5 S’pore News That You Should Know About That Were Reported Yesterday (2 January 2020)

Let’s face it: in this social media world, exciting and viral news like a cat feeding a baby bear would often appear in your Facebook news feed, while important news like the GDP growth of Singapore this year wouldn’t get the same reach.

It’s understandable since social media platforms would prioritise engaging and viral content to keep users in their platform.

In order to ensure that you’d still know about important news instead just social news, below are the top five Singapore news that was reported yesterday which you should know, simplified for you in a bite-sized format:

Teen Given Probation Over Sexual Offences Against Two Underage Girls

A 17-year-old boy was sentenced on Thursday (Jan 2) to 21 months’ probation after he pleaded guilty to one count each of sexually penetrating a minor and causing a child to hold his private parts.

After getting to know an underage schoolmate in February 2018, the offending teenager forced the 13-year-old girl to touch his private parts.

On Feb 25 last year, he lured the other girl, also 13, to another staircase landing in Woodlands and had sexual intercourse with her. He continued with the act even though she was crying in pain.

For more info, tap here.

Two Arrested On New Year’s Day In Bukit Merah Drug Incident

A man and woman have been arrested after an incident involving drugs at Jalan Bukit Merah on New Year’s Day.

Police say a 52-year-old woman was arrested for suspected consumption of controlled drugs while a 55-year-old man was arrested for using criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty.

Both the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were alerted to the incident at Block 3 Jalan Bukit Merah on Wednesday (1 Jan).

One of the suspects had threatened to jump from the block.

For more info, tap here. 

NYP Student Who Filmed Male Schoolmate In Campus Toilet Gets 15 Months Probation

An 18-year-old Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) student was sentenced on Thursday (2 Jan) to 15 months’ probation for recording a video of a male schoolmate in a campus toilet.

The offender, Brandon Mandolang Yong Fu, was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, and must remain indoors from 10pm to 6am every day.

Last year, the accused film the victim while he was in an adjacent cubicle for one to two minutes.

For recording the video, Mandolang could have been jailed for up to six months and fined up to $5,000.

For more info, tap here. 

Loan Scams On The Rise: Victims Cheated Of $6.8 Million For Jan-Nov 2019

Loan scam victims were cheated of at least $6.8 million in about 1,700 reported cases between January and November last year.

This is more than thrice the reported amount cheated from victims for the whole of 2018.

The police have warned the public against such scams, which might have links to unlicensed moneylending.

The police said victims usually received an SMS text message or WhatsApp message offering loan services in these scams. The sender may even claim to be a staff member representing a licensed moneylender.

For more info, tap here.

Renewing North-South, East-West MRT Lines To Cost More Than $2.5 billion

A multi-year programme to renew Singapore’s oldest MRT lines – the North-South, East-West lines – will cost more than $2.5 billion, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

Mr Khaw said the second phase of the programme was already underway.

This phase involves replacing the power supply system, track circuits, and first-generation trains. The first replaced the rail sleepers, third rail, and signalling system of the two lines.

For more info, tap here.

Do come back tomorrow to the Goody Feed app so you’ll always stay informed!