The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has issued a statement on Friday with regards to reports that some election candidates and their supporters had distributed campaign material to passing motorists in the middle of the road.
“In response to media queries on election candidates and their volunteers distributing campaign flyers on roads to passing motorists, the Police advise that such activities are not to be carried out as they pose a risk to road safety,” the SPF said in a post on its Facebook page.
“The Police are looking into the matter,” it added.
The Police did not name the candidates or the volunteers involved.
On Thursday, 3 September, website Redwire reported that People’s Action Party candidate for East Coast GRC, Maliki Osman, was seen distributing his campaign materials to passing motorists in the middle of the road in Flora Drive, when the cars come to a stop at traffic lights.
The website reported that reaction to Mr Maliki’s actions were “swift and cutting”.
On the SPF Facebook page, comments were also critical of Mr Maliki’s actions.
“If that party politician who distributes flyer right in the middle of the road only receives verbal warning bySingapore Police Force, don’t penalise and charge other local citizens to court with jail or fine in the future,” Nur Azzahar said.
“We as Singapore Citizens including rest of the world are now looking at your integrity as the law enforcement authority very closely. We can’t hide from it as its being shared over the social media. No ones is above the law. Don’t forget what the Police pledge means. Hope the IO/AIO/SIO never take sides. Law is law and its not meant to be broken nor to be closed one eye just because they are politians of whichever parties.”
Mr Maliki was also a Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the last Parliament. His constituency is facing of the keenest contest where his team is facing a challenge from the Workers’ Party team which consists of Non-constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Gerald Giam, and Associate Professor and sociologist, Daniel Goh.
Police on Sunday (Aug 30) issued a traffic and security advisory for Nomination Day held on Sep 1.
The Nomination Centres will be open from 10am and supporters and members of the public are advised to only arrive at the Centres after that time. Nomination proceedings will start from 11am, said the police.
Parking is prohibited at the Centres and candidates are reminded to arrive early, it added.
Police said that they will be stepping up deployment and conducting security checks in and around the Centres.
“Bags and other belongings brought into the Nomination Centres will be subject to security checks. Supporters and members of the public are advised not to bring along items such as sharp object(s), flammable liquids or gas, bulky items or big bags,” the advisory said.
No placards, flags, or banners of any candidate will be allowed to be displayed at the Nomination Centres before the close of nomination proceedings. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones are also not allowed in the Centres as they could “endanger public safety”, it added.
“The police will monitor the law and order situation closely, and will not hesitate to take action against any person who is unruly or who commits any offence at the Nomination Centre,” according to the advisory.
More crime cases have been recorded in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period last year, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a statement on Monday.
According to statistics released by the police, a total of 16,575 crime cases were recorded in the first six months of this year, a 6.7 per cent increase from the first half of 2014.
Cases classed as “commercial crimes” was the main contributor to the overall increase, with 3,893 cases in the first half of 2015 compared to 2,506 cases in the same period last year, a 55.3 per cent rise.
Within this crime class, “cheating involving e-commerce” saw a 65.6 per cent increase year-on-year from 613 cases last year to 1,015 cases this year.
Credit-for-sex scams, which also falls under the commercial crimes class, also saw a rise with 627 cases reported between Jan and Jun 2015, with approximately $1.59 million cheated.
In these cases, culprits use mobile messaging platforms to ask victims to purchase gift cards or virtual credits in exchange for escort or sexual services.
Meanwhile, a total of 141 cases of internet love crimes were recorded this year, 49 more than the 92 cases reported last year.
Mr David Chew, Director of SPF’s Commercial Affairs Department, said: “The growing trend of online crime is a cause for concern. Online transactions may be convenient, but the public should always be alert and exercise due diligence when engaging in online transactions to avoid falling victim to scammers.”
However, there were positive improvements in a number of other key crime areas in the first half of the year.
Crimes classed as “housebreaking and related crimes”, “theft and related crimes”, “crimes against persons” and miscellaneous crimes” all saw declines compared to last year.
