US ‘concerned’ over Thai tech crime law

Minister acknowledges the potential impact of large systems, but promises that protection will continue.

Thai authorities disconnect electricity supplies to Myawaddy, across the border from Mae Sot district in Tak province, on Feb 5 as part of a stepped-up campaign to shut down online scam centres in Myanmar. 
As part of a stepped-up campaign to stop online fraud centers in Myanmar, Thai government cut off power to Myawaddy, across the frontier from Mae Sot region in Tak state, on February 5. &nbsp,

According to Prasert Jantararuangtong, the minister of digital economy and society, the United States has expressed concern about a new type of Thailand’s emergency order on tech violence, noting that it might have an impact on modern programs.

Following a letter from the US embassy regarding the draft, Mr. Prasert stated that the concerns did not prevent the law from being enforced on Tuesday.

A draft amendment to the order, which stipulates that banks and mobile operators must be jointly held accountable for consumer damage caused by engineering crime, was approved by the cabinet on January 28.

Additionally, the updated laws includes regulations for websites and social media platforms.

Mr. Prasert stated that he is aware that several of the most well-known digital platforms used everyday by Thais are based in the US and that they are used for searching for information, entertainment, or e-commerce.

He claimed that the government intends to hold a gathering with all parties to the law to foster understanding.

” Mobile operators and the Thai Bankers ‘ Association expressed concerns about the amended law and want to see the final details of the draft,” said Mr. Prasert.

In order to avoid campaigning during the writing process, the ministry has stated it won’t make the final changes to the draft public until enforcement begins.

The Council of State, the government’s legal expert body, is now reviewing the draft article.

The government had previously stated that it anticipated the draft’s publication in February’s Royal Gazette.

When the new regulations are put into effect, they should help to reduce damage to the people and stop engineering crimes and scams, according to Mr. Prasert.

Since Thailand cut electricity and online access to murder centers across the border in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, the minister said the damage caused by online swindlers has been significantly reduced, from about 100 million baht per day to 33 million as of March 2.

The draft article contains 16 reports and five essential points. The former include joint responsibility for injuries that occur if the specified methods are not followed by financial institutions, mobile service providers, and social media platforms.

Additionally, telecom service providers have a responsibility to immediately stop using SIM accounts in connection with crimes.

The article also makes it easier for patients to receive refunds and gives officials more authority to take legal action against platforms involved in these crimes. Additionally, the order raises the civil penalties for specific data reporting.

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Contractor jailed 4 weeks for filming woman in shower during renovation works at her home

A 35-year-old renovation contractor who filmed a woman taking a shower at her home was given a four-week jail term on Wednesday ( Mar 5 ). &nbsp,

Indonesian Tee Wen Jun entered a guilty plea to voyeurism.

On Sep. 23, 2024, he had been putting the toilet in the victim’s kitchen and living room to work on the floor. &nbsp,

A glazed glass partition wall at the time separated the kitchen’s bath. &nbsp,

When Tee allegedly heard a shower coming in the door, he claimed to be using the restroom. Before filming the sufferer, who cannot be identified due to a joke purchase, over the separation wall, he first opened the toilet door and stepped on it. &nbsp,

When the sufferer, a 25-year-old person, spotted the mobile phone above her in the middle of her bath, screamed and yelled for her father. &nbsp,

The victim’s father confronted the accused, insisting on checking on his mobile phone after hearing his sister’s cries. &nbsp,

Tee disputed any wrongdoing and gave his telephone to the testimony to check it. The victim’s husband alerted his brother-in-law to call the police after discovering a picture of his family taking a shower in the toilet. &nbsp,

The trial requested five to seven weeks in jail. Asran Samad, an assistant public prosecutor ( APP ), claimed the video showed the woman taking a shower in her own home, which should be a” safe environment.”

Despite the fact that this was the accused’s second offense and that he had entered a guilty plea, APP Asran claimed that Tee was the subject of overwhelming information and that the prey had already been able to catch him without thinking twice.

