SINGAPORE:-
Haze conditions in Singapore are expected to improve as the inter-monsoon period sets in, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on Thursday (Oct 29).
Inter-monsoon conditions have been progressively setting in over Singapore and the surrounding region with the weakening of the southwest monsoon, the Met Service said.
The inter-monsoon period is characterised by light and variable winds, as well as increased showers and higher lightning activity.
“With the shift from persistent southeasterly or southwesterly winds to light and variable winds in the surrounding region, smoke haze is less likely to be transported from fires towards Singapore,” the Met Service said.
“Together with wetter conditions over Singapore and the nearby areas, the smoke haze situation for Singapore is expected to improve.”
In the first fortnight of November, moderate to thundery showers are expected over parts of Singapore in the afternoon on most days.
The showers may extend into the evening on a few of these days, the Met service said.
The total rainfall for the first fortnight of November 2026 is forecast to be slightly above its long-term average over most parts of the island.
Daily maximum temperatures are expected to range between 33°C and 35°C on most days and could slightly exceed 35°C on a few days. Air quality was moderate across all regions in Singapore on Thursday.
Hourly PM2.5 readings were also in the normal range across the country, although levels briefly crossed into the elevated range in the west on Thursday morning.
In its haze outlook on Thursday morning, NEA said the hotspot and smoke haze situation in the region remained subdued.
“The hotspot and smoke haze situation may improve in areas experiencing showers but also continue to stay elevated in areas experiencing prolonged periods of dry weather, with a risk of transboundary haze occurrence,” NEA said in its haze outlook.
The agency added that southeasterly to southwesterly winds are expected on Friday and Saturday, although showers are expected over the region, which could help with the haze situation.
Rain eases Indonesia’s haze, but authorities warn fires could reignite
Summoned to meeting with Singapore leaders, top honchos of 10 firms pledge to cooperate with haze probes. Southwest monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the second fortnight of October, Met Service said in its media advisory on Thursday. “With winds blowing mostly from the southeast or southwest, smoke haze was transported to Singapore and air quality reached ‘unhealthy’ levels for seven days and ‘very unhealthy’ levels for three days between Oct 16 and Oct 28.” Localised short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of the island on several days during the second fortnight of October, it said, noting that there were also widespread moderate to heavy thundery showers on a few days. Heavy thundery showers fell over western Singapore during the afternoon of Oct 21, with the highest daily total rainfall for the second fortnight recorded at Tuas South at 81mm, said the Met Service. Daily maximum temperatures exceeded 34°C on most days, with the highest daily maximum temperature of 36.1°C recorded at Woodlands on Oct 23. Most parts of Singapore recorded below-average rainfall in the second fortnight of October, said the Met Service.
The area around Tanjong Katong registered rainfall of 72 per cent below average, and the area around Punggol registered rainfall of 24 per cent above average.
Haze conditions in Singapore are expected to improve as the inter-monsoon period sets in, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on Thursday (Oct 29).
Inter-monsoon conditions have been progressively setting in over Singapore and the surrounding region with the weakening of the southwest monsoon, the Met Service said.
The inter-monsoon period is characterised by light and variable winds, as well as increased showers and higher lightning activity.
“With the shift from persistent southeasterly or southwesterly winds to light and variable winds in the surrounding region, smoke haze is less likely to be transported from fires towards Singapore,” the Met Service said.
“Together with wetter conditions over Singapore and the nearby areas, the smoke haze situation for Singapore is expected to improve.”
In the first fortnight of November, moderate to thundery showers are expected over parts of Singapore in the afternoon on most days.
The showers may extend into the evening on a few of these days, the Met service said.
The total rainfall for the first fortnight of November 2026 is forecast to be slightly above its long-term average over most parts of the island.
Daily maximum temperatures are expected to range between 33°C and 35°C on most days and could slightly exceed 35°C on a few days. Air quality was moderate across all regions in Singapore on Thursday.
Hourly PM2.5 readings were also in the normal range across the country, although levels briefly crossed into the elevated range in the west on Thursday morning.
In its haze outlook on Thursday morning, NEA said the hotspot and smoke haze situation in the region remained subdued.
“The hotspot and smoke haze situation may improve in areas experiencing showers but also continue to stay elevated in areas experiencing prolonged periods of dry weather, with a risk of transboundary haze occurrence,” NEA said in its haze outlook.
The agency added that southeasterly to southwesterly winds are expected on Friday and Saturday, although showers are expected over the region, which could help with the haze situation.
Rain eases Indonesia’s haze, but authorities warn fires could reignite
Summoned to meeting with Singapore leaders, top honchos of 10 firms pledge to cooperate with haze probes. Southwest monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the second fortnight of October, Met Service said in its media advisory on Thursday. “With winds blowing mostly from the southeast or southwest, smoke haze was transported to Singapore and air quality reached ‘unhealthy’ levels for seven days and ‘very unhealthy’ levels for three days between Oct 16 and Oct 28.” Localised short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of the island on several days during the second fortnight of October, it said, noting that there were also widespread moderate to heavy thundery showers on a few days. Heavy thundery showers fell over western Singapore during the afternoon of Oct 21, with the highest daily total rainfall for the second fortnight recorded at Tuas South at 81mm, said the Met Service. Daily maximum temperatures exceeded 34°C on most days, with the highest daily maximum temperature of 36.1°C recorded at Woodlands on Oct 23. Most parts of Singapore recorded below-average rainfall in the second fortnight of October, said the Met Service.
The area around Tanjong Katong registered rainfall of 72 per cent below average, and the area around Punggol registered rainfall of 24 per cent above average.
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Separately, Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid called for restraint following remarks by former Singapore nominated MP Calvin Cheng suggesting that Singapore could cut Indonesia’s internet connectivity.
