A Singaporean woman linked to transnational scam syndicate Prince Holding Group has been arrested.

44-year-old Chen Xiuling, also known as Karen Chen, was arrested at Changi Airport on Nov. 5, the police said in a media release.

She was handed two charges in court on Nov. 6: one for instigating another person to falsify accounts, and another for an attempt to cheat.

According to the police, Chen was the director of several Singapore-registered companies believed to be owned by Chen Zhi, the founder and chairman of Prince Holding Group, including Skyline Investment Management Pte Ltd and Capital Zone Warehousing Pte Ltd.

She allegedly submitted false documents involving these two companies.

Prince Holding Group was sanctioned by the U.S. and UK in October 2025, with the U.S. designating Chen Zhi as a Specially Designated National, blocking his assets.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) then seized over S$150 million in assets linked to Prince Holding Group that same month.

Chen Zhi was also caught and extradited to China at the start of 2026.

The SPF has seized or frozen a total of over S$700 million in assets related to Prince Holding Group to date, according to its media release.

Illicit activities

The police stated on Nov. 5 that Skyline submitted a business plan and false agreement to JTC Corporation for approval to take over the lease of a property in September 2022.

Chen also allegedly instigated an officer from Capital Zone Warehousing to falsify said agreement, with intent to defraud.

She is also believed to have submitted the false agreement to attempt to cheat JTC Corporation.

CNA reported that when Chen was charged in court on Nov. 6, the prosecution sought a six-day remand for Chen to investigate further.

They argued that she would be able to communicate with other individuals linked to Prince Holding Group and ongoing investigations.

Chen objected and asked to rest at home, but the judge ordered that she remain in remand.

If found guilty of instigating another person to falsify accounts, Chen could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined, or both.

As for the offence of attempted cheating, Chen could receive up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine.

A 94-year-old Singaporean driver who crashed into a motorcyclist along Upper Thomson Road was fined S$5,000 and disqualified from driving for five years.

The man, Goh Boon Kang, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without reasonable consideration to other road users and causing grievous hurt to the victim.

According to the charge sheet seen by Mothership, the accident took place near the junction of Jalan Angklong at around 9:45am on Sep. 2, 2025.

Goh was making a discretionary right turn and failed to give way to a motorcyclist coming from his left, The Straits Times reported.

Footage played in court showed the motorcyclist being thrown off his motorbike onto the road.

Another motorcyclist also nearly crashed into Goh's car but managed to stop in time.

The 58-year-old victim suffered multiple leg fractures as a result of the collision.

He was warded at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for 32 days before being transferred to a hospital in Malaysia to continue his treatment.

Goh, who used a walking stick in court, was allowed to sit during the proceedings.

Medical checks for older drivers

Under the Road Traffic Act, motorists aged 65 and above who wish to keep their driving licences must undergo medical assessments.

In a written parliamentary reply in July 2026, Senior Minister K Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, said the three-yearly assessment covers a motorist's medical history, vision, hearing, movement and any physical or mental abnormalities.

The assessment is done by a Singapore-registered medical practitioner using a checklist developed by the Traffic Police, based on the Singapore Medical Association's "Fitness to Drive" guidelines.

Large crowds and heavy traffic are expected in Little India during the upcoming Deepavali celebrations, particularly on Nov. 7, the eve of Deepavali.

In an advisory on Nov. 6, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) warned of heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic along Serangoon Road during this period.

The police also reminded the public that drinking alcohol in public during restricted hours, misusing sparklers and illegally discharging fireworks are offences.

Members of the public are also advised to remain vigilant and safeguard their belongings, especially in crowded areas.

Pedestrian crossing closures

To facilitate crowd and traffic management, the pedestrian crossing at Birch Road, in front of Anguilla Mosque, will be closed from 4pm on Nov. 7 to 4am on Nov. 8.

Pedestrians can instead use the crossings near Kitchener Link or Baboo Lane.