The court will decide whether Tee’s attorney, Patrick Chow, will enter the sentence. &nbsp,

Through a judge interpreter, Tee inquired in Mandarin about whether a gag order may apply to the case and whether the media would release his details. &nbsp,

District Judge Cheng Yuxi responded that the joke attempt may only apply to the sufferer and any information that allows her to identify her. &nbsp,

Tee may have faced jail time for up to two years, a fine, and/or be caned for pornography. &nbsp,

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Nigerian overstayers arrested, implicated in cocaine smuggling

Police arrest one of two Nigerians apprehended at a condominium room in Ram Intra area of Bangkok's Kannayao district on Tuesday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
One of two Nigerians who were apprehended on Tuesday in the Ram Intra neighborhood of Bangkok’s Kannayao area is being detained by police. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

Two African men have been detained in Bangkok after a person caught trying to smuggle cocaine into Japan made them responsible for drug trafficking.

Both men were found to get overstayers and are currently facing immigration issues in addition to their drug-related reported offenses. &nbsp,

Ihejimba Bright Chimezie and Azubuike Chdiebere David were detained on Tuesday when multiculturalism and cocaine command officers searched a apartment building on Navamin-Ram Intra street in the Kannayao area, according to Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nuchanart, deputy director of the immigration commission, on Wednesday. &nbsp,

Initial offenses for overstaying their visa were brought against them, and they were turned over to immigration attorneys for quick legal actions.

A Thai lady who had ingested 59 tiny packets of the drug, totaling about 700 grams, had previously been detained by Chinese police. According to Pol Maj Gen Phanthana, the methamphetamine had a value of about 2.1 million ringgit.

One of two African men in Bangkok who was reportedly involved in illegal drugs was the woman who told investigators that she had been in a relationship with him.

According to Pol Maj Gen Phanthana, Chinese officials had pleaded with Thai authorities for their assistance, who had led to the men’s arrest. &nbsp,

The inspection is advancing.

The two Nigerian suspects were handed over to immigration investigators for legal action. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

Immigration received the two suspects from Nigeria for constitutional actions. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

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Ex-teacher who force-fed children water in Kinderland preschool pleads guilty

A former Kinderland preschool teacher at the time admitted to abusing four children under her care on Wednesday ( Mar 5 ) in Singapore.

The prosecutor was informed of Lin Min, 35, who allegedly forced two of them to consume fluids and dealt with them aggressively when they refused.

Parents of these two toddlers noticed that their children had nightmares in which they would say “no” or “bye bye lao shi (teacher )”. &nbsp,

After the incidents ‘ videos were made available online, the circumstance became the subject of 2023’s information. After that, a few situations involving another teachers from the same school network started to occur. &nbsp,

Lin has since been suspended from the institution and prohibited from working in the daycare industry.

Three other crimes of similar character were brought up when she admitted guilt on three counts of ill-treating a baby. The four kids in question ranged in age from one to three.

Due to a court-imposed joke purchase protecting their names, the patients cannot be identified. &nbsp,

In June 2023, Lin allegedly forced one victim, a lady who was nearly two years older, to lay down and pour water into her mouth.

Her steps were videoed by a different instructor. &nbsp,

Lin noticed that the child had stopped drinking water. Lin leaned the jug toward the girl’s face in an effort to give her water, but she turned the girl away. &nbsp,

Lin therefore grabbed her around the mouth and demanded that she consume her water. &nbsp,

As Lin raised her voice, the woman cried. The girl was gradually pushed until she lay on the floor by Lin. Lin finally pushed the woman’s lips shut before pouring liquid into it. The child may be snorting water while she was choking.

Before the school made the announcement, the kid’s parents were untrained in what transpired. They observed the victim saying “no” and “bye bye lao shi (teacher ), which would indicate that she desired the teacher to leave. &nbsp,

An unhappy Lin also made an attempt to get a child, who was then two years old, to drink fluids in June 2023. &nbsp,

The boy regularly screamed and struggled to get up despite being manhandled by her to lie on the floor. &nbsp,

Lin grabbed the boy’s face and held his head backwards as he brought the water bottle near to his lips to give him water on another event in the same month. &nbsp,

The school provided additional information about the victimization, but the boy’s parents were unaware of it. &nbsp,

Eventually, they afterward reported to the police that they had observed that their child did not like neighbors touching him around his head and back during examinations. &nbsp,

He may experience nightmares where he would declare,” no no, I don’t like.” &nbsp,

Lin persisted, even though Deputy Public Prosecutor Jotham Tay claimed there was an obvious ingredient of violence in his actions because the children had been distressed. &nbsp,

Mr. Tay disagreed with the defense, who called the situation an “overzealous worry.” &nbsp,

It was obvious that Lin, at times, was not at all concerned with the well-being of kids, he said.