Meutya pointed out that much of Singapore’s submarine cable connectivity passes through Indonesian waters, but stressed that digital infrastructure should be protected jointly for the benefit of both countries and global connectivity.
The exchanges have unfolded alongside renewed disagreements over transboundary haze from Indonesian forest and land fires.
During Balakrishnan’s Oct 27 to 29 visit, Singapore and Indonesia agreed to establish a joint task force to strengthen information-sharing and enforcement cooperation against the haze.
Balakrishnan also met Prabowo on Oct 28, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to maintaining close bilateral relations despite differences over specific issues.
Meutya pointed out that much of Singapore’s submarine cable connectivity passes through Indonesian waters, but stressed that digital infrastructure should be protected jointly for the benefit of both countries and global connectivity.
The exchanges have unfolded alongside renewed disagreements over transboundary haze from Indonesian forest and land fires.
During Balakrishnan’s Oct 27 to 29 visit, Singapore and Indonesia agreed to establish a joint task force to strengthen information-sharing and enforcement cooperation against the haze.
Balakrishnan also met Prabowo on Oct 28, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to maintaining close bilateral relations despite differences over specific issues.
The Straits Times
Singapore, Indonesia committed at highest level to resolving bilateral issues: Vivian Balakrishnan
Both sides grappling with issues such as gas cuts, power exports and haze. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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JAKARTA:-
A senior Indonesian minister has accused Singapore of reselling some of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) it imports from Indonesia to other countries, even as other officials and business leaders called for calm amid tensions over energy supplies and transboundary haze.
Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia said on Oct 29 that he believed some of the 148 LNG cargoes that Indonesia had shipped to Singapore were being traded and re-exported rather than used for domestic consumption.
“I believe that not all of the 148 cargoes we send are used for Singapore’s own needs, but some are traded and subsequently exported to other countries,” Bahlil told reporters after meeting President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
Bahlil, who is also Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and chairman of the Golkar Party, did not provide evidence to support the allegation or specify the period over which the cargoes were shipped.
His remarks concerned LNG transported by sea, which is separate from natural gas supplied through pipelines from Indonesia’s Natuna and Sumatra gas fields. LNG trading and re-exporting are not inherently improper, although such transactions are subject to the terms of supply agreements.
The comments come after Indonesia began reducing pipeline gas exports to Singapore on Oct 24, citing domestic energy needs.
Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas announced reductions totalling 31 million standard cubic feet per day, with supplies diverted to electricity generation in Batam, Bintan and Sumatra.
Bahlil said on Oct 29 that Indonesia had not breached its agreements, saying the reduced deliveries remained above the minimum supply limits stipulated in existing contracts.
He added that Indonesia had no immediate plans to reduce LNG exports to Singapore, but would continue prioritising domestic demand.
The minister’s remarks followed an earlier exchange over contractual obligations, after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Oct 25 that Singapore expected parties to honour their commercial commitments.
Bahlil responded on Oct 26 by insisting that Indonesia had fulfilled its obligations and should not be lectured about respecting contracts.
Playing down tensions
His latest comments came as other senior Indonesian figures sought to play down the tensions. On Oct 29, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani said Singapore’s investment commitments to Indonesia remained intact despite differences over haze and gas supplies.
Rosan also welcomed Singapore’s decision to summon executives from 10 companies over possible links to the haze, describing the move as a positive step towards addressing forest fires.
He said he had met Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan during the latter’s visit to Jakarta and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthening investment cooperation.
Singapore has been Indonesia’s largest source of foreign direct investment since 2014, with investments reaching US$17.4 billion (S$22.3 billion) in 2025.
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry deputy chairman Shinta Kamdani also expressed hope on Oct 29 that Prabowo’s meeting with Balakrishnan a day earlier would help ease tensions.
“I am confident that the meeting will lead to a solution,” she said.
Shinta, who also chairs the Indonesian Employers Association, said Singapore remained a major source of investment for Indonesia and that she had not observed any decline in Singaporean investment interest in the real economy, although tensions could affect financial market sentiment.
Earlier, on Oct 27, National Economic Council chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the gas reductions should not lead to conflict between the neighbours.
“Why would we fight with Singapore? There’s no reason to,” he told reporters, adding that he had spoken to Bahlil about the issue.
A senior Indonesian minister has accused Singapore of reselling some of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) it imports from Indonesia to other countries, even as other officials and business leaders called for calm amid tensions over energy supplies and transboundary haze.
Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia said on Oct 29 that he believed some of the 148 LNG cargoes that Indonesia had shipped to Singapore were being traded and re-exported rather than used for domestic consumption.
“I believe that not all of the 148 cargoes we send are used for Singapore’s own needs, but some are traded and subsequently exported to other countries,” Bahlil told reporters after meeting President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
Bahlil, who is also Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and chairman of the Golkar Party, did not provide evidence to support the allegation or specify the period over which the cargoes were shipped.
His remarks concerned LNG transported by sea, which is separate from natural gas supplied through pipelines from Indonesia’s Natuna and Sumatra gas fields. LNG trading and re-exporting are not inherently improper, although such transactions are subject to the terms of supply agreements.
The comments come after Indonesia began reducing pipeline gas exports to Singapore on Oct 24, citing domestic energy needs.
Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas announced reductions totalling 31 million standard cubic feet per day, with supplies diverted to electricity generation in Batam, Bintan and Sumatra.
Bahlil said on Oct 29 that Indonesia had not breached its agreements, saying the reduced deliveries remained above the minimum supply limits stipulated in existing contracts.
He added that Indonesia had no immediate plans to reduce LNG exports to Singapore, but would continue prioritising domestic demand.
The minister’s remarks followed an earlier exchange over contractual obligations, after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Oct 25 that Singapore expected parties to honour their commercial commitments.
Bahlil responded on Oct 26 by insisting that Indonesia had fulfilled its obligations and should not be lectured about respecting contracts.
