Day: September 10, 2021

India handed over 300 oxygen concentrators to support Thailand in combatting Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting the cordial and long-standing ties between two countries and mutual determination to mitigate the impact.

On 10 September 2021, His Excellency Mr. Sathit Pitutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health, presided over the handover ceremony of 300 units of oxygen concentrators given by the Government of India at the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health. The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Mrs. Suchitra Durai, Ambassador of India to Thailand, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Navy.

The support from the Government of India reflects the cordial and long-standing ties between Thailand and India which will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2022, and also reflects mutual determination to work together in order to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021, Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand, as well as the Royal Thai Government, have donated oxygen cylinders and concentrators to India.

The oxygen concentrators will be dispatched to Bussarakum Field Hospital and the public health service centres in Bangkok and surrounding provinces including those administering the COVID-19 patients under Home Isolation and Community Isolation.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand

Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and seven Police Land Divisions conducted a two-week operation between 28 August and 9 September 2021. A total of 218 men and 94 women, aged between 16 and 71, are currently assisting in investigations for their suspected involvement in scams, as scammers or money mules. The suspects are believed to be involved in more than 873 cases of scams, comprising mainly of Internet love scams, e-commerce scams, China officials impersonation scams, government officials impersonation scams, tech support scams, investment scams, job scams, and loan scams, where victims lost more than $7.1 million.

The suspects are being investigated for the offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine. The offence of money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act carries an imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, a fine not exceeding $500,000, or both. The offence of carrying on a business of providing any type of payment service in Singapore without a licence under Section 5 of the Payment Services Act 2019 carries a fine not exceeding $125,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or both.

The Police take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Source: Singapore Police Force

The Police are investigating two women and six men, aged between 23 and 70, for their suspected involvement in illegal gambling activities, for contravening conditions of a public entertainment license and non-compliance with safe distancing measures (SDM).

On 10 September 2021 at about 1.55 am, officers from Jurong Police Division conducted an enforcement operation at a public entertainment outlet along Yuan Ching Road and found eight persons purportedly gathering and engaging in gambling-related activities.

Of the eight persons, a 41-year-old woman was also arrested for allegedly using the outlet as a common gaming house and providing public entertainment in contravention of conditions of a license. Six other men, aged between 27 and 70, are being investigated for allegedly gaming in a common gaming house. Gambling-related paraphernalia were seized as case exhibits. The eight persons will also be investigated for non-compliance of SDM under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

Under the Common Gaming Houses Act, the offence of using a place as a common gaming house is punishable with a fine between $5,000 and $50,000 and with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years. The offence of gaming in a common gaming house is punishable with a fine not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.

Under the Public Entertainment Act, those found providing public entertainment in contravention of conditions of a license may be punished with a fine not exceeding $10,000.

For non-compliance with SDM under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, those found guilty may be punished with a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.

The Police take a serious view against all forms of illegal gambling activities and will continue to take tough enforcement action against offenders in accordance with the law. Members of the public are advised not to engage in any form of illegal gambling and to comply with the prevailing SDM.

Source: Singapore Police Force