A 29-year-old Singaporean man, who was a traffic police officer, was sentenced to 16 months’ jail after tipping off a 25-year-old man that his ex-girlfriend had informed authorities that he drove without a license.

Shivasuria Maniam Kesaval was sentenced on Jul. 2.

Kesaval had contested the charges, but was convicted of four charges under the Computer Misuse Act for performing unauthorised screenings and a charge under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

The 25-year-old, Brayden Ong Ying Shan, had fled Singapore by boat on Jun. 2 after he was convicted of one charge under OSA and another charge for criminal intimidation, The Straits Times reported.

There is a warrant of arrest against him.

Friends

In court documents seen by Mothership, Ong and Kesaval have been friends since 2019.

Ong was aware that Kesaval was a traffic police officer.

On Jul. 12, 2022, Ong was apprehended by traffic police officers after the police received a tip-off from his ex-girlfriend that he was driving without a licence.

Ong’s vehicle was subsequently towed away to an impound lot.

He then contacted Kesaval to inform him of his apprehension.

Kesaval also told his colleague, who was in charge of investigating Ong, that he was friends with Ong.

Assessed

Between Jul. 14 and 26, 2022, Kesaval accessed police systems and found out about Ong’s case.

He also uncovered Ong's and his ex-girlfriend's private information, and the original report made by her against Ong.

Kesaval then tipped off Ong.

During that period, the pair also met repeatedly.

Threaten

On Jul. 15, 2022, from about 12:57am to 4:37am, he told his ex-girlfriend that he would “murder” whoever reported him to the police.

He also sent her a photo of Kesaval and told her that he “got a tp friend that is high ranking".

Ong further instructed her to provide the names of her family members, insinuating he would have Kesaval perform checks on them to see if they had reported him.

At about 3:41pm, while meeting Kesaval, Ong told his ex-girlfriend that he knew the incident report creation time.

On Jul. 21, 2022, at about 10:01pm, Ong told another friend that his ex-girlfriend had made the report against him, and according to a friend from the traffic police, he was caught in a planned ambush.

Ong also sent his friend WhatsApp screenshots of conversations between him and Kesaval.

As part of Kesaval's defence, the court heard that Ong and his ex-girlfriend were reportedly together at the time despite the threats, it was also reported.

Unauthorised

The prosecution sought 19 months’ jail for Kesaval, arguing that Kesaval was not authorised by his chain of command to access the information.

They also alleged that both Ong and Kesaval were “devoid of credibility” during cross-examination, citing inconsistencies in their claims.

The prosecution added that both of the accused persons "have demonstrated not one iota of remorse", "lied repeatedly" and "cast numerous aspersions on the police and the prosecution", alleging misconduct by "virtually every public servant".

A hearing to review Ong's warrant of arrest has been fixed for Jul. 14.

A Buddhist monk in Thailand died on Jul. 1 after he was electrocuted while trying to free a dog caught in a barbed wire fence.

He was unaware the fence had become live after an electrical fault from a nearby power pole.

According to Naewna, the incident occurred in Pathum Ratchawongsa District, Amnat Charoen Province.

The monk, identified as Phra Tom, 37, was from Wat Nong Nam Khun temple in the area.

What happened

Phra Tom was on his usual early morning alms round in the local community when he heard a dog barking in distress and found it tangled in a roadside barbed wire fence.

He approached and reached out with his hands to pull the wire apart so the animal could escape.

However, he was unaware that the high-voltage electricity was passing through the fence from a nearby power pole.

The moment his palms made contact with the wire, he was electrocuted and collapsed on the spot.

Bystanders rushed to help and called emergency services, who transported him to Pathum Ratchawongsa Hospital.

He died while receiving emergency treatment.

Post-mortem findings

According to Naewna, a post-mortem examination was carried out by police investigators and hospital doctors.

The examination found severe electrical burns on his hands, with no other injuries or signs of foul play.

Doctors concluded that the victim had died from acute heart failure caused by a high-voltage electric current passing through his body.