Playing down tensions
His latest comments came as other senior Indonesian figures sought to play down the tensions. On Oct 29, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani said Singapore’s investment commitments to Indonesia remained intact despite differences over haze and gas supplies.
Rosan also welcomed Singapore’s decision to summon executives from 10 companies over possible links to the haze, describing the move as a positive step towards addressing forest fires.
He said he had met Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan during the latter’s visit to Jakarta and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthening investment cooperation.
Singapore has been Indonesia’s largest source of foreign direct investment since 2014, with investments reaching US$17.4 billion (S$22.3 billion) in 2025.
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry deputy chairman Shinta Kamdani also expressed hope on Oct 29 that Prabowo’s meeting with Balakrishnan a day earlier would help ease tensions.
“I am confident that the meeting will lead to a solution,” she said.
Shinta, who also chairs the Indonesian Employers Association, said Singapore remained a major source of investment for Indonesia and that she had not observed any decline in Singaporean investment interest in the real economy, although tensions could affect financial market sentiment.
Earlier, on Oct 27, National Economic Council chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the gas reductions should not lead to conflict between the neighbours.
“Why would we fight with Singapore? There’s no reason to,” he told reporters, adding that he had spoken to Bahlil about the issue.
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SINGAPORE-
Retrenchments edged up in the third quarter of 2026, according to preliminary labour market data from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Oct 30.
There were 4,800 layoffs between July and September, up 3.9% from 4,620 in the previous quarter, the highest numbers since late 2020. The incidence of retrenchment held constant at 2.0 for every 1,000 employees.
Business reorganisation continued to be the main driver of retrenchments, said MOM, with layoffs remaining elevated in selected outward-oriented sectors such as information and communications, financial services and manufacturing.
Employment grew more quickly than in the previous quarter for both residents and non-residents, with the latter accounting for the majority of employment growth.
Total employment rose by 27,700, up from 11,400 in the previous quarter and 25,100 in the same period last year.
Growth in resident employment was mainly supported by essential and public services, while non-resident employment growth was mainly in sectors such as construction and manufacturing, MOM said.
The overall unemployment rate held unchanged at 2.0% in September, with resident and citizen unemployment rates up slightly at 3.0% and 3.1% respectively, from 2.9% and 3.0% in August.
China downgrades envoy to South-east Asian meeting after sea row
Looking ahead, more companies in an MOM poll expected to hire and raise wages over the next three months, but a slightly larger share of firms also expected to retrench.
The share of firms expecting to hire in the next three months rose from 30.5% in August to 42.3% in September, while those expecting to raise wages rose from 16.9% to 19.9%. These figures were below July’s levels, suggesting that employers remained cautious amid economic uncertainty, MOM said.
Meanwhile, 3.1% of firms said in September that they expected to retrench, up from 2.8% in August.
“This increase, alongside higher actual retrenchments, points to emerging weaknesses in parts of the labour market that warrant close monitoring, even as the overall market continued to expand,” said MOM.
The ministry urged companies to adapt and invest in their workforce, and workers to keep their skills relevant, amid a more uncertain global outlook and rapid technological change.
Firms can tap schemes such as career conversion programmes and the Mid-Career Pathways Programme to reskill or upskill workers, and a SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant for workforce transformation.
Singaporean workers can seek out career guidance and job-matching services by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute. They can also upskill using the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme and Workfare Skills Support for mid-career and lower-wage workers respectively.
Fresh graduates may apply for Graduate Industry Traineeships to help enter the workforce, while the involuntarily unemployed can get temporary financial assistance using the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme.
MOM will release fuller labour market data for the third quarter in mid-December 2026.
Retrenchments edged up in the third quarter of 2026, according to preliminary labour market data from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Oct 30.
There were 4,800 layoffs between July and September, up 3.9% from 4,620 in the previous quarter, the highest numbers since late 2020. The incidence of retrenchment held constant at 2.0 for every 1,000 employees.
Business reorganisation continued to be the main driver of retrenchments, said MOM, with layoffs remaining elevated in selected outward-oriented sectors such as information and communications, financial services and manufacturing.
Employment grew more quickly than in the previous quarter for both residents and non-residents, with the latter accounting for the majority of employment growth.
Total employment rose by 27,700, up from 11,400 in the previous quarter and 25,100 in the same period last year.
Growth in resident employment was mainly supported by essential and public services, while non-resident employment growth was mainly in sectors such as construction and manufacturing, MOM said.
The overall unemployment rate held unchanged at 2.0% in September, with resident and citizen unemployment rates up slightly at 3.0% and 3.1% respectively, from 2.9% and 3.0% in August.
China downgrades envoy to South-east Asian meeting after sea row
Looking ahead, more companies in an MOM poll expected to hire and raise wages over the next three months, but a slightly larger share of firms also expected to retrench.
The share of firms expecting to hire in the next three months rose from 30.5% in August to 42.3% in September, while those expecting to raise wages rose from 16.9% to 19.9%. These figures were below July’s levels, suggesting that employers remained cautious amid economic uncertainty, MOM said.
Meanwhile, 3.1% of firms said in September that they expected to retrench, up from 2.8% in August.
“This increase, alongside higher actual retrenchments, points to emerging weaknesses in parts of the labour market that warrant close monitoring, even as the overall market continued to expand,” said MOM.
The ministry urged companies to adapt and invest in their workforce, and workers to keep their skills relevant, amid a more uncertain global outlook and rapid technological change.
Firms can tap schemes such as career conversion programmes and the Mid-Career Pathways Programme to reskill or upskill workers, and a SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant for workforce transformation.
Singaporean workers can seek out career guidance and job-matching services by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute. They can also upskill using the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme and Workfare Skills Support for mid-career and lower-wage workers respectively.
