Asean Tribune

The Police have arrested a 54-year-old man for his suspected involvement in the unlawful use of an explosive substance.

On 14 August 2021, the Police received a call regarding a suspicious item found in a residential unit along Anchorvale Link. There was no damage to property or hurt caused.

Through extensive investigations and ground enquiries, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 16 August 2021. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly flicked a box made of matchsticks and tape, out from the window of his residential unit. The said item landed in the unit of a neighbour staying a few floors down. The man’s neighbour heard a noise which sounded like a small explosion and called for Police assistance.

The man will be charged in court on 18 August 2021 with unlawful use of an explosive substance, punishable under Section 4 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substance and Offensive Weapons Act. The offence carries a punishment of life imprisonment and caning of not less than six strokes.

The Police would like to remind the public that we take a serious view of such unlawful use of such explosive substances. Such items are a potential fire hazard, and may cause noise pollution and undue alarm to the public. They may also cause serious injury and damage to property.

Source: Singapore Police Force

The Police have noticed a continued trend in a scam variant where scammers would contact victims via phone calls, pretending to be the victims’ friends, and thereafter, ask for financial assistance from the victims.

In these cases, the victims would receive phone calls from unknown numbers. Upon picking up these calls, the callers would not identify themselves. Instead, they would ask the victims questions such as: “Guess who am I? You can’t remember me?”. Victims would then think that the caller was someone they knew. The victims would reply the caller with the name of their friends whom they believe the caller could be. Thereafter, the caller would assume the identity of one of the mentioned friends and would claim to have lost their handphone or changed their contact number. The caller would contact the victims subsequently, asking for a loan due to financial difficulties or because they got into trouble with the law. Victims would then be asked to transfer the money to bank accounts belonging to unknown individuals, as provided by the callers. Victims would only discover that they had been scammed when they contacted their friends and realised that they had not contacted the victims nor changed their contact number.

The Police would like to advise members of the public to adopt the following precautionary measures:

Beware of unusual requests received, even if they appear to be from your family or friends;

Verify whether the request is legitimate by checking with your family and friends through alternative means such as physical meet-ups or using previously established contact details; and

Never send money to people whom you do not know or have not met in person before.

If you have information related to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.  Please dial ‘999’ if you require urgent Police assistance.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Join the ‘Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with your family and friends.  Together, we can help stop scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next victim.

Source: Singapore Police Force

In August 2020, the Police received several reports against a 32-year-old man  for allegedly offering money in exchange for sexual services to victims below the age of 18 years old between 2017 and 2020. Upon his arrest, he was found to be in possession of several obscene videos, including some involving his sexual acts with others, which he had surreptitiously taken.

The Police will be charging the man with offences under the Children and Young Persons Act, the Penal Code and the Films Act on 19 August 2021.

Under the Children and Young Persons Act in force at the time of the alleged offences, the man, if found guilty for sexual exploitation of a young person below 16 years of age, may face a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term of up to 5 years, or both.

Under the Penal Code in force at the time of the alleged offences, the man, if found guilty for communicating for the purpose of obtaining for consideration sexual services of a minor under 18 years of age, may face imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, a fine, or both.

Under the Films Act in force at the time of the alleged offences, the man, if found guilty for making an obscene film, may face a fine of not less than $20,000 but not more than $40,000, imprisonment for a term of up to 2 years, or both. If found guilty for having in his possession any obscene film, the man may face a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment for a term of up to 6 months or both.

The Police take a tough stance against sexual crimes, particularly those that target vulnerable victims such as the young. The Police will spare no effort in ensuring that such offenders are brought to justice to face the full brunt of the law.

Source: Singapore Police Force