Category: Singapuraku

Para Games Gold Medalist, Firdaus Nordin, Jailed 5 Years For Drug Trafficking And Consumption

The man known to be the fastest wheelchair sprinter in Singapore was on Friday (May 20) found guilty of trafficking methamphetamine and jailed the minimum five years after a five-day trial.

Muhammad Firdaus Nordin, 28, a former Asean Para Games gold medalist, who is listed in the Singapore Book of Records, also pleaded guilty to a charge of taking the same drug on Jan 31 in 2015, saying it was to help him get in shape in time for the 8th Asean Para Games, held in Singapore in December 2015.

He was jailed for 10 months on the drug consumption charge, but his two jail terms will run concurrently.

The five-year prison sentence will bring to a halt the disabled athlete’s remarkable sporting achievements.

When he was 13, Firdaus, who was born with spina bifida, raced in the National Junior Disabled Games in Australia in 2001, clinching one gold and two silver medals, and also breaking a Games record.

Four years later in 2005, he won two golds, one of which was for the men’s 100m race, and one silver medal at the third Asean Para Games in Manila in 2005. He became famous overnight by claiming the top spot in the world for that century sprint event. The then underdog also smashed the Games record for the 100m and 200m events.

Just a year later in 2006, he set a new Games record for the 200m event at the prestigious IPC Athletics World Championships in the Netherlands, winning a silver medal and earning the Republic its first entry into the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, although Firdaus later had to pull out due to injury.

In 2010, he won gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m in the International German Open Championships for Track and Field.

In December 2015, during the Asean Para Games held in Singapore, Firdaus also competed in the 100m, 200m and 400m events.

But in the early hours of Feb 2, 2015, policemen stopped a car driven by Firdaus’ cousin Hamza Jubir near Block 510 Bedok North Street 3. There had been a fight in the area, and the police had information that some suspects had fled in a car.

Firdaus was in the back seat of the car, while Hamza’s girlfriend was in the front passenger seat.

A policeman found three packets of crystalline substance weighing 4.03g tucked between Firdaus’ jeans and boxer shorts in the area between his groin and his right thigh.

Firdaus said the packets belonged to him. He was arrested at about 5am and taken to the Bedok Police Division Headquarters.

His urine later tested positive for methamphetamine, while the packets were found to contain 2.65g of the same drug.

At Bedok Police Division Headquarters, Firdaus again told a Central Narcotics Bureau officer the drugs were his and further said they were for sale.

He also repeated this in three statements recorded on the same day of his arrest and the next day.

But during his trial, from April 4 to 8, Firdaus claimed the drugs were found on the car’s back passenger seat. During a short chase of the car by the police, Firdaus said, Hamza’s girlfriend had taken a pouch containing the drugs from the glove compartment, passed it to Firdaus and told him to put it on the rear passenger seat.

Firdaus’ admissions of guilt to the authorities, meanwhile, had been made because of threats from Hamza, Firdaus claimed.

Hamza and his girlfriend took the stand to deny Firdaus’ allegations.

However, Firdaus agreed during the trial with his admission made in his statements to the police that he took methamphetamine to get in shape for the Asean Para Games at the end of that year.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Yanying before District Judge Lee Poh Choo.

In his mitigation, defence lawyer Peter Fernando said: “Firdaus has clearly learnt a very serious lesson and there is absolutely no reason for him to reoffend. He is a young man who was unfortunately born with serious medical conditions.

“He has by sheer determination proven to be a man capable of achieving great heights in wheelchair racing. He pleads to be shown leniency in view of his ill-health.”

In sentencing him to five years’ jail and five strokes of the cane, Judge Lee noted Firdaus’ age, medical conditions and achievements.

She told Firdaus the law mandates a minimum five strokes of the cane for his trafficking charge and that it is for the prison service to certify him to be unfit for caning.