Fresh graduates may apply for Graduate Industry Traineeships to help enter the workforce, while the involuntarily unemployed can get temporary financial assistance using the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme.
MOM will release fuller labour market data for the third quarter in mid-December 2026.
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SINGAPORE:-
A domestic worker was sentenced to three years’ jail on Friday (Oct 30) for repeatedly abusing a four-year-old autistic child in her care,including punching him at least 23 times.
She was also punished for recording obscene videos of the family’s three children, including the boy’s seven-year-old sister and one-year-old brother, and sending them to her husband.
The 29-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her victims, kicked the four-year-old boy’s head twice in a separate incident.
About a month after she started working for the family, she also used a handheld shower head to spray water directly onto the one-year-old boy’s face for 16 seconds, causing him to flinch and cry.
The woman was arrested in March after her employer found videos and photographs of the abuse and his naked children on her phone.
Investigations uncovered four videos and two still images of the children naked in the unit’s toilet.
She had sent two of the videos and both images to her husband “to show him how mischievous the victims were”, the court heard.
The Indonesian national started working for the household in January. According to court documents, she abused the boy because she was feeling tired and frustrated from caring for him.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Riasudeen asked for 35 to 41 months’ jail for the woman, highlighting that she repeatedly punched the boy even as he was trying to shield himself.
She removed his hands to continue the assault and the video she recorded showed that she was using a considerable amount of force, he said.
The boy was non-verbal and “entirely unable” to seek help or report the abuse to his parents, which made him “more defenceless” than another child his age, the prosecution stressed.
The woman’s decision to record the abuse demonstrated a “chilling indifference” to the victim’s pain and suffering, Mr Riasudeen said. Feeling tired and frustrated from caring for the boy did not justify her actions, he added.
While the prosecution and defence agreed that the videos of the naked children were not taken with any intention for sexual gratification, Mr Riasudeen argued that the fact that the woman’s position as their caregiver was an aggravating factor.
He also noted that her husband could have forwarded the videos to other people.
The woman’s lawyer, Mr Ariffin Sha, who represented her pro bono under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, argued for two years and 10.5 months’ jail for her.
He did not dispute the prosecution’s sentencing arguments for the abuse charges, but argued that her obscene videos of the children were not the “archetypal offence” for sexual gratification.
Mr Ariffin, of Shehzhadee Law Corporation, said the woman wanted to place her unqualified apology to the victims and their family on record.
Despite the stress and her two requests to transfer out of the job before these incidents, the woman recognised that these factors do not excuse her actions, he added.
Laying out the woman’s sentence, District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz highlighted that the child was non-verbal – he could not speak for himself, ask for help, or tell others about the abuse.
“There are few betrayals of trust more disturbing than the abuse of a child by the very person entrusted with his care,” she said, noting that this case was particularly troubling because the main victim was a child with special needs.
The judge acknowledged the physical and emotional demands of caregiving but stressed that such difficulties could never justify abusing a child.
“Stress is not a license for violence nor is frustration an excuse for cruelty,” she said.
The sentence would have been “considerably higher” if there were evidence of physical injury to the victims, the judge added.
The punishment for ill-treating a child under one’s care is a jail term of up to eight years, a fine of up to S$8,000 (US$6,260) or both.
A domestic worker was sentenced to three years’ jail on Friday (Oct 30) for repeatedly abusing a four-year-old autistic child in her care,including punching him at least 23 times.
She was also punished for recording obscene videos of the family’s three children, including the boy’s seven-year-old sister and one-year-old brother, and sending them to her husband.
The 29-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her victims, kicked the four-year-old boy’s head twice in a separate incident.
About a month after she started working for the family, she also used a handheld shower head to spray water directly onto the one-year-old boy’s face for 16 seconds, causing him to flinch and cry.
The woman was arrested in March after her employer found videos and photographs of the abuse and his naked children on her phone.
Investigations uncovered four videos and two still images of the children naked in the unit’s toilet.
She had sent two of the videos and both images to her husband “to show him how mischievous the victims were”, the court heard.
The Indonesian national started working for the household in January. According to court documents, she abused the boy because she was feeling tired and frustrated from caring for him.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Riasudeen asked for 35 to 41 months’ jail for the woman, highlighting that she repeatedly punched the boy even as he was trying to shield himself.
She removed his hands to continue the assault and the video she recorded showed that she was using a considerable amount of force, he said.
The boy was non-verbal and “entirely unable” to seek help or report the abuse to his parents, which made him “more defenceless” than another child his age, the prosecution stressed.
The woman’s decision to record the abuse demonstrated a “chilling indifference” to the victim’s pain and suffering, Mr Riasudeen said. Feeling tired and frustrated from caring for the boy did not justify her actions, he added.
While the prosecution and defence agreed that the videos of the naked children were not taken with any intention for sexual gratification, Mr Riasudeen argued that the fact that the woman’s position as their caregiver was an aggravating factor.
He also noted that her husband could have forwarded the videos to other people.
The woman’s lawyer, Mr Ariffin Sha, who represented her pro bono under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, argued for two years and 10.5 months’ jail for her.
He did not dispute the prosecution’s sentencing arguments for the abuse charges, but argued that her obscene videos of the children were not the “archetypal offence” for sexual gratification.
Mr Ariffin, of Shehzhadee Law Corporation, said the woman wanted to place her unqualified apology to the victims and their family on record.
Despite the stress and her two requests to transfer out of the job before these incidents, the woman recognised that these factors do not excuse her actions, he added.
Laying out the woman’s sentence, District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz highlighted that the child was non-verbal – he could not speak for himself, ask for help, or tell others about the abuse.
“There are few betrayals of trust more disturbing than the abuse of a child by the very person entrusted with his care,” she said, noting that this case was particularly troubling because the main victim was a child with special needs.
The judge acknowledged the physical and emotional demands of caregiving but stressed that such difficulties could never justify abusing a child.