Police warning

Following the incident, police in Amnat Charoen Province issued a public safety warning, noting that wet ground and high humidity during the rainy season raised the risk of electrocution.

Residents were advised to stay away from damaged or exposed power equipment, avoid touching metal fences or barbed wire near power poles especially during or after rain, and report any suspected electrical faults to the relevant authorities immediately.

A British tourist has sparked online debate after naming Singapore as the "worst country" he has travelled to in a TikTok on Jun. 30.

@az_brown #travel #traveltok #singapore ♬ son original - 🎧🎶

Following some backlash, he clarified that Singapore as a travel destination did not suit his personal travel preferences, even though it is a "great" country.

'Worst country I've visited'

The man, who goes by the social media handle "British_Bert", does remote work that allows him to travel, according to his TikTok bio, which features the UK, Indonesia, and Malaysia flags.

In his initial video, he claimed that Singapore was "not even close" to other cities he had visited.

He explained in his caption:

"For me.. it’s still a great country may I add! Just found it slightly boring to what I find enjoyable, still worth a visit, food, people and skyline are amazing."

He concluded by saying that he would advise only staying in the country for the short period of time.

The TikTok quickly went viral, with comments from all quarters.

Those who agreed acknowledged that the city can be "boring", but felt calling it the "worst country" was an overstatement.

Many who disagreed questioned the man's wealth:

The man responded to a comment calling his own post "ragebait" and saying that Singapore actually is a "quality city" but not for someone like him.

'Singaporeans are fuming'

He then made a follow-up video to address the criticisms, and by doubling down on his stance.

@az_brown #singapore #Travel #traveltok #SG ♬ original sound - ridgeclub

He praised the country's cleanliness, diversity, opportunities, food quality, skyline, education, and healthcare, but explained that these factors are not his priorities when travelling.

On safety, he had never faced safety issues in other countries, so Singapore's reputation was not a major selling point for him.

He said he judges countries based on nature, activities, and the warmth of the locals, which are areas he felt Singapore fell short of compared to its neighbours.

The traveller also mentioned that while people in Singapore were "not bad", those in neighbouring countries were "way more welcoming".

He added that online commenters commenting on his wealth were in a vastly different situation than him, arguing that his money goes much further elsewhere.

He asked:

"Why would I choose to live somewhere that is way more expensive than everywhere else, when I can have more things to do, better people welcoming me, and have my money go longer in surrounding countries rather than living in Singapore?"

A 49-year-old man in Malaysia was sentenced to 10 years in jail and two strokes of the cane after he raped an eight-year-old girl.

After the assault, he then offered her RM3 (S$0.95) as a bribe to stay silent.

Incident

Hilmee Kusnan, an unemployed man from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, admitted to his crimes in court during his trial.

According to New Straits Times, the girl was returning home after buying banana fritters on Sep. 4, 2025 when she encountered Hilmee in an elevator of a flat in Cheras.

Both parties did not know each other.

Hilmee then persuaded the girl to follow him to his unit.

When she refused, he reportedly dragged her inside and assaulted her.

He then sent her back to the lift and paid for her silence.

The victim nonetheless confided in a friend while waiting for her school bus.

The friend, in turn, alerted her mother, who informed the girl's mother.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed injuries consistent with the assault.

The girl also managed to identify Hilmee during a police lineup.

He was arrested on Sep. 5, 2025.

According to The Star, Hilmee made a last-minute change in his plea to guilty on Jul. 2, the start of his trial.

"This incident leaves a lasting trauma on the victim," the Deputy Public Prosecutor said.

Hilmee was handed 10 years' jail and one stroke of the cane for rape, and four years' jail and another stroke of the cane for molestation.

His jail time was ordered to run concurrently from the date of arrest.

He was also ordered to undergo a two-year counselling session in prison with another two years under police surveillance, after he completes his prison time.

The national football teams of Japan and Brazil could be coming to Singapore for a friendly tournament in November 2026.

According to a report by The Straits Times (ST), if the game is confirmed, the matches are expected to be part of a four-team tournament which will be held at the National Stadium during the FIFA international window from Nov. 9 to 17.