Unlicensed moneylending and harrassment recorded a 24.7 per cent decrease from 3,359 cases last year to 2,531 cases this year. There were also fewer cases of cyber-extortion and outrage of modesty.
There has also been an improvement in the youth crime situation, with 1,362 youth arrests from Jan to Jun this year, a decrease of 280 arrests or 17.1 per cent.
“The unlicensed moneylending and harassment situation has been improving steadily. Housebreaking and violent or serious property crime cases have also decreased significantly. However, the increase in commercial crimes involving c-commerce transactions and scams is a concern,” said Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) of Police Tan Hung Hooi.
He assured that the police would be stepping up public education efforts to warn the public against such crimes.
The number of sexual crimes has been rising over the last four years.
And given that minors may find it harder than adults to pick up the pieces, experts are urging parents to build open relationships with their children so they will feel safe in opening up about possible wrongdoing.
Last year, there were 272 cases filed in the State Courts involving either sexual assault by penetration, sexual grooming of a minor under 16, outrage of modesty or rape. Another 169 cases involving these crimes led to convictions.
This is an overall increase of about 60 per cent from 164 cases filed and 105 convictions in 2011.
In the High Court, 13 rape cases were filed last year, up from four the year before and six in 2012. Eight people were convicted of rape last year compared to four in 2013 and six in 2012.
The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) also said that 234 people sought help at its Sexual Assault Care Centre last year, up from 192 in 2013.
While the rise could be due to an increased willingness to come forward, it could be only the “tip of the iceberg”, said Aware’s programmes and communications senior manager Jolene Tan, pointing out that a majority of cases also go unreported.
“If children feel they can confide without facing judgment or shaming… parents and caregivers are more likely to be in a position to know about situations that involve sexual violence and provide assistance,” she said.
It is especially critical to catch abuse of minors early because “children might carry the trauma for the rest of their lives”, said Dr Carol Balhetchet, senior director for youth services at the Singapore Children’s Society. “At least with adults, they have some experience to help them process what happened. Children are a blank slate.”
Girls might suffer from depression and inflict self-injury by cutting themselves in an attempt to deal with the stress, said the clinical psychologist. Boys, on the other hand, tend get angry and aggressive, becoming defiant and getting into fights, she said.
Consultant psychologist and traumatologist Elizabeth Ho from mental health practice the Resilienz Clinic, said boys may also struggle with their sexual orientation, after finding themselves sexually aroused during the abuse.
“Arousal in males is a biological thing, it’s not something they can effectively control,” said Ms Ho. The problem is exacerbated if the abuse occurs during adolescence when sexual identity is formed.
Experts also told The Sunday Times that the impact on victims is even worse if the offender is “known to the child’s family”.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) handled 38 cases of sexual abuse involving minors last year. In 2013, there were 40 cases. In most cases, the perpetrator was a family member.
Such victims tend to suffer deeper emotional trauma, said Dr Joy Low, senior clinical psychologist with MSF’s Clinical and Forensic Psychology Service. “Many victims may be unwilling to disclose or even engage in treatment due to feelings of guilt which comes from implicating their loved ones.”
For years, “Nick’s” stepfather would “massage” him at night before he went to sleep. It involved the man fondling the boy’s privates.
The abuse began when he was in primary school. It stopped only earlier this year after counsellors in school found out and reported the case to the police.
The Secondary 3 student continues to struggle with feelings of guilt and shame, said Ms Lena Teo, assistant director of counselling at the Children-at-Risk Empowerment Association (Care). “He also has so much anger because an adult he trusted and was supposed to respect abused him sexually.”
Therapy to help survivors lead normal lives again can take from six months to a year on average, but can stretch up to 18 months, said Dr Low. It typically involves getting survivors to talk about the experience in order to help them process the hurt, and adapt psychologically.
It is also crucial that victims be in an environment in which they feel safe to share their experience.
