At the time of the offences, Phua was a Senior Project Manager of EM Services Private Limited, a managing agent of Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council, Sembawang Town Council and Sengkang Town Council.

The other three men involved in the corruption were also charged in court on Aug. 21.

Corruption

The alleged crimes occurred over nearly three years between March 2020 and January 2023.

According to a press release by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), Phua allegedly obtained bribes from 66-year-old Yap Hwee Kang, a director at Paragon Engineering Pte Ltd (PEPL) in March 2020.

The alleged bribes totalled S$30,000 and acted as an inducement for a proposed contract between PEPL and Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council.

Sometime between September and October 2022, Phua allegedly obtained bribes from 62-year-old Ng Lee Peng, a director at MCE Contract Services Pte Ltd (MCEPL) and J&M Construction Pte Ltd (JMCPL).

The alleged bribes totalled S$40,000 and acted as an inducement for a proposed contract between MCEPL and Sembawang Town Council.

In December 2022, Phua allegedly obtained bribes from 64-year-old Lim Kian Koon, a director at Seah & Lim Construction Pte Ltd (SLCPL).

The alleged bribes totalled S$100,000 and acted as an inducement for a proposed contract between SLCPL and Sengkang Town Council.

Phua also allegedly instructed his wife to deposit the pocketed S$90,000 in cash into her personal bank account, thereby concealing his corruption offences.

In December 2022, Phua allegedly again obtained another S$50,000 in bribes from Ng.

This time, the funds acted as an inducement for a proposed contract between JMCPL and Sengkang Town Council.

In the same month, Phua used about S$105,000 of his illegal funds to pay for a Mercedes-Benz.

Charges

For his actions, Phua faced four charges for corruption, as well as two charges for concealing the illegal funds and using them to buy the car.

Yap and Lim also faced one charge each for corruption, while Ng faced two charges.

If convicted, the men can be fined up to S$100,000, jailed up to five years, or both.

If the crimes are in relation to a matter or contract or sub-contract with the government or public body, the maximum imprisonment term for each offence of corruption can be increased to seven years.

Singaporean actor Elvin Ng’s pet dog has passed away at the age of 17.

In an Instagram post on Aug. 18, the 45-year-old shared that he made the decision to euthanise his dog, Bagel.

“Bagle's eyes were still bright and alert even though her body was frail and weak, when I made the call to euthanise her (with the vet's advice) as she was probably in pain and suffering, and it was likely to be a matter of days,” Ng wrote.

The post also included images of Bagel and Ng, who appeared to be crying.

Ng said the decision to euthanise his dog was “a very difficult action to take” and he felt “guilty”.

“I felt I could have done better for her in her later years as she couldn't be in the room so much due to her recurring skin issues and condition,” he wrote.

Ng also shared that Bagel was his first dog and it was “an old shelter dog adopted into the family" nine years ago.

Bagel was about eight years old when Ng adopted her from Voices for Animals (VFA).

“Life was not always easy for her, but she was a real tough Beagle who never grimaced to any pain or yelped to any injection,” he wrote.

“I wish for Bagel to be happy and free now wherever she is, and continue to be the unassuming and happy-go-lucky character that she was even in the face of adversity and challenges. Or a much better and easier next life, if there is one. I've learnt so much from you and your tenacious and indomitable spirit, Bagel,” he concluded.

He also expressed gratitude towards VFA, Spring Veterinary Centre and June’s Pet House for “taking care of Bagel in her life”.

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A post shared by ELVIN NG 黄俊雄 (@elvinngchoonsiong)

The man who stabbed a Catholic priest at St Joseph’s Church in November 2024 was sentenced to four years, three months’ jail and nine strokes of the cane on Aug. 21.

Basnayake Keith Spencer, 38, pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon and weapon possession.

According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, he had attacked Reverend Christopher Lee, who was 57 at the time, with a foldable knife on Nov. 9, 2024.

Other weapons he had included a fishing gaff, a penknife, a butterfly knife, and a mallet.

According to The Straits Times (ST), Basnayake appeared in court via video link, and stared blankly into space as the facts of the case were read out in court.

Stabbed during evening mass

Basnayake had stabbed Father Lee during evening mass, which was attended by around 900 people, according to chargesheets seen by Mothership.

He reportedly arrived at the church alone at around 5:30pm, and sat on the pew in the middle of the church hall.

During the mass, he took two pills to help him stay focused, the prosecution said.

He then took three more pills to calm himself down after realising it was a children’s mass.

At around 6:15pm, two priests, including Lee, stood at the front and gave communion.

Basnayake was in the queue for the other priest, but later turned around to join the back of Lee’s queue.

During his turn, he suddenly took out a foldable knife and thrust it into Lee's mouth, causing him to bleed profusely.

The knife was 23cm long with a 10cm blade.

Lee grabbed the rear pocket of Basnayake’s jeans to prevent him from hurting others.

Members of the congregation, including an off-duty police officer, restrained Basnayake and called the police.

He was later arrested at the scene.

The attack left the priest with an 8cm laceration on his tongue, a 3cm cut on his upper lip, and a 4cm cut in the corner of his mouth.

History of offences

According to previous reports by ST and CNA, Basnayake was sentenced to one year's imprisonment in 2019 after pleading guilty to stabbing his ex-girlfriend with a knife.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) also confirmed previously that the man has past antecedents for serious hurt and misuse of drugs offences.

He had previously declared to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) that he was Christian.

Related story

A crocodile was spotted at Pandan Reservoir on Aug. 20 at about 3pm, resulting in the suspension of water activities in the area.

According to a joint statement by PUB and the National Parks Board (NParks), the Singapore Rowing Association and Singapore Canoe Federation were informed to suspend all activities in the reservoir.