Firdaus showed little expression as his sentence was passed, but relatives, including his mother and an aunt, wept in court. The judge allowed Firdaus’ mother and aunt to speak with him for 10 minutes before he was led away in his wheelchair and handcuffed with his hands in front of him.

The penalty for trafficking methamphetamine, a Class A controlled drug, is between five and 20 years’ jail, with between five and 15 strokes of the cane. The penalty for consuming the drug is jail of up to 10 years and/or a $20,000 fine.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

May 22, 2016
Taxi Justice – Cabby Drives Against Traffic To Chase Driver Who Hit Him

The cabby had stopped for a red light at a traffic junction when a silver multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) slammed into the rear of his taxi.

Before Mr Muhammad Ali Abdul Kadir, 41, could get out to investigate, the MPV sped off, beating the red light in the process.

Unable to jot down the culprit’s licence plate in time, Mr Ali decided to give chase. The pursuit took them past two more red lights as well as against the flow of traffic, but Mr Ali said he felt he needed to catch the irresponsible driver and warn others.

“I kept sounding my horn to warn other road users of this dangerous driver and tried to keep up,” he said.

“I know what I did was wrong, but I needed to catch and stop him.”

Mr Ali thought he almost had him after the driver crashed head-on into a police Land Rover, which was travelling in the opposite direction, and came to a halt.

But when Mr Ali alighted from his taxi and tried to open the MPV door, the driver reversed his vehicle, swerved it to the right and caused Mr Ali to fall

The MPV then sped off into the distance.

But the driver did not get far.

His reign of terror on the roads ended when his vehicle crashed into the wall of a mall carpark and burst into flames.

Yesterday, Chee Chern Chun, 42, was jailed 12 weeks, fined $2,000 and banned from driving for three years.

His 1.3km rampage began at 3.26am on Oct 3, 2014, when he crashed into the rear of Mr Ali’s taxi at the junction of Merchant Road and Eu Tong Sen Street.

Chee then beat the red light at the junction and drove along North Canal Road, prompting Mr Ali to give chase.

“I was very angry. I believe that you must be responsible for your actions. This driver just drove off. I couldn’t let him go just like that,” he said.

ONE-WAY ROAD

Chee beat a second red light as he turned onto South Bridge Road, and a third one when he made a right turn onto Upper Pickering Street, which is a one-way road.

Mr Ali tried his best to keep up.

“He was going very fast on a small road. I kept honking, just hoping to alert other road users and prevent an accident,” he said.

They drove against the flow of traffic and onto a slip road from New Bridge Road, where Chee crashed head-on with a police Land Rover.

Mr Ali quickly alighted from his taxi and tried to open Chee’s door, which was locked. He also caught a glimpse of the errant driver for the first time.

“He looked blur, like he was in a daze. He didn’t look like someone who had been driving in such an aggressive manner,” he said.

Their encounter was brief as Chee reversed his vehicle and caused Mr Ali, who was holding on to the door handle, to fall.

Chee then sped off and drove against the flow of traffic along New Bridge Road until he reached Funan DigitaLife Mall.

He crashed through the mall carpark exit barrier and collided into a hose reel, causing his engine to catch fire.

But Chee continued his road rampage as he reversed his vehicle and grazed a parked lorry.

The MPV eventually came to a halt after it crashed into a wall and burst into flames.

Chee, who managed to escape, was detained by the mall’s security officers as the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived to put out the fire.

Mr Ali gasped when he heard the details for the first time yesterday.

“I thought he just pulled over on his own. I didn’t know it took his vehicle going up in flames to put an end to it. I hope he was all right,” he said.

Police officers found that Chee reeked of alcohol, had a flushed face and bloodshot eyes, and was slurring, court papers said.

A Breath Evidential Analyser test revealed that he was two units short of failing the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes per 100ml of breath.

He later told the authorities that he had been suffering from extreme fatigue. Court papers said Mr Ali’s taxi and the police Land Rover suffered slight damage to their rear and front bumper respectively.