The pedestrian crossing at Campbell Lane may also be closed if necessary, with alternative crossings available near Sungei Road or Dunlop Street.

Directional signs will be placed at affected crossings, while auxiliary police officers will be deployed to regulate traffic and assist pedestrians.

Motorists are also advised to use alternative routes and drive with caution.

No public drinking from Nov. 6 to 10

Under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, Little India and Geylang are declared as Liquor Control Zones.

Public drinking will be prohibited in these areas from 10:30pm on Nov. 6 to 7am on Nov. 10.

The boundaries of the Little India Liquor Control Zone (LCZ) are shown in the map below:

The periods during which public drinking is prohibited in LCZs are also summarised in the table below:

Those caught consuming alcohol in public during the restricted hours within a LCZ may face a fine of up to S$1,500.

Repeat offenders may face a fine of up to S$3,000, imprisonment of up to 4.5 months, or both.

Retailers who sell alcohol outside permitted trading hours may also have their liquor licences revoked.

Police warn against illegal fireworks

SPF reminds the public that the illegal possession, discharge and importation of fireworks are offences under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021.

Under the Act, fireworks are classified as explosives, and their illegal discharge poses a danger to the public and their property.

A total of 45 people were investigated for fireworks-related offences between January and December 2025.

Individuals convicted of such offences may face up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to S$50,000, while entities may face a fine of up to S$100,000.

Misuse of sparklers can also lead to penalties

The police also warned against misusing sparklers, including combining multiple sparklers together, as such acts pose fire hazards and could cause serious injuries.

Those convicted of rash or negligent conduct involving dangerous or harmful substances that is likely to cause injury or endanger life may face up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

If the act causes hurt to another person, the offender may face up to three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Keep your belongings safe

The police shared several crime prevention tips for those heading to Little India:

• Keep an eye on your belongings at all times, especially in crowded areas.
• Ensure your bag is closed and sling it in front of you.
• Avoid keeping your wallet in your back pocket.

Those who require urgent police assistance can approach a police officer or call 999.

GovTech will renew its capabilities and play a critical role in leading the Singapore government's digital transformation, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the agency's 10th anniversary dinner on Nov. 5, 2026.

GovTech's expertise should be extended to rest of public service

In order for GovTech to do so, it has to remain a place where people with deep expertise and a strong sense of purpose can deepen their craft, take on challenges and do meaningful work, PM Wong said.

Part of its renewal is the recent restructuring exercise, which has been "a difficult period" for some officers, he added.

"We will continue to support the affected officers as they acquire new skills and prepare for new opportunities, whether within GovTech or outside," he said.

However, the expertise developed in GovTech has to be embedded across the wider public service.

This is why GovTech has been bringing its product and engineering capabilities closer to frontline agencies and the effort to extend GovTech's expertise and capabilities to the rest of the government will continue.

PM Wong said:

"Ultimately, our goal is not simply to have a strong tech agency. It is to have a technologically strong government. A government where technology is integral to policymaking; where policymakers understand what technology can enable; where technologists understand the policy objectives and operational realities; and where both can work together to deliver better outcomes for Singaporeans."

Thanked past and present GovTech officers for hard work

At the dinner, PM Wong also thanked past and present GovTech officers for their contribution and hard work.

Useful digital products, such as TraceTogether, SafeEntry and the vaccination booking system, helped the nation tide through the Covid-19 pandemic, PM Wong recalled.

However, what stayed with him the most was the dedication of the officers who worked on these products under high pressure:

"We saw the value of these capabilities during the Covid pandemic. It all sounds like a bad dream now, or even a nightmare, but many may still remember digital products like Trace Together, Safe Entry or the vaccination booking system. But what stayed with me most was the people behind them – the teams working under tremendous pressure, solving problems quickly and doing whatever was needed to support our national response. It showed what we can achieve when we combine technological expertise with a strong sense of mission and the determination to get things done."

Integrating technology and policymaking

PM Wong also said technology cannot be an afterthought in policymaking.