Additionally, according to Mr. Tay, it had been challenging for children to report quite happenings because their parents had not been made aware of them until they had been made aware of them. &nbsp,

Kalidass Murugaiyan, Lin’s attorney, set Lin’s case apart from earlier court cases in which defendants had acted intentionally. Lin had not been acting out of hatred or cruelty, he claimed. &nbsp,

His buyer, a professor in the care industry, was aware of the dangers of thirst in young kids, according to Mr. Kalidass. &nbsp,

She misjudged, she made the wrong choice, and she will be paying a lot for it. We simply recommend that the rate not be too high, according to Mr. Kalidass.

To take into account the facts in this case, District Judge John Ng adjourned sentencing until Mar 13. &nbsp,

Lin may be imprisoned for up to eight years and/or subject to fines of up to S$ 8, 000 ( US$ 6, 000 ) for abusing a child. &nbsp,

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Ex-teacher who force-fed children water in Kinderland Woodlands preschool pleads guilty

SINGAPORE: A former Kinderland Preschool@ Woodlands Mart Mandarin teacher admitted to abusing four children under her care on Wednesday ( Mar 5 ) at Kinderland Preschool@ Woodlands Mart.

The prosecutor was informed of how Lin Min, 35, allegedly forced two of them to drink fluids and allegedly handled them aggressively when they refused to.

Parents of these two toddlers noticed that their children had nightmares in which they would say “no” or “bye bye lao shi (teacher )”. &nbsp,

After films of the incidents were made available online in 2023, the circumstance became the subject of investigation. After that, a few situations involving another teachers from the same school chain started to occur. &nbsp,

Lin has since been suspended from the institution and barred from working in the daycare business.

She admitted guilt to three works of ill-treating a child and had three other similar-crime allegations taken into account when her punishment is decided. The four kids in the accusations ranged in age from one to three.

Due to a court-imposed joke purchase protecting their names, the patients cannot be identified. &nbsp,

In June 2023, Lin allegedly forced one victim, a woman who was nearly two years older, to lay down and pour water into her mouth.

Another professor videoed her steps. &nbsp,

Lin noticed that the lady had stopped drinking water. Lin leaned the jug toward the woman’s face in an effort to give her waters, but the girl snuck in the container. &nbsp,

Lin therefore grabbed her around the mouth and demanded that she consume her water. &nbsp,

As Lin raised her voice, the lady began to cry. The girl was finally pushed until she lay on the floor by Lin. The girl was therefore forced to drink water from the woman’s mouth before opening it. The woman may become choking on the water.

Before the school made the announcement, the kid’s parents were untrained. They observed the victim saying “no” and “bye bye lao shi (teacher ), which would indicate that she desired the teacher to leave. &nbsp,

An unhappy Lin also made an unsuccessful attempt to drink water in June 2023 when a child was just two years old. &nbsp,

She forced him to lie on the floor, but the boy frequently screamed and struggled to get up. &nbsp,

Lin grabbed the boy’s face and held his head backwards as he poured water into his mouth on another event in the same quarter. &nbsp,

The school provided additional information about the maltreatment, but the boy’s parents were unaware of it. &nbsp,

Eventually, they afterward reported to the police that they had observed that their child did not like neighbors touching him around his head and back during examinations. &nbsp,

He had say” no no, I don’t need” in hallucinations. &nbsp,

Lin persisted, even though Deputy Public Prosecutor Jotham Tay claimed there was an obvious ingredient of violence in his actions because the children had been distressed. &nbsp,

Mr. Tay disagreed with the defense, who called the situation an “overzealous problem.” &nbsp,

Lin said it was obvious that he did not occasionally care about the well-being of kids.