Mr Ali also suffered bruises and was given three days of medical leave.

Yesterday, Chee was jailed, fined and banned from driving for one count each of rash driving endangering human life, inconsiderate driving that caused the collision with Mr Ali’s taxi, and failing to stop after being involved in an accident.

Two other charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

When told of Chee’s sentence, Mr Ali promptly replied: “Good.”

But he added that he did not bear any grudges against the driver and that the experience did not faze him from going back out on the roads.

“What was most important was that no one was seriously hurt or killed that night. And that justice is done,” he said.

I was very angry. I believe that you must be responsible for your actions. This driver just drove off. I couldn’t let him go just like that.

– Mr Muhammad Ali Abdul Kadir, who gave chase in his taxi after he was hit from behind by the MPV

Chee Chern Chun, who is driving a multi-purpose vehicle, crashes into the rear of Mr Muhammad Ali Abdul Kadir’s taxi, which had stopped at the junction of Merchant Road and Eu Tong Sen Street.

Instead of stopping, Chee drives off, beating a red light.

He drives along North Canal Road and runs a second red light as he turns right onto South Bridge Road.

He drives along South Bridge Road and beats a third red light as he turns onto Upper Pickering Street against the flow of traffic.

Chee continues driving onto a slip road from New Bridge Road and crashes into a police Land Rover.

Mr Ali, who is tailing Chee, alights and tries to open Chee’s door. But he reverses and swerves to the right, causing Mr Ali to fall.

Chee drives onto New Bridge Road – again against the flow of traffic.

He drives to Funan DigitaLife Mall, crashes through the exit barrier and drives into the carpark.

There, he crashes into a hose reel, causing his engine to catch fire.

He reverses and grazes a parked lorry. He crashes into a wall and his vehicle bursts into flame. Chee is arrested.

Source: www.tnp.sg

May 22, 2016
Permaidani Merah Bagi Mastura Ahmad, Firdaus Rahman Di Cannes

PERMAIDANI merah yang terbentang gah di Pesta Filem Cannes ke-69 di Perancis menyambut mesra kedatangan pelakon tempatan filem Apprentice, Firdaus Rahman dan Mastura Ahmad, kelmarin.

Sanjungan luar biasa turut diterima kededuanya di tayangan perdana sedunia filem tersebut yang menyingkap kehidupan seorang perantis penjara (lakonan Firdaus).

Turut hadir bersama Firdaus dan Mastura ialah pengarah filem Boo Junfeng dan pelakon prolifik Malaysia Wan Hanafi Su.

Filem yang 80 peratus dihasilkan dalam bahasa Melayu dan 20 peratus pula dalam bahasa dialek dan Inggeris itu juga dipertanding bagi Anugerah Un Certain Regard.

Bahagian Un Certain Regard itu diperkenal dalam 1978 dan memaparkan filem asli lagi berbeza daripada serata dunia.

Apakah pengamatan pengkritik filem antarabangsa mengenai Apprentice? Apakah pula yang membuatkan Mastura dan Firdaus kagum?

Source: www.beritaharian.sg

May 21, 2016
Sufie Rashid: Arif Dollah Tidak Pernah Jadi Bapa Tiri Saya

Assalamualaikum semua. Firstly thanks for your concern about my case with Ariff Dollah. Yes its really really tiring.. Penat sangat bila semua media call, msg, pm nak tanya pasal dia. Harap post ni kali terakhir saya menjelaskan pasal hal ni.

1) Ariff Dollah bukan dan tak pernah menjadi bapa tiri saya. My mum’s current husband is her 2nd marriage yang sah. So Ariff kalau nak besar besarkan dirinya sebagai bapa tiri, minta dia buktikan.

2) Saya berdamai dengan Ariff? Answer is no. Saya diajak oleh Doktor Kereta untuk bersalaman dengan Ariff sambil saya diucapkan tahniah. Saya “salam” semua termasuk Ariff as a form of my “professionalism” . Orang hulur, kita salam.