He encouraged GovTech officers to not only go beyond implementing what policy makers want, but to become active partners in solving public policy problems.

This means that GovTech officers need to understand the policy intent, and not be afraid to challenge assumptions or suggest different approaches.

"Sometimes, the best solution is not more sophisticated technology, but a simpler policy," PM Wong said.

Policymakers have to develop a better understanding of what technology can or cannot do as well.

"The aim is not to master all the technical details. It is to develop the instincts to ask the right questions, appreciate the possibilities and constraints, and understand how technology can help shape better policy choices," PM Wong added.

Two male Chinese nationals were both sentenced to 14 months’ jail each for breaking into a temple in Balestier and stealing S$300 from a donation box.

Liao Yongzhan, 43, and Liao Quanwan, 50, were each charged with two theft-related offences.

Both men pleaded guilty and were sentenced on Nov. 3.

Rich country

In court documents seen by Mothership, Yongzhan and Quanwan were friends who knew each other in China and came to Singapore together as part of a tour group.

Investigations revealed that sometime in March 2026, both men decided to come to Singapore to gamble and commit theft, believing Singapore was a “rich country”.

They arrived in Singapore with a tour group and brought items, such as improvised fishing tools made with string and sticky tape.

These tools were designed to descend into box holes and attach to the money inside.

The user would then pull the string up to extract the money attached to the sticky tape.

Temple

On Apr. 2, between 1:15am and 4:30am, Yongzhan and Quanwan entered Burmese Buddhist Temple located at Balestier by climbing over its fences.

After searching the premises, they found the temple’s donation boxes.

The men then used their improvised tools and removed about S$300 from the donation boxes.

While they were doing so, one of the temple’s Buddhist lecturers, who happened to be walking through the temple grounds late at night to get water, saw the men and shouted at them.

Yongzhan and Quanwan quickly ran off, climbed the temple’s fence, and fled the scene.

Flee

After fleeing, both men discarded their improvised tools into a drain and took a taxi to their hotel room.

They packed their bags and travelled straight to Changi Airport to take an earlier flight back to China.

The men spent the money they stole on plane tickets back to China.

No restitution has been made to date.

Arrest

Sometime in August 2026, both men decided to return to Singapore.

They intended to gamble, sightsee and commit another theft in the country.

On Aug. 17, both men boarded a plane from China and landed at Changi Airport, where they were arrested.

Deterrence

The prosecution sought 10 to 14 months’ jail for both men.

They said that the men’s sentences needed to act as a deterrence.

“The sentences imposed in this case must send the unequivocal message that foreigners who target Singapore as a platform for crime, and who prey on places of religious worship, will face the full weight of the law that their odious crime deserves,” the prosecution said.

The prosecution added that the theft was committed at a place of religious worship and was “particularly reprehensible”, and cited a “high degree of planning and premeditation” in their actions.

This was evident as the duo prepared equipment to “consummate their crime”.

“The prosecution respectfully submits that the sentences sought are just, proportionate, and necessary to deter like-minded persons (both local and foreign) from committing such abhorrent misdeeds,” they concluded.

Japanese yakiniku chain Gyu-Kaku announced that it will permanently close its last Singapore outlet at Chijmes.

It has been operating in Singapore for more than two decades.

In an Instagram post on Nov. 3, the chain said its final day of operations will be on Nov. 15, 2026.

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A post shared by Gyu-Kaku Singapore (Official) (@gyukaku.sg)

“To all our valued customers, thank you for being part of our journey. Your continued patronage, loyalty, and support over the years have made every moment truly special,” the post’s caption read.

Customers with unused rewards under their loyalty programmes can still redeem them until Nov. 15.

Gyu-Kaku is best known for its Japanese yakiniku experience, where patrons can grill their own selection of meats and other delectable items directly on a flame grill built into their tables.

This follows Gyu-Kaku's closure of its other Singapore outlets at Waterway Point and Kinex in March, The Star Vista in May, and VivoCity in September.