Additionally, according to Mr. Tay, it had been challenging for children to report quite happenings because their parents had not been made aware of them until they had been made aware of them. &nbsp,

Kalidass Murugaiyan, Lin’s attorney, set Lin’s case apart from earlier court cases in which defendants had acted intentionally. Lin, he claimed, had not been acting out of hatred and violence. &nbsp,

His buyer, a professor in the care industry, was aware of the dangers of thirst in young kids, according to Mr. Kalidass. &nbsp,

She misjudged, she made the wrong choice, and she will be paying a lot for it. We simply recommend that the rate not be too high, according to Mr. Kalidass.

District Judge John Ng moved the punishment date to March 13 to take into account the facts in this case. &nbsp,

Lin may be imprisoned for up to eight years and/or subject to fines of up to S$ 8, 000 ( US$ 6, 000 ) for abusing a child. &nbsp,

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Public bus commuters must follow new ‘conditions of carriage’ or risk being asked to alight

SINGAPORE: Van drivers who operate public transportation will soon be able to direct people to leave the vehicle. &nbsp,

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng announced on Wednesday ( Mar 5 ) that these conditions, which take effect on March 10 set forth clear guidelines for commuter behavior on public buses. &nbsp,

The circumstances list the following areas of passenger behavior:

  • Regular and respectable passenger behavior 
  • Safe behavior
  • preserving public health and cleaning
  • ensuring that all public transportation adventures are polite and diverse

Mr. Baey stated in parliament that the circumstances will enable commuters and bus captains to have a safe and comfortable experience as they discuss the Ministry of Transportation’s ( MOT ) spending for the year.

It will outline what travel professionals can do to help out those who have recalcitrant commuters, he said.

Bus captains may instruct problematic commuters to arrive from the bus in “egregious cases,” or unlock the police if necessary.

The conditions were created in consultation with the four public bus operators and the National Transport Workers Union, according to the Land Transport Authority ( LTA ) in a statement. In the first quarter of 2026, more information about the regulation framework’s implementation will be revealed.

Insensitive commuters will be handled by LTA&nbsp, as well as the pubic transportation operators, especially in cases involving commuters with physical or mental health conditions, according to the statement. &nbsp,

Mr. Baey claimed that one of the obscene behaviors being looked at is the use of headphones on common transportation. &nbsp,

He said,” We will take into account the idea of using a decibel threshold to define disruptive noise.” &nbsp,

LTA will continue to collaborate with public transportation providers to promote polite walking behavior while pursuing specific enforcement actions against inconsiderate commuters. &nbsp,

LTA and other public transportation companies have been introducing new banners on public transportation since December of last year that advises commuters to keep the noise levels low, prevent lying on the floor, and use only one seat. &nbsp,

When a bus driver runs into a passenger and causes a nuisance, such as violently playing music on their phones, they will first tell them to stop. The vehicle operations command center will provide guidance if the commuter declines. In extreme cases, individuals may be asked to arrive or referred to the authorities.

On the MRT system, travellers who engage in the crime listed on these signs may be fined up to S$ 500 per violation. More serious crimes, such as strewn on train tracks, can result in fines of up to S$ 5, 000, and transportation operators does eject commuters or call the police in more severe cases. &nbsp,

LTA claimed to have collaborated with the public transportation users to increase the level of patrol and punishment for these offenses since the introduction of the new posters.

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Medical certification, lower speed limits: New rules for personal mobility aids to take effect in Q1 2026

Component Regulations AND LOWER SPEED LIMIT

A reduction in the optimum speed for PMAs on public roads from 10kmh to 6kmh is one of the other adjustments that will take effect in the first third of the year. &nbsp,

Since PMAs are designed for people with walking difficulties, Mr. Baey said,” Six kilometers per hour is the same rate as a brisk walker. Therefore, that is a reasonable top speed tolerable.” &nbsp,

Moreover, PMAs on public roads must not exceed a load of 300 kg and not exceed 70 cm in width, 120 cm in length, 150 cm in height, and 150 cm in height. These limitations are in line with the current laws governing PMAs on public transportation.

Additionally, it will be against the law to show, market, or sell PMAs that go beyond the dimension restrictions or have a top speed of 6 km/h.