Mrs Kim Lang Khalil, director of DaySpring Residential Treatment Centre, which helps abused teenage girls, said: “Those who are abused tend to be hyper-vigilant. They are always concerned about possible attacks on them, they get startled easily, and do not trust adults as most of the time they were abused by one.”
DaySpring can take up to 22 girls, who are mostly referred by MSF and typically stay for a year at its Turf Club compound. Each girl has a care team – a counsellor and a coach to help her get over her trauma. When the girls are well enough to leave, there is a “graduation” ceremony where they share with other girls their experience.
Said Mrs Khalil: “By being willing to share, they show that they have made peace with their past, and are no longer ashamed.”
Pinned on the ground, 21-year old Anderson Tan Lin He, struggled to breathe as he was also being held in a chokehold by a police officer.
Tan said he almost passed out of consciousness before other police officer arrived on the scene and he was released from the grip.
On 26 July (Sunday), Tan was walking in Bukit Panjang, heading towards Senja LRT when he was stopped by a police officer who had just alighted from his patrol vehicle.
According to Tan, the Chinese uniformed officer called out to him from the back, “Eh, you stop there.”
The uniformed officer, whom Tan approximate to be in his mid-twenties, then asked, “What is your problem?”
Tan, who told The Online Citizen (TOC) that he has had his fair share of brushes with the law, rebutted the officer by saying, “I can tell you my problem, but are you capable of solving it?”
The officer then asked for Tan’s identity card (ID).
Tan complied and handed it over to the officer.
While inspecting the ID, the officer asked, “Why you so guai lan [cocky, rude]?”
“I guai lan also never disturb anybody,” retorted Tan.
The police officer told Tan to show some respect for him.
“Respect police?” Tan said. “Basic respect you earn yourself one. If you want respect for yourself, you must respect others first.”
The argument went on for awhile and the officer got very agitated, according to Tan.
Tan then asked if the police officer was done with checking his ID and said he wanted his it back.
The police officer replied saying, “Wait, haven’t ok yet.”
Tan replied, “You want to wait until durian drop down is it?”
Tan said the officer responded immediately with vulgarity, and said that he was going to arrest Tan.
Tan questioned why he was being arrested.
The officer did not explain but instead pinned Tan down on the ground and handcuffed him.
The other police officer who was apparently was the partner of the first officer, proceeded to cable-tie Tan’s legs to restrict his movement.
The two officers who tackled Anderson to the ground and one of whom is choking Anderson.
After handcuffing the Tan, the Chinese officer wrapped his arm over Tan’s neck and choked him, making Tan grasp for air.
Tan’s friend, Dahnan, who was with him, asked the police to stop what was being done to Tan.
However, the police officer told him to “fxxx off”, according to Dahnan.
Tan said that he nearly blacked out twice during the 3-5 minutes ordeal and had saliva dripping from his mouth because of the chokehold.
It was only when two more police cars arrived at the scene that the two police officers release Tan from their grip.
One superintendent who was with the group of officers that just arrived, asked Tan what had happened.
The superintendent proceeded to cut the cable tie off Tan’s leg and asked that the latter be brought back to the police station.
Tan was subsequently charged for disorderly behaviour and was kept in detention overnight at the Jurong Police station.
He was later released on $5000 bail.
Bruises on Anderson’s thigh after four days
Tan told TOC, “How can a police officer arrest someone by choking his neck? Shouldn’t he just restrain the hands?”
He said that if the other police officers had not arrived on time, he might have passed out or even died as a result of the chokehold.
Dahnan asked how police officers could behave in such a manner, and use disproportionate force against suspects.
He also questioned the police officer’s vulgar language. TOC wrote to the police on 2 August about the incident but has yet to receive any response from the police.
TOC understands that the police officer who restrained Tan with the chokehold has apologised to him in person since.
However, the charge against Tan for disorderly behaviour still remains.
On 2 April this year, a man claimed that he was injured by a group of plainclothes police officers after he flipped the identification card of one officer who was taking down his particulars.