“Stress is not a license for violence nor is frustration an excuse for cruelty,” she said.
The sentence would have been “considerably higher” if there were evidence of physical injury to the victims, the judge added.
The punishment for ill-treating a child under one’s care is a jail term of up to eight years, a fine of up to S$8,000 (US$6,260) or both.
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SINGAPORE:-
A man who spat at police officers and urinated in their direction was on Friday (Oct 30) sentenced to five months and six weeks’ jail, and a S$5,000 fine.
Morris David, 52, hurled vulgarities at police officers and threatened to defecate and throw his faeces at them.
After hurling vulgarities at staff and police officers at the airport, the man was arrested and sent to Changi General Hospital. Upon waking up from being sedated, he found himself in grip restraints and asked to use the washroom.
Given his prior behaviour, his requests were denied. He then threatened to defecate and throw his faeces at the officers watching him, and urinated in their direction.
Laying out her sentence, District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz noted the Australian national’s sustained belligerent, abusive and aggressive behaviour.
Over 32 hours, he directed verbal abuse, threats and physical aggression at public servants who were conducting their duties, she added.
“His actions demonstrate a prolonged and flagrant disregard for authority and the dignity of the public officers involved,” said the judge.
His punishment should signal that such conduct will not be tolerated, she added.
The “inherently degrading and unsanitary nature” of urinating in the direction of two police officers is “particularly reprehensible”, she said, highlighting that this followed his threat to defecate and throw his waste in their direction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jun Kai argued for a jail term of eight months and one week for Morris, stressing that he committed multiple offences in a short span of time.
His actions were not only disrespectful but also derogatory, and Morris “obviously had no respect” for the local police, he added.
The victims in this case have to be ensured of enough protection and vindication by law against behaviour that threatens the effective discharge of their duties, said Mr Ng.
Arguing for a fine and a shorter jail term, Morris’ lawyers Mr Zachary Lim and Mr Koh Boon Yang from IRB Law said their client is extremely remorseful, apologetic and ashamed of his behaviour.
The man is ready to face the consequences and would like to apologise to the police officers involved, they added.
WHAT HAPPENED
In July, Morris arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 3 from Bali, meant to transit through Singapore to Australia. He had head injuries from an accident in Bali and was pushed in a wheelchair to a clinic in the terminal when he arrived.
Upset that he would have to pay for medical treatment, Morris left the clinic for the Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Gold Lounge. Upon entering the lounge, he refused to speak to staff who requested for his identity and eligibility to use the facilities.
Growing agitated, he verbally abused the manager at the lounge and the police were alerted to the incident. Soon after, he was sent to Changi General Hospital for treatment.
That afternoon, he returned to Changi Airport Terminal 3 and walked into the departure hall with an invalid boarding pass. He demanded to speak to the manager for entry into the lounge and to allow him to board his flight to Perth.
An auxiliary police officer escorted him to the Singapore Airlines’ check-in counter to ask about his flight back to Perth, and he loudly and repeatedly shouted vulgarities at the officer.
After hearing the commotion, other police officers approached Morris, who was now trying to hail a taxi. He tried to move away from the officers, claiming he wanted to leave for a smoke.
The officers told him he could only smoke later, and Morris got agitated, asking the officers to arrest and jail him. One officer tapped him on the shoulder, and the man threatened him: “Touch me one more time, I swear to god, I will knock your glass off your head.”
Another officer warned Morris about his behaviour and he responded by cursing at the officer.
The man was arrested and brought to Changi General Hospital, where police officers were assigned to watch him.
A man who spat at police officers and urinated in their direction was on Friday (Oct 30) sentenced to five months and six weeks’ jail, and a S$5,000 fine.
Morris David, 52, hurled vulgarities at police officers and threatened to defecate and throw his faeces at them.
After hurling vulgarities at staff and police officers at the airport, the man was arrested and sent to Changi General Hospital. Upon waking up from being sedated, he found himself in grip restraints and asked to use the washroom.
Given his prior behaviour, his requests were denied. He then threatened to defecate and throw his faeces at the officers watching him, and urinated in their direction.
Laying out her sentence, District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz noted the Australian national’s sustained belligerent, abusive and aggressive behaviour.
Over 32 hours, he directed verbal abuse, threats and physical aggression at public servants who were conducting their duties, she added.
“His actions demonstrate a prolonged and flagrant disregard for authority and the dignity of the public officers involved,” said the judge.
His punishment should signal that such conduct will not be tolerated, she added.
The “inherently degrading and unsanitary nature” of urinating in the direction of two police officers is “particularly reprehensible”, she said, highlighting that this followed his threat to defecate and throw his waste in their direction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jun Kai argued for a jail term of eight months and one week for Morris, stressing that he committed multiple offences in a short span of time.
His actions were not only disrespectful but also derogatory, and Morris “obviously had no respect” for the local police, he added.
The victims in this case have to be ensured of enough protection and vindication by law against behaviour that threatens the effective discharge of their duties, said Mr Ng.
Arguing for a fine and a shorter jail term, Morris’ lawyers Mr Zachary Lim and Mr Koh Boon Yang from IRB Law said their client is extremely remorseful, apologetic and ashamed of his behaviour.
The man is ready to face the consequences and would like to apologise to the police officers involved, they added.
WHAT HAPPENED
In July, Morris arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 3 from Bali, meant to transit through Singapore to Australia. He had head injuries from an accident in Bali and was pushed in a wheelchair to a clinic in the terminal when he arrived.
Upset that he would have to pay for medical treatment, Morris left the clinic for the Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Gold Lounge. Upon entering the lounge, he refused to speak to staff who requested for his identity and eligibility to use the facilities.
Growing agitated, he verbally abused the manager at the lounge and the police were alerted to the incident. Soon after, he was sent to Changi General Hospital for treatment.