Mr. Baey stated that true users properly own PMAs that can travel at speeds of up to 10 kilometers per hour and that these devices will be permitted on public roads until the end of 2028. However, they may be operated in accordance with the future size restrictions and the new 6kmh speed control.

When the necessary parliamentary amendments are approved in parliament after this time, the exact timetable for enforcement is unknown.

According to Mr. Baey,” We will give customers and other stakeholders enough time for changeover.”

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Circle Line services back to normal after delays due to train fault

Due to a train fault, delays on&nbsp, Wednesday afternoon ( Mar 5 ) caused inconvenience for Circle Line commuters.

Around 4.10pm, transportation company SMRT posted an update on Facebook urging commuters to add 30 hours of travel time between the Serangoon, Promenade, and Serangoon MRT channels in both directions.

This was afterwards increased to 40 days before SMRT announced that train service had “resumed to normalcy” at around 5 p.m.

During the disruption, &nbsp, SMRT reported that there were completely standard bus services between the Serangoon and Promenade MRT stations. Between Bartley and Mountbatten, a flight train company was even available. &nbsp,

Additionally, SMRT advised people to take other roads on the North-South, North-East, Downtown, and East-West ranges.

One passenger claimed they had been stuck in the station for more than 30 minutes on SMRT’s Instagram page.

Adhana Mohd Isa, the train’s owner, wrote,” The station is so uncomfortable, they should allow us leave.”

Another said that the location of the shuttle buses ‘ stops close to the Bartley MRT place was unclear to commuters.

This is the most current MRT disruption in a row. &nbsp,

A disturbance on the North-South Line on February 7th, which started at around 5:30 am and continued until until late in the evening, was reported. An architectural vehicle that malfunctioned at a railroad crossing in Bishan Depot after regular maintenance work caused the accident. This prevented carriages from entering customer traffic.

A signal wrong at the Buangkok MRT place, which happened at around 6.10am, caused a postpone on the North East Line on February 10.

A signaling issue between Paya Lebar and Marymount terminals on the Circle Line broke out a day later. It caused a power outage that affected 17 railways and caused night ride difficulties.

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Singapore government will raise HDB income ceilings when ‘time is right’, says Desmond Lee

Additionally, “major steps” have been taken to ensure affordable public housing in “attractive areas” first, with the introduction of the new standard, plus, or primary classification next year.

Apartments with the names Prime and Plus are those in better locations. To reduce the so-called “lottery result” of owning apartments in primary and key areas, they are priced with more subsidies than regular flats, making them more affordable.

For instance, compared to the five-year lease terms for Standard flats, straight owners are required to reside in their product for at least ten years before selling on the open market. Users will also be content to a payment clawback when they sell.

According to him,” This opens up new, choicer areas for cheap public cover,” citing how the first BTO job in the future Mount Pleasant cover property will be offered as either Plus or Prime condos.

Regarding ensuring convenience, Mr. Lee assured that concern will still be given to first-timer families through different techniques.

The state will want to consider the needs of first-time families and singles.

According to Mr. Lee, it may increase the planning limit for three-room and larger BTO condos by five percentage items from the next sales training in July for the latter class.

“STABILISING” THE Sales Industry

Regarding selling apartments, Mr. Lee acknowledged the concern over prices in this sector that Singaporeans have.

Using established flash estimates released earlier this year, HDB sale prices increased 9.6 % in 2024, nearly twice the increase of 4.9 percent in 2023.

According to Mr. Lee, one of the causes of the epidemic is a supply-demand imbalance. In addition to that, less apartments have recently entered the resale market and met the minimum occupation period ( MOP).

” In truth, in 2020, HDB may include completed 20, 000 flats. However, less than half of that was accomplished because of the pandemic’s outages, he told the House.

But, five years later in 2025, there are significantly fewer apartments that have completed their MOP and are even fewer ones that are entering the selling market.

According to Mr. Lee, this tightening cover offer” should start to return next year” as new flats ‘ MOPs are projected to increase by” significant amounts” to 13,500 in 2026 from 8, 000 this year.

This number will” rapidly boost” to 19, 500 in 2028, he added.

The HDB selling business” did stabilise” in addition to cooling measures that” continue to work their way through the industry,” according to Mr. Lee.

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