Additionally, the chain has also previously closed its outlets at UE Square, The Centrepoint, and Novena Square in 2025.

The reasons for the closure of its final outlet remain unclear.

A man in Singapore, Huang Bocan, was sentenced to life in prison for fatally starving and beating his 19-year-old sister, Huang Baoying, in 2021.

Post-trial, the parents of the siblings have expressed regret.

Speaking to the media after the Nov. 5 court hearing, they said in Mandarin that Bocan was a mature person who took care of his sister.

A close family friend who accompanied them at court added that Bocan would often take his sister out and buy her drinks.

The siblings were very close, the friend added.

However, over four months from February to May 2021, Bocan and two other accomplices subjected Baoying to "full-blown torture and abuse", in the words of the prosecution.

How they met

The four of them met in 2018 through a nutritional health products company run by Chee Mei Wan, one of the co-accused and Bocan's girlfriend at the time.

In 2020, they all moved into the home of the other co-accused, Lim Peng Tiong, at Clementi West Street 1.

As a form of "punishment", Bocan, Chee, and Lim confined Baoying to a toilet, deprived her of food, and beat her on multiple occasions until she died on May 5, 2021.

They "tortured her in cruel and inhumane ways", the judge said when delivering the sentence on Nov. 4.

Lim was previously sentenced to 14 years and 11 months' jail for culpable homicide not amounting to murder while Chee's case was still pending.

Smart and did good deeds

When asked about Bocan's personality, his parents said he had a "kind heart" and often did volunteer work overseas.

"He always did good deeds," the family friend said.

Bocan's father recalled that his son was very good to him and his wife as he would give them money before the Covid-19 pandemic.

His parents, who work at a factory, shared that Bocan was smart and did well in polytechnic, getting a GPA of 3.9.

He received a scholarship to study a computer-related degree at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

After Bocan was sentenced on Nov. 4, the parents were granted permission to speak to him for a while.

They shared with reporters that Bocan told them to take care of themselves as they were getting old.

Cut off communication

The Huang siblings moved into Lim's house in 2018 after a rift with their father about the health products they were buying from Chee's company.

Outside the courtroom, their father told reporters they spent a lot of money on the products.

They spent about S$1,000 to S$2,000 per month, according to court documents.

When they moved out, the parents did not know where they were staying.

The siblings did not give their parents the address, the family friend said.

They would not answer the parents' calls and messages either.

The parents said their main way of checking in on their children then was through Chee, whom they referred to as "coach".

Regretful

As Bocan and Baoying were good children, their parents did not worry much about them, and focused on their own work.

This made their mother feel regretful.

She urged other parents to put more emphasis on their family and children, and not focus only on work.

United States defense secretary Pete Hegseth may be the first casualty of the fallout following the Republican Party's resounding midterm election defeat.

CBS News, citing "multiple sources familiar with the matter", reported that President Donald Trump has been canvassing his advisors on whether Hegseth should stay in his job.

Blaming the war with Iran

Hegseth, along with head of U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine appear to be taking the blame for their roles in the Iran war.

Vice President JD Vance has pinpointed the war as a major reason for the Republican Party's catastrophic losses at the polls.

According to CNN, Vance's assessment is shared by many Republican lawmakers and allies, who are arguing that Hegseth played a central role in convincing Trump to launch the attack against Iran without an exit strategy.

Yet, when asked if he would replace Hegseth, Trump told reporters, "No, I think he's doing a very good job".

Hegseth to the Senate?

Hegseth is also likely to face impeachment proceedings, with Thomas Massie, an anti-Trump Republican congressman, planning to trigger a vote to impeach Hegseth next week.

Democrats were already attempting to remove the controversial defence secretary before the mid-term elections.

Hegseth may, however, find a soft landing should he leave his post.

CBS News reported that he could be appointed to fill Tennessee's Senate seat, which will be vacated by Marsha Blackburn when she takes office as governor.

As with the People's Action Party (PAP) Central Executive Committee (CEC) election on Oct. 25, there was no major shake-up to the appointments that make up the ruling party's highest decision-making body.