The report also said the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and local organisers are considering Japan's Samurai Blue, Brazil's Selecao, another South American team that has qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and Singapore's national team for the tournament.

The tournament would also serve as part of Singapore's preparations ahead of the AFC Asian Cup, which will be held from Jan. 7 to Feb. 5, 2027.

ST also reported that the Brazil team has already announced two high-profile international friendlies in Australia on Sep. 25 and 29 as part of a post-World Cup tour.

Separately, citing sources, Japanese football website Football Zone reported on Jul. 1 that a tournament in Singapore is under consideration for the November FIFA window and that Japan and Brazil have been invited.

Not the first time meeting in Singapore

If the two sides are confirmed, it will mark the second time Japan and Brazil have faced each other in Singapore.

Their last meeting in the country was in October 2014, when Neymar scored all four goals in Brazil's 4-0 victory over Japan in an international friendly at the National Stadium.

The match attracted a crowd of 51,577 people.

Mothership has reached out to FAS for further comment.

Plaza Singapura is set to begin an estimated S$160 million major revamp in August 2026.

The change has left mall retail workers unsure about what their future holds, they told CNA on Jul. 2.

Earlier reports stated that Hong Kong dim sum restaurant Tim Ho Wan and cinema chain Golden Village would be shutting their doors as part of the revamp.

The major revamp to Plaza Singapura, as well as The Atrium@Orchard, was first revealed on Apr. 24 at CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust's (CICT) first-quarter 2026 business update.

Phases of works

The mall's first phase of works is set to take place from August 2026 to March 2027, according to a Jul. 1 circular from mall operator CapitaLand to tenants, as seen by CNA.

This would include reconfiguration of retail and food and beverage (F&B) units, the linkway on level one, bridge works on level three, as well as reconfiguration works on level seven.

The travellators at the car park and common areas would also have work carried out.

CNA reported that from March 2027 to March 2028, as part of the second phase, there would be work at the first and fifth levels, and the car park and common areas.

The mall's escalators and travellators would also be upgraded from July 2027 to April 2028.

From February 2028 to October 2028, the third phase would include retail and F&B units on the basement floors being reconfigured as well as works in the common areas.

Engaging tenants progressively: CapitaLand

CapitaLand said in the circular that the mall would remain operational and open for business as usual.

"General access within Plaza Singapura and to your premises will be maintained and efforts will be put in to minimise disruptions to your business operations," said CapitaLand.

Upon visiting the mall on Jul. 2, CNA noted that while no closure signs were seen, workers of at least 10 shops said they were unsure about their future.

Other observations included several shops being due to close prior to the revamp, with some storefronts on levels one, two and three boarded up.

Speaking to CNA, CapitaLand said it had been engaging tenants progressively on the revamp since the start of 2026, informing them of the timeline and scope before works commence.

CapitaLand has been "working closely" with tenants on "suitable options tailored to their business needs", its spokesperson said.

Workers unsure of future

Golden Village had earlier announced in a press statement that six cinema halls will host their final screenings on Aug. 2, 2026, while the remaining halls will continue operating right up to the cinema's final day on Aug. 16, 2026.

In response to whether the outlet would potentially reopen at the mall in the future, a Golden Village spokesperson told CNA that they "don't have any confirmed plans to share" at the time.

A Pandora manager told CNA that he had reportedly been informed of the details of the revamp works for the first time through the circular.

He said his management is deciding between leaving before the end of their lease in October or extending their lease until the end of the year.

An earlier report noted that Tim Ho Wan's last day of operations would be Jul. 12, 2026.

Difficulty of relocating shops within mall

Secret Recipe told CNA that its outlet on the third floor of the mall would permanently close after its last day on Jul. 27.

An employee said some of the staff have worked for 10 or 15 years.

A fashion shop employee, who declined to be named, said she would be leaving together with two other staff members before the revamp begins.

She told CNA that she has already secured another job.

A husband-and-wife team in Yishun has been selling nasi lemak at S$2 even as their stall rent approaches close to S$10,000 a month.