3) Police case against Ariff is still ONGOING. Jangan memandai ckp dah tutup.

4) Saya mencari rezeki yang halal.

Sekian terima kasih, Salam Jumaat yang mulia ini.

Source: Mohammad Sufie

May 21, 2016
Anak Derma Ginjal Pada Bapa

ENCIK Abdul Hadi Ahmad bak sudah jatuh ditimpa tangga.

Kesemuanya bermula apabila isterinya, Cik Noraini Arjob, 50 tahun, disahkan menghidap penyakit barah buah dada lebih lima tahun lalu.

Penyakit yang dihidapi isterinya sudah tentu menjejas kesejahteraan keluarga lima beranak itu.

Namun, dalam kesibukan memberi perhatian kepada kesihatan dan rawatan isterinya itu, beliau pula disahkan menghidap penyakit ginjal yang berfungsi hanya lima peratus sekitar dua tahun lalu.

Tubuh yang lemah dan hilang fokus menyebabkan beliau bak layang-layang putus tali.

Encik Hadi, 49 tahun, ayah tiga anak, adalah pemilik Offshore Entertainment Production, sebuah syarikat penganjur konsert artis dan kumpulan popular antarabangsa seperti Janet Jackson, Maher Zain, Kenny Loggins, serta kumpulan Michael Learns to Rock dan Earth, Wind and Fire.

Rawatan dialisis yang menjenuhkan, memaksa beliau membatalkan kesemua tugas yang dijalankan bersama isterinya di luar negara.

Namun, bak awan mendung berarak pergi, beliau lega apabila doktor mengesahkan ginjal anak tirinya, Cik Nurain Sudin, 26 tahun, sepadan dan serasi dipindahkan kepadanya.

Anak kandungnya, Cik Nursyahira, 19 tahun, seorang pramugari, didapati tidak layak menjadi penderma kerana usia bawah 21 tahun.

“Alhamdulillah, Allah yang mengaturkan ini semua. Sebenarnya saya tak sampai hati kerana Nurain punya kehidupan sendiri. Tetapi dia sendiri yang mahu dermakan ginjalnya lebih-lebih lagi doktor jamin dia tak akan hadapi apa-apa masalah selepas pemindahan.

“Ayah mana yang tak bersyukur dan tersentuh jika anaknya sendiri sanggup derma ginjalnya kepada saya!” tambahnya yang kelihatan sebak seketika.

Namun, Encik Hadi dan Cik Nurain terpaksa menjalani pelbagai ujian dan pemeriksaan sekitar setahun sebelum pemindahan akhirnya dijalankan di Hospital Mount Elizabeth 10 Mei lalu.

Beberapa bulan sebelum itu, Encik Hadi telah menjalani pembedahan bagi memastikan jantungnya mantap sebelum pemindahan ginjal.

Pembedahan tanpa sebarang masalah itu dijalankan sekumpulan doktor bedah yang diketuai Konsultan Nefrologi atau pakar ginjal, Dr Stephen Chew Tec Huan.

Cik Nurin, seorang kakitangan pentadbiran di Wisma Teroka Singapura (SDC), berkata: “Saya tak teragak-agak berikan ginjal kepada ayah apabila doktor kata ayah perlukannya. Saya serahkan segala-galanya kepada Allah.

“Ayah adalah payung dan segala-galanya bagi kami sekeluarga.”

Menurut Encik Hadi, kos pemindahan tersebut dan pembedahan jantung yang dijalani menelan sekitar $140,000.

“Alhamdulillah rezeki yang Allah beri dapat saya bayar kesemuanya. Ini berkat doa dan menjaga ibu saya dan ibu mentua saya,” tambahnya sambil mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Dr Chew dan pasukannya serta para jururawat berdedikasi dan melayannya dengan baik.

Source: www.beritaharian.sg

May 21, 2016