All eight top spots were retained by their incumbents.

Education minister Desmond Lee continues as party Chairman, social and family development minister Masagos Zulkifli as Vice-Chairman, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as Secretary-General and defence minister Chan Chun Sing as the Assistant Secretary-General.

The status quo appointments for the PAP's 39th CEC signal the party's preference for stability and emphasis on leadership consolidation at this stage, analysts said.

That doesn't mean renewal, which PM Wong has often stressed is needed, isn't underway.

It's just taking place elsewhere in the party organisation, like the PAP HQ Executive Committee (ExCo).

No changes to the top eight spots

While party cadre elects the CEC members, the CEC members parcel out the appointments among themselves.

They also decide who to co-opt.

The absence of changes in the CEC's top eight spots meant the party leaders echoed the voting pattern of the over 2,000 party cadres during the party elections on Oct. 25.

This shows that the party leaders and cadres are aligned on the position that stability and status quo is important at this stage of the electoral cycle, just over a year since GE2025, said Eugene Tan, political analyst and Professor of Law at Singapore Management University (SMU).

"It’s about the party’s emphasis on leadership consolidation at this stage," Eugene Tan added.

Teo Kay Key, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, commented, "It is possible the party leaders might have taken the cue from the results of the [party] elections."

Independent analyst Felix Tan found the outcome unsurprising.

He offered two ways of looking at it.

First, it reflects a preference among cadre members for stability and continuity amid growing regional tensions and global political and economic uncertainties.

Second, it could be a subtle indication that the party is not quite ready to embrace PM Wong's call for newer and more diverse voices within its leadership.

"I would hesitate to call it a rebuke, but it does suggest that the pace of renewal may be more gradual than some had initially expected," Felix Tan said.

Observers had also been watching for whether another assistant secretary-general (ASG) will be appointed. None was.

For Eugene Tan, not appointing another ASG could reflect PM Wong's intention to not distract from the immediate tasks at hand.

"Had a second ASG been appointed, that could set tongues wagging and trigger over-exuberant discussion on who in the 4G team would be appointed deputy prime minister(s) after Gan Kim Yong," Eugene Tan said.

Felix Tan said that it suggests a preference for maintaining the status quo, rather than change for change's sake.

Stability at the top a norm

Until recently, it was normal to see little to no major change in the PAP CEC's top posts even as the CEC's composition shuffled.

For example, the top CEC appointments did not change across the 32nd to 34th CEC, from 2012 to 2018, under then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Following retirements, some changes were made in 2018 in the 35th CEC. The 36th CEC retained the same appointment holders.

It was only in the 37th CEC in 2022 that the top posts saw significant changes.

That year, the party created a new Deputy Secretary-General post for Lawrence Wong, who was then the PM-in-waiting.

Then party chairman Gan Kim Yong, now DPM, also retired from the CEC, with Heng Swee Keat taking over as party chairman.

In 2024, Lee Hsien Loong stepped down as party chief at the end of the 37th CEC, paving the way for Wong to take over as Secretary-General in the 38th CEC.

The next significant change came in 2025 when then-party chairman Heng retired and Desmond Lee took over.

In that same shuffle, Ong Ye Kung took over from K Shanmugam as party treasurer, and Chee Hong Tat rose to assistant treasurer. Faishal Ibrahim was also co-opted.

A year later in 2026, Faishal resigned from the CEC and Zaqy Mohamad was co-opted after taking over as the acting minister for Muslim Affairs.

The 39th PAP CEC's status quo appointments thus represents a return to the norm.

In other words, the dust may finally be settling after the party spent the past four years and more navigating a leadership transition, seeing through PM Wong's first general election as party chief and managing Faishal's resignation.

Jeffrey Siow, Jasmin Lau

Four spots remained vacant on the CEC and were up for co-option.

Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow was co-opted, along with Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Sim Ann and labour chief Ng Chee Meng.