That afternoon, he returned to Changi Airport Terminal 3 and walked into the departure hall with an invalid boarding pass. He demanded to speak to the manager for entry into the lounge and to allow him to board his flight to Perth.
An auxiliary police officer escorted him to the Singapore Airlines’ check-in counter to ask about his flight back to Perth, and he loudly and repeatedly shouted vulgarities at the officer.
After hearing the commotion, other police officers approached Morris, who was now trying to hail a taxi. He tried to move away from the officers, claiming he wanted to leave for a smoke.
The officers told him he could only smoke later, and Morris got agitated, asking the officers to arrest and jail him. One officer tapped him on the shoulder, and the man threatened him: “Touch me one more time, I swear to god, I will knock your glass off your head.”
Another officer warned Morris about his behaviour and he responded by cursing at the officer.
The man was arrested and brought to Changi General Hospital, where police officers were assigned to watch him.
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Morris was held in grip restraints and became agitated over them after he woke up from being sedated. He cursed at the three officers watching him and threatened one of them: “I want to grab your throat and choke you.”
He spat at the officers multiple times, with his saliva landing on their faces and uniforms. While they tried to put a mask over his mouth, he repeatedly removed the mask and spat at them.
He then asked to use the washroom. One officer declined his request and offered him a potty instead. Morris threatened to defecate and throw the waste material at the officer.
He asked to use the washroom again minutes later, and was offered a urinal bottle. After repeatedly spitting at two officers, he urinated from his bed in the direction of the two officers.
Later, one officer again tried to place a mask on Morris to prevent him from spitting again, and he responded by trying to bite the officer.
Two different officers took over ward duty later that morning. At lunchtime, Morris became angry because he wanted to eat with both hands. He threw his food to the ground, breaking the plates, and spat at the two officers.
The punishment for indecent, threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a public servant is a jail term of up to 12 months or a fine of up to S$5,000.
He spat at the officers multiple times, with his saliva landing on their faces and uniforms. While they tried to put a mask over his mouth, he repeatedly removed the mask and spat at them.
He then asked to use the washroom. One officer declined his request and offered him a potty instead. Morris threatened to defecate and throw the waste material at the officer.
He asked to use the washroom again minutes later, and was offered a urinal bottle. After repeatedly spitting at two officers, he urinated from his bed in the direction of the two officers.
Later, one officer again tried to place a mask on Morris to prevent him from spitting again, and he responded by trying to bite the officer.
Two different officers took over ward duty later that morning. At lunchtime, Morris became angry because he wanted to eat with both hands. He threw his food to the ground, breaking the plates, and spat at the two officers.
The punishment for indecent, threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a public servant is a jail term of up to 12 months or a fine of up to S$5,000.
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SINGAPORE:-
A domestic worker was sentenced to three years’ jail on Friday (Oct 30) for repeatedly abusing a four-year-old autistic child in her care,including punching him at least 23 times.
She was also punished for recording obscene videos of the family’s three children, including the boy’s seven-year-old sister and one-year-old brother, and sending them to her husband.
The 29-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her victims, kicked the four-year-old boy’s head twice in a separate incident.
About a month after she started working for the family, she also used a handheld shower head to spray water directly onto the one-year-old boy’s face for 16 seconds, causing him to flinch and cry.
The woman was arrested in March after her employer found videos and photographs of the abuse and his naked children on her phone.
Investigations uncovered four videos and two still images of the children naked in the unit’s toilet.
She had sent two of the videos and both images to her husband “to show him how mischievous the victims were”, the court heard.
The Indonesian national started working for the household in January. According to court documents, she abused the boy because she was feeling tired and frustrated from caring for him.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Riasudeen asked for 35 to 41 months’ jail for the woman, highlighting that she repeatedly punched the boy even as he was trying to shield himself.
She removed his hands to continue the assault and the video she recorded showed that she was using a considerable amount of force, he said.
The boy was non-verbal and “entirely unable” to seek help or report the abuse to his parents, which made him “more defenceless” than another child his age, the prosecution stressed.
The woman’s decision to record the abuse demonstrated a “chilling indifference” to the victim’s pain and suffering, Mr Riasudeen said. Feeling tired and frustrated from caring for the boy did not justify her actions, he added.
While the prosecution and defence agreed that the videos of the naked children were not taken with any intention for sexual gratification, Mr Riasudeen argued that the fact that the woman’s position as their caregiver was an aggravating factor.
He also noted that her husband could have forwarded the videos to other people.
The woman’s lawyer, Mr Ariffin Sha, who represented her pro bono under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, argued for two years and 10.5 months’ jail for her.
He did not dispute the prosecution’s sentencing arguments for the abuse charges, but argued that her obscene videos of the children were not the “archetypal offence” for sexual gratification.
Mr Ariffin, of Shehzhadee Law Corporation, said the woman wanted to place her unqualified apology to the victims and their family on record.
Despite the stress and her two requests to transfer out of the job before these incidents, the woman recognised that these factors do not excuse her actions, he added.
Laying out the woman’s sentence, District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz highlighted that the child was non-verbal – he could not speak for himself, ask for help, or tell others about the abuse.
“There are few betrayals of trust more disturbing than the abuse of a child by the very person entrusted with his care,” she said, noting that this case was particularly troubling because the main victim was a child with special needs.
The judge acknowledged the physical and emotional demands of caregiving but stressed that such difficulties could never justify abusing a child.
“Stress is not a license for violence nor is frustration an excuse for cruelty,” she said.
The sentence would have been “considerably higher” if there were evidence of physical injury to the victims, the judge added.
The punishment for ill-treating a child under one’s care is a jail term of up to eight years, a fine of up to S$8,000 (US$6,260) or both.
A domestic worker was sentenced to three years’ jail on Friday (Oct 30) for repeatedly abusing a four-year-old autistic child in her care,including punching him at least 23 times.