Reban Kasran, 57, and Sakdiah Abdul Latiff, 53, own Indonesian Selera Corner at Block 101 Yishun Avenue 5, a 24-hour stall that has been in operation since 2005.

Their $2 nasi lemak comes in two variants: fish or chicken, each served with rice, sambal, egg, anchovies, peanuts and cucumber.

Why they keep the price low

Speaking to Berita Harian, Sakdiah said the idea to sell nasi lemak at S$2 came after hearing directly from customers, particularly elderly regulars who wanted something simple and filling.

Sakdiah added that some of their customers have as many as seven children, and that pricing nasi lemak any higher would put a real strain on such families.

“We believe affordable food should not be a burden to people,” she continued.

In a video on her Instagram, Sakdiah also addressed the community directly, saying:

"In the Yishun area, there are still many people who are struggling, elderly folks who can eat this nasi lemak. The price is only $2. We've been selling it for a long time but not many people know. So for breadwinners, you can order our S$2 nasi lemak."

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Indonesian Selera Corner (@indonesianseleracorner)

How they make it work

The stall has eight staff and also offers nasi padang dishes, which helps cover operating costs.

To keep ingredient costs down, the couple regularly compare prices across multiple suppliers and source from whoever offers the most competitive rate.

Reban told Berita Harian that profit was never the main concern.

He said:

"We don't really think too much about making big profits. Even though the profit margin is very small, we keep prices low to make sure anyone can still afford our nasi lemak.”

He added: “We just want to make sure the elderly and large families still have an affordable food option."

He also said quality was non-negotiable despite the low price point.

Customers who have grown up at the stall

Among their most cherished memories are the long-term relationships built with regulars across generations, Sakdiah told Berita Harian.

She said:

"I still remember a child who first ate at our stall when he was 10 years old, and now he is 30 and has his own children."

She also recalled a customer who had been coming since he was eight years old in primary school, and still returns even after starting university.

Beyond the elderly, their customer base spans students and workers who stop by for breakfast before school and work.

Passing it on

Reban and Sakdiah, who have three children, are already training one of their daughters, currently studying at ITE, to eventually take over the stall.

Reban told Berita Harian:

"As long as we are able, we will continue to keep this nasi lemak at a price that ordinary people can still afford, because we want to always be there for the community."

A 30-year-old vertical shorts actor from China is now selling vegetables in his hometown after gigs ran dry as the industry started relying on AI.

From 16-hour days to no gigs

According to Singtao Headline, when the Chinese vertical shorts industry boomed in 2025, actor Xu Peng (transliteration) managed to score leading roles in a number of them.

He gained fame by playing the domineering boss archetype in Chinese vertical shorts.

At the peak, he was shooting between 15 and 16 hours a day.

However, as AI use proliferated in the industry, AI actors gradually took over.

Gigs for actors like Xu eventually ran dry.

Positive outlook

In March 2026, Xu filmed his last gig, packed up and returned to his hometown in Shandong, China.

To make a living, Xu sells produce grown by his grandfather.

Xu has also been approached by fans for photos.

Despite what happened, Xu remained positive in outlook.

Commenting on the career switch, Xu said, "Acting is just a career. If there are no opportunities, we'll just have to try something else. I'm making an honest living. There's nothing that's insurmountable."

He also said, "To me, there's no such thing as retiring when it comes to life, only a change in stage. Even if I've switched careers, I am still me, there's no difference."

Buntono, 49, the owner of Eminent Frog Porridge, also known as Ming Hui Food Porridge, and Eminentseafood, was charged in court on Jul. 3 with income tax and goods and services tax (GST) evasion and money laundering offences.

This was after a joint investigation by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force.

Buntono, who goes by one name, faces a total of 30 charges, a joint statement by IRAS and the Singapore Police Force said on Friday.

The tax offences were:

• Wilfully understating his trade income for years of assessment 2016 to 2024, resulting in close to S$2 million of income tax being undercharged.

• Wilfully perpetuating a fraud by deliberately concealing the liability of his businesses to be registered for GST and falsely understating his business income in his income tax returns for those years, resulting in close to S$1.8 million of GST being undercharged.