Both agencies said that search and capture operations are being conducted in the area.

"Signage is also being installed around the reservoir to alert members of the public and advise them to exercise caution."

Likely an estuarine crocodile

The joint statement noted that, based on a photo of the crocodile provided to PUB, it is likely to be an estuarine crocodile:

"Estuarine crocodiles feed and rest in brackish and freshwater areas and are usually found in the water or on mudflats. They hunt mainly at night and feed mostly on fish in Singapore, which is its most abundant prey."

The agencies added that these crocodiles are known to be found in the Straits of Johor and the Straits of Singapore.

2026 crocodile sightings

This is the latest in a series of crocodile sightings this year.

On Feb. 4, a crocodile was spotted near Changi Naval Base just five days after a crocodile was sighted in Sentosa Cove.

On May 6, a 2m-long crocodile was spotted in waters off Sentosa Cove, prompting the suspension of water activities at Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong beaches; it was later caught and euthanised.

When encountering a crocodile

The agencies advised the public to stay calm and back away when encountering a crocodile.

Do not approach, provoke, or feed the animal.

Make sure to heed warning signs and advisory notices posted at areas where crocodiles have been sighted.

The public may also contact NParks' Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600 or PUB at 1800-2255-782 to report the encounter.

The director of three companies linked to more than 400 migrant workers, who were owed months of unpaid wages, has been declared bankrupt.

According to a report by The Straits Times, a bankruptcy order was made against Ramu Palani Velu on Aug. 13.

Ramu, who is an Indian national and Singapore permanent resident, is the director of seven companies in Singapore that provide services, including air-conditioning, plumbing, and building works.

Earlier in June 2026, more than 400 workers from three of the companies – VVR Plant Engineering, SK Industries, and KPA Engineering – lodged claims for unpaid wages.

Some workers said they had not received their salaries for about three months.

Claims over unpaid wages

According to ST, five workers from KPA Engineering separately approached the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) in 2025 over unpaid wages.

Their cases were resolved within a week, with the workers receiving payment from the company.

However, four other KPA Engineering workers filed claims for unpaid salaries in May and June 2026.

While those cases were being processed, more than 100 migrant workers went to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Services Centre in Bendemeer on Jun. 22 to seek help regarding their outstanding salary payments and housing arrangements.

ST reported that MOM was already aware of salary claims after speaking to KPA Engineering workers affected by a dormitory eviction notice on Jun. 8.

Authorities had also been trying to contact the company's directors before the workers approached MOM on Jun. 22.

All three firms shared the same director

It was subsequently established that the three companies shared the same director, Ramu, who had left Singapore.

His registered address at a private estate in Hillview had reportedly been rented to foreign tenants over the past two years and is currently leased to a doctor.

He subsequently returned to Singapore on Jun. 26 and has been assisting MOM with its investigations.

Records from the Ministry of Law's Insolvency Office show that he applied for bankruptcy on Jul. 9, ST reported.

AAG Corporate Advisory is listed as the trustee.

Employers who fail to pay salaries may face fines of between S$3,000 and S$15,000 per charge, as well as up to six months' jail.

Blackpink's Jennie's agency has said it will pursue civil and criminal action over malicious online content targeting her.

The statement came as an unverified clip from her Summer Sonic 2026 performance in Japan was spreading online.

The clip showed what appeared to be a wardrobe malfunction that revealed parts of her body.

In its statement, OA Entertainment vowed "no settlement or leniency" over such malicious content, according to The Korea Herald.

The clip

In the clip, the singer was seen dancing energetically, when her top shifted mid-performance.

Parts of her body were revealed during this "wardrobe malfunction".

Its authenticity has not been established. Some users who saw it suspected it had been manipulated, with comments including "This looks fake — probably AI," "Take this down" and "Have some decency," Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

The account behind the clip has since been suspended.

Even watching it can be an offence in Korea

Under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes in South Korea, anyone who creates deepfake content using a person's face, body or voice without their consent, in a way that could cause sexual humiliation, can be jailed up to seven years or fined up to 50 million won (S$45,552).

The law also covers those on the receiving end of such content.

Possessing, buying, saving or even watching such material can carry up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (S$27,331).

Japan Home stores in Singapore have reopened days after several were found shuttered or closed for stocktaking, with Valu$ goods appearing on the shelves.

International Housewares Retail Company Limited (IH Retail), the parent company of the Japan Home brand, said in a press release that all its stores in Singapore resumed operations on Aug. 20 following the completion of transition arrangements.

What actually happened

On Aug. 13, an indirect subsidiary of IH Retail signed a three-year master franchise agreement with Radha Export Pte Ltd, which the company described as "the engine behind the ABC and Valu$ stores in Singapore”.

The handover of existing stores was completed on Aug. 19.

The agreement gives Radha the exclusive right to run the Japan Home business in Singapore, including through sub-franchisees, and to open additional outlets.

IH Retail said Radha brings experience in consumer goods and wholesale distribution along with local operational expertise and an established supply chain network.

It also expects Radha's local capabilities to improve store operating efficiency, responsiveness to market demand, and brand awareness in Singapore.

The arrangement is expected to support the brand's expansion in Singapore and across Southeast Asia over the next three years, IH Retail added.

What staff thought was happening

The Business Times previously reported that some Japan Home workers believed that the chain had been "sold to Valu$ entirely”, while others put it down to a "change of management”.

What led up to this

Five outlets at Hougang Mall, Century Square, Northpoint City, Harbourfront Centre and Buangkok Square held closing-down sales between June and July 2026.

When BT visited nine stores on Aug. 18, it found three shuttered and six closed for stocktaking, with Valu$ stock in several stores and Valu$ staff clearing shelves at Waterway Point.