Notably, Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau was not co-opted.

Both Siow and Lau were on the ballot of 19 candidates put to cadres for voting at the Oct. 25 party elections.

Eugene Tan said that he would not read too much into the co-option of Siow but not Lau.

"The fact that Lau was among the 19 nominated for the CEC election is significant," he added.

Sim's and Ng's co-option were not surprising, said analysts.

Renewal still taking place elsewhere in party organisation

That things are status quo does not mean renewal has paused. It continues, but this time in the PAP HQ ExCo.

"It is the salient theme in the CEC appointments with several leaders, elected in GE2025, being given appointments within the PAP HQ," Eugene Tan pointed out.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo will take over from Tan See Leng as chair of the Seniors Group.

Neo was not part of the team previously.

However, he was the founding group chief of the Silver Generation Office, part of the Agency for Integrated Care.

Goh Pei Ming will take over as Climate Action Group chair, replacing Koh Poh Koon, who stepped from political office in June 2026.

Similarly, Goh was not on the team previously.

Both Neo and Goh were promoted in July's cabinet reshuffle.

Dinesh Vasu Dash was made assistant organising secretary of the HQ ExCo.

The rest of the HQ ExCO is unchanged, with Chan continuing as chairman.

"The younger leaders are given opportunities to engage in party work and the PAP HQ ExCo is one platform by which they are exposed to such opportunities of working closely with the party rank and file," Eugene Tan commented.

Teo Kay Key suggested that placing younger leaders in lower party appointments could also be a way to test whether they measure up in party leadership roles.

The HQ ExCo sits beneath the CEC in terms of hierarchy in the party's organisations.

Its various committees organise activities and engage communities based on their specific focus areas, such as seniors, mental health, and climate change.

Their work is sometimes tabled in parliament for debate.

The HQ ExCo was proposed and formed by Goh Chok Tong in 1985.

Writing in his book, "A History of the People's Action Party, 1985-2021", Shashi Jayakumar noted that Goh's impetus for forming a HQ ExCo was for it to assist the party's organising secretaries and HQ staff "to think out and implement ways and means of ensuring that the Party continues to enjoy popular support and occupy political high ground".

Seen this way, appointing younger leaders to chair HQ ExCo committees could also be the party's way of giving them a hand in shaping the party's policy stances.

Aljunied and Sengkang representation

The fourth person co-opted to the 39th CEC was PAP Serangoon branch chairperson Chan Hui Yuh, who contested as part of the PAP slate in Aljunied GRC in GE2025.

PAP Sengkang branch chair Lam Pin Min is now absent from the CEC, leaving the GRC unrepresented on the party's executive body.

"Rotation is the explanation," Eugene Tan said.

He pointed out that there are three constituencies where the PAP is not the incumbent. They are Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC.

"The PAP probably wants the different constituencies to be represented in turn on the CEC," Tan surmised.

Teo Kay Key made a similar suggestion, but said that it could also be a way to test Chan for future leadership positions.

Lam was co-opted into the 38th CEC, while Victor Lye, who contested in Aljunied GRC, was co-opted into the 36th CEC.

In the 37th CEC, PAP Aljunied GRC candidate Alex Yeo was co-opted.

Felix Tan remarked that it might have to do with how the PAP has weighed its electoral prospects.

"Given the controversies surrounding the Workers' Party and some of its senior leaders, the PAP may see an opportunity to improve its electoral prospects in Aljunied at the next general election," he said.

However, Tan noted that the electoral outcome will ultimately depend on the candidates fielded, their engagement with residents and whether voters see a compelling reason for change.

The end of one transition and onto the next?

Preceded by a period of numerous changes, the status quo outcome of the 39th PAP CEC elections and appointments may mark an end of one period of transition.

This calm and quiet might not last long, however.

As it is, leadership and party renewal is still ongoing, and may soon reach the upper echelons of party leadership once more.

Before the next general election, due by 2030, there may be two more PAP CEC elections — in 2028 and 2030.

