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DECLARED VALUES OF IMPORTED MOTOR CARS

Singapore Customs said it “closely monitors” the declared values of motor cars imported into Singapore and “will not hesitate to take enforcement actions on errant traders”. 

The agency added it maintains a “robust commitment” to combat fraudulent evasion of duty and GST, and will take the necessary actions against individuals and entities engaging in such illicit activities.

Singapore Customs noted that in January, five individuals involving three separate cases were charged for fraudulent evasion of duty and GST by suppressing the declared values of imported motor cars, making incorrect declaration or causing incorrect declaration to be made on the values of motor vehicles, and falsification of documents.

Court proceedings are ongoing for these cases. 

“Any person who is concerned in fraudulent evasion of any duty or GST on imported goods shall be liable on conviction to a fine of up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to two years,” Singapore Customs said. 

Any person who is concerned in fraudulent evasion of any duty or GST on imported goods can face a maximum fine of up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and jailed for up to two years.

Any person who gives incorrect information in relation to any matter affecting the amount of tax chargeable shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

“The court shall also order the offender to pay up the ARF which has been undercharged to the LTA,” Singapore Customs said. 

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SINGAPORE: Imagine a civil emergency in Singapore, with disruptions to power, water, food supply and digital connectivity. How prepared would you be?

This is the scenario that will be simulated at locations islandwide to mark this year’s Total Defence Day, which will take place on a grander scale to mark 40 years since the concept of total defence was introduced in Singapore. 

Participants at more than 500 buildings, including schools and offices, are set to be involved in an inaugural exercise dubbed Exercise SG Ready.

Over a two-week period from Feb 15 to 29, participating premises such as community facilities, government and commercial buildings, as well as attractions will run simulated disruptions.

These include shutting power to air conditioners, escalators and lifts, as well as closing toilets and reducing food options available at canteens and pantries.

All schools will simulate food, water or electricity disruptions on Feb 15 or Feb 16.

From 8.30pm to 9.30pm on Feb 15, there will be a simulated blackout around the Padang and Esplanade, with the external facade lights of 20 prominent buildings to be switched off.

Singapore marks Total Defence Day on Feb 15 every year. It is the date Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942.

Exercise SG Ready is the centrepiece of this year’s commemoration events. 

It imagines a civil emergency scenario arising from widespread cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and drone attacks from an anonymous actor, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Monday (Jan 22).

The ministry added: “The aim of the exercise is to get individuals, communities and businesses thinking about the question, ‘Are you ready for disruptions?'”

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SINGAPORE:  A former teacher was sentenced to jail on Monday (Jan 22) for molesting his student while she was sitting on his lap to play a game as part of a class

The 55-year-old Singaporean man was given 16 months’ jail for one count of molesting a minor and another 45 days’ imprisonment in lieu of caning as he is too old to be caned under the law.

The man, as well as the victim, the school and other relate details, cannot be named due to gag orders imposed by the court meant to protect the victim’s identity.

The court heard that the man joined the Ministry of Education in 1993 and was posted to teach at the victim’s primary school in 2005.

He taught several subjects and became a physical education (PE) teacher in 2008 to students between Primary 1 and 6.

In 2015, the victim was about six to seven and she was in Primary 1. The offender was her PE teacher.

Sometime that year, the victim attended a theory class for PE in a classroom at the school.

The teacher set up a laptop at the front of the classroom and called students to the front one by one, asking them to sit on his lap and play a game on the laptop.

When it was the victim’s turn, she went forward and sat on the teacher’s lap, wanting to play the game.

The teacher molested her while she was on his lap.

The girl felt “very disgusted, scared and embarrassed” whenever she thought about what happened.

GIRL ATTENDS SEX ED CLASS

However, the incident went unreported for several years. In 2020, the girl attended a sexual education class and recalled the incident, realising that the teacher’s actions were wrong.

She sent a message on Instagram to the teacher in charge of discipline at the school on Mar 18, 2021, telling him what happened in 2015.

The victim also expressed concern that her younger sister was in Primary 1, and that the accused was one of the latter’s teachers.

Subsequently, the case was flagged and the accused was confronted with the victim’s allegations. He admitted to molesting several female students in the manner described by the victim.

He admitted that he had chosen to molest younger female students in lower primary as he felt the older girls would know that what he did was wrong, and he did not want to be discovered.

Defence lawyers from Drew & Napier, led by Mr Wendell Wong, pointed out that the touch was over clothes and brief.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Selene Yap asked for twenty-one-and-a-half to twenty-five-and-a-half months’ jail, including extra jail time in lieu of caning.

Ms Yap stressed the young age of the victim, at six to seven years old, as well as the offender’s “serious abuse of position and breach of trust”.

In sentencing, the judge agreed for a start with the defence on the placing of the case within a sentencing framework as there was no skin-to-skin contact and the contact was not prolonged.

However, she pointed out the “significant aggravating factors” of the case, including the very young age of the victim.

“Every year at that point in a child’s life is a significant milestone in terms of levels of maturity and vulnerability as well,” said District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam.

She added that the “stage was set” for the offence to be committed, including the setting up of a game to distract the child.

She granted the defence’s request for the man to begin his jail term on Feb 13, after spending “the season” with his family.

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Singapore’s favourite Ah Jie, Zoe Tay, celebrated her 56th birthday with the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home residents in Bukit Merah on Saturday (Jan 20).

The event, organised by her fans from the Zoe Tay Official FC, was a volunteer effort and a celebration of the local actress’ birthday, which was on Jan 10.

Zoe, who marked her 35th anniversary of being an actress in March last year, and her fans treated the seniors with chicken rice and donated daily necessities, including milk power and adult diapers. 

Besides that, the “Queen of Caldecott Hill” also led a karaoke session with the seniors, singing classic songs like Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin by Taiwanese singer-actress Teresa Teng.

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