She was also punished for recording obscene videos of the family’s three children, including the boy’s seven-year-old sister and one-year-old brother, and sending them to her husband.
The 29-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her victims, kicked the four-year-old boy’s head twice in a separate incident.
About a month after she started working for the family, she also used a handheld shower head to spray water directly onto the one-year-old boy’s face for 16 seconds, causing him to flinch and cry.
The woman was arrested in March after her employer found videos and photographs of the abuse and his naked children on her phone.
Investigations uncovered four videos and two still images of the children naked in the unit’s toilet.
She had sent two of the videos and both images to her husband “to show him how mischievous the victims were”, the court heard.
The Indonesian national started working for the household in January. According to court documents, she abused the boy because she was feeling tired and frustrated from caring for him.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Riasudeen asked for 35 to 41 months’ jail for the woman, highlighting that she repeatedly punched the boy even as he was trying to shield himself.
She removed his hands to continue the assault and the video she recorded showed that she was using a considerable amount of force, he said.
The boy was non-verbal and “entirely unable” to seek help or report the abuse to his parents, which made him “more defenceless” than another child his age, the prosecution stressed.
The woman’s decision to record the abuse demonstrated a “chilling indifference” to the victim’s pain and suffering, Mr Riasudeen said. Feeling tired and frustrated from caring for the boy did not justify her actions, he added.
While the prosecution and defence agreed that the videos of the naked children were not taken with any intention for sexual gratification, Mr Riasudeen argued that the fact that the woman’s position as their caregiver was an aggravating factor.
He also noted that her husband could have forwarded the videos to other people.
The woman’s lawyer, Mr Ariffin Sha, who represented her pro bono under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, argued for two years and 10.5 months’ jail for her.
He did not dispute the prosecution’s sentencing arguments for the abuse charges, but argued that her obscene videos of the children were not the “archetypal offence” for sexual gratification.
Mr Ariffin, of Shehzhadee Law Corporation, said the woman wanted to place her unqualified apology to the victims and their family on record.
Despite the stress and her two requests to transfer out of the job before these incidents, the woman recognised that these factors do not excuse her actions, he added.
Laying out the woman’s sentence, District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz highlighted that the child was non-verbal – he could not speak for himself, ask for help, or tell others about the abuse.
“There are few betrayals of trust more disturbing than the abuse of a child by the very person entrusted with his care,” she said, noting that this case was particularly troubling because the main victim was a child with special needs.
The judge acknowledged the physical and emotional demands of caregiving but stressed that such difficulties could never justify abusing a child.
“Stress is not a license for violence nor is frustration an excuse for cruelty,” she said.
The sentence would have been “considerably higher” if there were evidence of physical injury to the victims, the judge added.
The punishment for ill-treating a child under one’s care is a jail term of up to eight years, a fine of up to S$8,000 (US$6,260) or both.
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SINGAPORE:-
The police have caught the driver and his female passenger who fled from a fatal Tampines crash that killed a young couple on Oct 29.
The 30-year-old man will be charged on Oct 31 with dangerous driving causing death and eight other traffic offences, including using a deregistered vehicle.
The accident at around 10.35pm on Oct 29 involved a blue Audi that ploughed through the road divider, slamming into the couple’s motorcycle and another car along Tampines Avenue 12.
The motorcyclist, Mohd Emirul Danial Mohd Zulkifly, and his wife, Nursyarafana Norazman, who was riding pillion, died after being taken to the hospital.
The couple, both 24, were buried next to each other at Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery on Oct 30.
Family members told The Straits Times at their burial that the couple were expecting a second child. They leave behind a six-year-old son.
The 25-year-old driver of the other car was also taken to hospital but was conscious.
Haze in S’pore: PM2.5 reading in the west returns to normal zone after entering elevated range
The Audi driver and his 29-year-old female passenger had abandoned the car and fled the scene. They did not help the injured.
On Oct 31, the police said they identified the occupants of the Audi and arrested them on Oct 30 around West Coast Road.
In photos of the accident in Tampines circulating on social media, various vehicles can be seen in severely damaged states.
Preliminary investigations found that the man had been driving a deregistered car with a cloned number plate while being disqualified from holding a driving licence.
He will be charged with the following:
• Dangerous driving causing death
• Dangerous driving causing hurt
• Driving under disqualification
• Failing to stop after an accident
• Failing to render assistance after an accident
• Using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage
• Using a deregistered vehicle
• Using a vehicle without a licence
• Exhibiting a false licence plate
Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can be jailed for up to eight years, and those convicted of using a deregistered vehicle can be jailed for up to two years and fined $20,000.
There were 40 cases involving deregistered vehicles in 2022, and 39 in 2023. This jumped to 75 in 2024 and 245 in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, the Land Transport Authority investigated 122 cases.
The police said using deregistered vehicles and driving while disqualified is reckless and irresponsible, and they will not hesitate to take firm action against those who endanger other road users.
Singapore’s roads are now at their most dangerous in years, with traffic deaths hitting a 10-year high of 149 in 2025 compared with 141 in 2016.
The number of people getting injured also increased from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.
The police have caught the driver and his female passenger who fled from a fatal Tampines crash that killed a young couple on Oct 29.
The 30-year-old man will be charged on Oct 31 with dangerous driving causing death and eight other traffic offences, including using a deregistered vehicle.
The accident at around 10.35pm on Oct 29 involved a blue Audi that ploughed through the road divider, slamming into the couple’s motorcycle and another car along Tampines Avenue 12.
The motorcyclist, Mohd Emirul Danial Mohd Zulkifly, and his wife, Nursyarafana Norazman, who was riding pillion, died after being taken to the hospital.
The couple, both 24, were buried next to each other at Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery on Oct 30.
Family members told The Straits Times at their burial that the couple were expecting a second child. They leave behind a six-year-old son.