• Failing to keep sufficient business records for years of assessment 2016 to 2024.

The money laundering offences were:

• Possessing properties that, in part, represented his benefits from wilful income tax evasion, namely over S$2.4 million in cash, a Lamborghini Aventador and a landed property.

IRAS warns against tax evasion

IRAS said in the joint statement that it takes a serious view of tax evasion.

IRAS said: "There will be severe penalties for those who wilfully evade tax. The authority will not hesitate to bring offenders to court. Offenders may face a penalty of up to four times the amount of tax evaded. Jail terms may also be imposed."

All businesses, including individuals deriving income from their trade, profession or vocation, should assess if they need to register for GST.

IRAS said the thresholds are:

• If a business’s taxable turnover for the past 12 months exceeds S$1 million at the end of the calendar year, it must apply for GST registration by Jan. 30.

• If a business reasonably expects its turnover to exceed S$1 million in the next 12 months, it must register within 30 days from the date of their forecast.

• Sole proprietors are required to register once the combined turnover from all their sole-proprietorship businesses and income from any trade, profession or vocation exceeds or is expected to exceed $1 million in the next 12 months.

Any business that fails to register for GST is still required to pay GST on all their past transactions from the date the business became liable for GST registration, IRAS added.

GST is payable even if the amount was not collected from customers.

Failure to register for GST is an offence and businesses may face penalties of 10 per cent of GST and fines of up to S$10,000.

Under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, it is an offence for any person to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer, remove from jurisdiction, acquire, possess, or use benefits derived from criminal conduct. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to be punished with a fine of up to S$500,000, or a jail term of up to 10 years, or both.

Cash rewards for informants

A reward based on 15 per cent of the tax recovered, capped at S$100,000, will be given to informants if the information and/or documents provided lead to a recovery of tax that would have otherwise been lost.

All payments are at the discretion of the Comptroller.

IRAS will ensure that the identities of informants are kept strictly confidential.

TikTok Singapore laid off staff on Jul. 1 following a reorganisation.

A TikTok spokesperson told Mothership that the company is continuing a reorganisation to "strengthen their global operating model for Trust and Safety", the arm that oversees content moderation.

An affected employee who spoke to Mothership said they knew of around 20 people from their team who were affected.

They purportedly received an email that morning.

The situation in the office was "hectic", they said.

TikTok did not specify how many employees were affected in total.

Providing support

The TikTok spokesperson said they are looking at centralising portions of its workforce within key operating hubs and evolving the way it works to ensure teams remain scalable and agile, while advancing platform safety through the latest technological innovations.

According to TikTok, its priority is to treat employees with respect, care and transparency throughout the process.

Mothership understands that the company is providing support "consistent with local laws and regulations".

The tech firm said it is committed to ensuring that affected employees receive the information, resources and benefits available to them during this transition.

Job cuts around the world

The layoffs in Singapore coincided with those at other regional TikTok offices, with the company confirming that it also laid off employees in Indonesia on Jul. 1.

According to Tech in Asia, TikTok Indonesia said it is realigning its R&D organisation towards areas that can drive sustainable long-term growth.

Bloomberg also reported on the same day that the tech firm is considering cutting about 300 jobs at its European hub in Dublin.

Meanwhile, several former employees in Malaysia took to social media to speak about being retrenched on Jul. 1.

Union's statement

In response to Mothership's queries, the Creative Media and Publishing Union (CMPU) said that while TikTok Singapore is a non-unionised company, some employees are union members.

"In retrenchment exercises where there are individual union members working in non-unionised companies, NTUC's affiliated unions or associations will extend assistance to these individual union members should they be affected by the exercise," CMPU said.

Affected union members may reach out to CMPU via email at cmpu@ntuc.org.sg for assistance.

"CMPU is also working closely with NTUC’s ecosystem of support, including NTUC PME and NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute), to provide affected members and workers with holistic support ranging from career transition guidance to job matching. e2i stands ready to support affected Singaporeans and PRs with job matching services, career coaching and skills upgrading advisory. For more information, visit www.e2i.com.sg."