By the next GE, senior figures like Senior Minister K Shanmugam and foreign affairs minister Vivian Balakrishnan will be 70 or older.

PM Wong himself has admitted that they have reminded him of their need for successors.

Nobody can say for certain if senior figures like them will stay on in the CEC after the next party election in 2028.

"We can expect the pace of change to pick up in 2028, and even more so in 2030 should the CEC election take place before the general election," Eugene Tan remarked.

Felix Tan echoed this, saying that while there might be relatively few changes to the PAP CEC for the time being, we may see more significant changes as the next GE approaches.

"Any changes introduced closer to the election may also carry greater significance, particularly in signalling how the PAP intends to position its next generation of leaders," he added.

Teo also expects to see more changes moving forward.

"However, there seems to be a possibility that the PM might want to have more stability especially in the face of more volatile international and economic environment, to ensure that the leadership core remains consistent," Teo said.

Three former full-time national servicemen (NSF) pleaded guilty in court on Nov. 5 to using criminal force against one of their roommates when they were serving in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 2023.

As a form of group hazing, they had pinned down the victim on his bed and taken turns rubbing their genitals against him.

One of the offenders also targeted a second victim in that same year.

A gag order prevents the identification of both victims and the offenders, as well as the location where the offences took place.

Incidents

The three men were identified as B1, B2 and B3 in court documents seen by Mothership.

B1 and B2 are Singapore permanent residents, while B3 is a Singapore citizen.

Court documents also noted that B1 is aged 25, B2 is 23, and B3 is 26. Both victims are aged 21.

At the time of the offences, all five men were NSFs serving as field instructors in the SPF.

First victim

The three offenders shared a bunk room with the first victim.

Sometime between August and September 2023, the victim was lying on his back on his bed while playing games on his phone.

The group, who was also in the room, approached him and pinned him down on the bed by holding his arms and legs.

One member of the group then exposed his genitals and tapped it against the victim's forearms and legs, while the other two continued holding him down.

The other two offenders then took turns doing the same.

Court documents noted that the victim felt embarrassed and disgusted by their conduct.

Second victim

B3 was also accused of using criminal force against another 21-year-old victim.

On Oct. 10, 2023, the victim approached another person for cleaning supplies as his bunk was due for an inspection.

He then approached B3's room but hesitated at the entrance, having heard that more senior field instructors, namely B1, B2 and B3, had a habit of harassing servicemen from other teams or companies.

B3 noticed him standing at the room's entrance and attempted to physically drag him into the bunk, but let him go after the victim resisted.

The victim then returned to his own bunk.

About two hours later, B3 went to the victim's room to retrieve the cleaning supplies.

The victim was seated in front of a computer at this time, court documents noted.

B3 approached him and held him by the neck, then licked it with the intention to annoy him.

The victim was noted to have felt violated and disgusted by the act but did not react as he saw B3 as a senior and person with authority.

2nd incident

A second incident occurred on Oct. 25, 2023, when B3 went to the victim's room at about midnight to speak with another person.

The room's lights were switched off at this time, and the victim was lying on his bed using his laptop.

After his conversation, B3 approached the victim and placed his hand on the victim's laptop, ignoring the victim's repeated attempts to push his hand away.

He then brushed his hand over the victim's singlet before twisting his nipple under the shirt.

The victim was shocked by this gesture and was unable to react out of fear of B3's authority, the court noted.

Arrests and charges

All three offenders were arrested on Dec. 16, 2025, and released on bail the same day.

They pleaded guilty to a charge of using criminal force against the first victim, while B3 faced additional charges involving the second victim.

The Deputy Public Prosecutor sought a Short Detention Order and Community Service Order for each of the three men.

According to CNA, their defence lawyer said his clients have expressed guilt and remorse, and have apologised to their various victims.

Two of the offenders have also reportedly attended counselling.

Sentencing has been adjourned to December.

For using criminal force against another person, an individual can be jailed up to three months, fined up to S$1,500, or both.