The 25-year-old driver of the other car was also taken to hospital but was conscious.
Haze in S’pore: PM2.5 reading in the west returns to normal zone after entering elevated range
The Audi driver and his 29-year-old female passenger had abandoned the car and fled the scene. They did not help the injured.
On Oct 31, the police said they identified the occupants of the Audi and arrested them on Oct 30 around West Coast Road.
In photos of the accident in Tampines circulating on social media, various vehicles can be seen in severely damaged states.
Preliminary investigations found that the man had been driving a deregistered car with a cloned number plate while being disqualified from holding a driving licence.
He will be charged with the following:
• Dangerous driving causing death
• Dangerous driving causing hurt
• Driving under disqualification
• Failing to stop after an accident
• Failing to render assistance after an accident
• Using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage
• Using a deregistered vehicle
• Using a vehicle without a licence
• Exhibiting a false licence plate
Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can be jailed for up to eight years, and those convicted of using a deregistered vehicle can be jailed for up to two years and fined $20,000.
There were 40 cases involving deregistered vehicles in 2022, and 39 in 2023. This jumped to 75 in 2024 and 245 in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, the Land Transport Authority investigated 122 cases.
The police said using deregistered vehicles and driving while disqualified is reckless and irresponsible, and they will not hesitate to take firm action against those who endanger other road users.
Singapore’s roads are now at their most dangerous in years, with traffic deaths hitting a 10-year high of 149 in 2025 compared with 141 in 2016.
The number of people getting injured also increased from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.
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SINGAPORE:-
A man in an alleged hit-and-run accident in Tampines that killed a motorcyclist and his pillion rider, both aged 24, was charged in court on Saturday (Oct 31).
Muhammad Zulfiqar Abdul Aziz, 30, was handed nine charges which include dangerous driving causing death and hurt, driving under disqualification, driving without a licence and failing to stop or to render assistance after an accident.
Zulfiqar was also accused of various offences related to the car he was using, including: Using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage, using a deregistered vehicle and exhibiting a false licence plate.
He was driving one of the cars in the accident involving another car and the victims’ motorcycle along Tampines Avenue 12 at about 10.35pm on Thursday.
The motorcyclist and his female pillion rider were taken unconscious to hospital, where they subsequently died, the police said in a news release early on Saturday morning.
A gag order has been imposed on the victims’ identities.
A 25-year-old woman who was driving the other car was also taken conscious to hospital.
Police said Zulfiqar, who was driving the other car, did not render assistance and abandoned his vehicle before fleeing the scene with his 29-year-old female passenger.
Through extensive ground enquiries and the use of images from police cameras and closed-circuit television cameras, traffic police officers established the identities of the pair.
They were arrested on Friday in the vicinity of West Coast Road.
Police said they take a serious view of motorists who use deregistered vehicles, drive while under disqualification or commit other serious traffic offences.
“Such reckless and irresponsible acts endanger the safety of other road users,” they said, adding that they would not hesitate to take firm action against motorists who disregard traffic laws and endanger others.
Zulfiqar was remanded for investigations and will return to court on Nov 27.
The case comes amid a rise in the use of deregistered vehicles on Singapore roads, with reported cases increasing from 75 in 2024 to 245 in 2025.
Earlier this month, parliament passed tougher measures to deal with deregistered vehicles. The new law strengthens controls over the disposal of these vehicles by requiring them to be exported through firms authorised by the Land Transport Authority.
The offence of dangerous driving causing death carries a jail term of up to eight years.
For driving under disqualification, a fine up to $10,000 or jail term of up to three years or both, may be imposed. For repeat offenders, the offence carries a fine up to $20,000 or jail term up to six years or both.
A man in an alleged hit-and-run accident in Tampines that killed a motorcyclist and his pillion rider, both aged 24, was charged in court on Saturday (Oct 31).
Muhammad Zulfiqar Abdul Aziz, 30, was handed nine charges which include dangerous driving causing death and hurt, driving under disqualification, driving without a licence and failing to stop or to render assistance after an accident.
Zulfiqar was also accused of various offences related to the car he was using, including: Using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage, using a deregistered vehicle and exhibiting a false licence plate.
He was driving one of the cars in the accident involving another car and the victims’ motorcycle along Tampines Avenue 12 at about 10.35pm on Thursday.
The motorcyclist and his female pillion rider were taken unconscious to hospital, where they subsequently died, the police said in a news release early on Saturday morning.
A gag order has been imposed on the victims’ identities.
A 25-year-old woman who was driving the other car was also taken conscious to hospital.
Police said Zulfiqar, who was driving the other car, did not render assistance and abandoned his vehicle before fleeing the scene with his 29-year-old female passenger.
Through extensive ground enquiries and the use of images from police cameras and closed-circuit television cameras, traffic police officers established the identities of the pair.
They were arrested on Friday in the vicinity of West Coast Road.
Police said they take a serious view of motorists who use deregistered vehicles, drive while under disqualification or commit other serious traffic offences.
“Such reckless and irresponsible acts endanger the safety of other road users,” they said, adding that they would not hesitate to take firm action against motorists who disregard traffic laws and endanger others.
Zulfiqar was remanded for investigations and will return to court on Nov 27.
The case comes amid a rise in the use of deregistered vehicles on Singapore roads, with reported cases increasing from 75 in 2024 to 245 in 2025.
Earlier this month, parliament passed tougher measures to deal with deregistered vehicles. The new law strengthens controls over the disposal of these vehicles by requiring them to be exported through firms authorised by the Land Transport Authority.
The offence of dangerous driving causing death carries a jail term of up to eight years.
For driving under disqualification, a fine up to $10,000 or jail term of up to three years or both, may be imposed. For repeat offenders, the offence carries a fine up to $20,000 or jail term up to six years or both.
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