Tag: police

Is The Police Tailing Malay-Muslim Activists?

Some of you may have known from my previous posting that i was followed by people whom I believe to be the police. Whether it’s the ISD or the CID, it doesn’t matter. What matters more is the reason why I was being followed.

A few friends were kind enough to msg me personally and ask if there’s anything serious. They were concern of my well being. Some had thought that I was just imagining things. No I wasn’t. I am very clear on this.

Prior to yesterday’s incident, I had always been followed by a black Toyota Mark X, bearing the number plate SJXXXXXH. I only realized that I was being shadowed sometime after my GAZA event at Hong Lim Park. I don’t know how many times exactly I was being followed but I can say for sure I was shadowed at least 4 times by this same vehicle on different days.

On why I was certain that it wasn’t just my imagination:

I made a few manoeuvres which doesn’t make sense if one is driving normally. I made 2 consecutive U-turns. I slowed down to a crawling pace. I accelerated at will. I parked by the side of the road. I wasted a couple of dollars to enter and exit from a shopping centre car park. All the time, the vehicle followed my route.

The last time I saw the black Toyota Mark X was on 31 Dec 2014 when I attended SDP’s event at Thomson. Yesterday’s incident involved 3 different vehicles. 2 cars and one bike. It was surprising that they would actually deploy such manpower over an individual like me.

Initially, I was very much fearful. But the fears quickly turned to being annoyed. What have I done to deserve being followed like a criminal? Was it my political background? Or was it for being outspoken on Palestinian issues. Either way, there’s nothing criminal for doing both. In fact, by them doing this, it strengthened my resolve to continue and do what is right within the laws of the land.

I have made a police report about the incident yesterday. As a citizen, I have every right to know why am I under such scrutiny. What suspicions have they got to encroach on the rights of an individual and compromise my privacy.

I wish to understand this from their points of view and meet with these officers to get a clearer picture. They are not going to silence me by these cheap tactics. I will soon write in to MHA and request for an audience with the appropriate officers. If need be, I shall camp outside their office as this involve my safety.

Source: Osman Sulaiman

January 19, 2015
Hoong Wee Teck Takes Over As Commissioner Of Police

Mr Hoong Wee Teck has taken over command of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) from Mr Ng Joo Hee as the Commissioner of Police (CP), in a Change of Command Ceremony held at Home Team Academy on Monday, 5 January 2015.

Mr Hoong Wee Teck, 51, has served 27 years in the SPF. He has held various leadership appointments, including that of Deputy Commissioner (Investigations & Intelligence), Director Criminal Investigation Department, Director Police Intelligence Department and Commander Bedok Police Division. He had also served a stint in the then Singapore Immigration & Registration Department as Deputy Director (Enforcement).

On his appointment as CP, Mr Hoong said: “It is a great honour to be in this position to lead a Force of highly committed and professional men and women. The previous Commissioners have done an excellent job in building a strong foundation of professionalism and community trust. I will continue to strengthen this foundation, and leverage technology and innovation to bring SPF’s crime fighting capabilities to a new level. Together, my officers and I will work towards realising our vision of Singapore becoming the safest city in the world.”

Mr Ng Joo Hee, 48, who had led SPF for close to five years, will assume a new appointment as Chief Executive, Public Utilities Board (PUB), and concurrent Deputy Secretary (Special Duties), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) on 6 January 2015. He will bring to PUB and MEWR his experience gleaned from 29 years of his distinguished career in SPF and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

We thank Mr Ng Joo Hee for his strong leadership as our CP and wish him every success in his next appointment.

Source: www.facebook.com/singaporepoliceforce

January 6, 2015
Photo Of Handcuffed Children By Policemen Caused Online Furore

Three children aged between nine and 12 years old were arrested for theft on Saturday morning.

They were handcuffed by the police near the traffic junction next to 112 Katong at East Coast Road before being taken to a nearby police station in a police car. A police spokesman added that the suspects were handcuffed for their safety and the safety of others as they had attempted to escape before officers arrived.

A photo of the children being handcuffed was posted on several online platforms on Saturday morning, including citizen journalism website Stomp, creating a buzz. IT manager Jeremy Tan, who saw the photo on Facebook, said: “They are just kids. Even if they have stolen something, they shouldn’t be treated like that. It is not appropriate.” However others said the police did the right thing, since there was a risk the children could dash on to the roads to escape.

Police said they received a call at about 8.09am requesting for assistance at a building along East Coast Road. “It was established that a case of theft from person had occurred at the said location,” a statement added.

Investigations are ongoing.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

December 29, 2014
NSmen Forced To Sign “Consent Form”

i’m writing in to unfold an standard protocol required by SAF for our annual FFI clearance, which is mandatory for NSmen upon reaching the age of 35 years old. I’m like all 35 years old, was scheduled for this liability, days after turning 35. So here goes with the standard procedures: blood test, eye test, ECG test, weight and height measurement and not forgotting, a declaration form on your wellbeing and personal details. And the final stage of the test, seeing the in-camp Medical Officer (MO).

I’m an avid runner and swimmer, who exercises regularly at least 5 to 6 days per week, but however I do have some bad habits in smoking and drinking (occasionally), therefore, as per the MO, standard protocol requires me to take the treadmill test, scheduled a few days later at the National Heart Centre.

So well, IPPT and NS is a man’s responsibility, therefore I do not even have the slightest complaint, and not to mention, I do not have any problem in clearing my IPPT. I only have problem getting GOLD! Silver to me is like a piece of cake.

A few days later and here I am, in the National Heart Centre, waiting for my turn to take the test. As the nurse was implanting all the “sockets” on my body, and explaining briefly to me about this test, a remark suddenly caught my full attention.

“Sir I need you to know that there’s a possibility of 1 in 10,000 of heart attack for this test and we need you to sign a consent form.”

Straight away, the answer in my mind was NO! For tons of reasons which I explained to the doctor when the nurse could not handle my queries.

Why should we be liable for something we did not ask for? If SAF needs us to do such test, it proves there’re some health risks after the age of 35, and why are they still implementing this and most importantly, how can they wash their hands off matters which they are forcing the citizens to do? Least they can do is to be liable in case NSmen suffer heart attack during the test.

I saw the MO again, he had no explanations for my concerns and quoted me an example:

“There’s risk to everything you do, like you chose to park your car there, there is risk of break-in.”

Any answer to him is simple, “I chose to park the car there and willing to take the risk. I did not choose to serve NS or IPPT, therefore I shouldn’t be liable for the risk.”

MO’s reply: This is standard protocol and nothing he can do about it. If I do not comply, I will get charged.

I ended the conversation immediately, and in any case, what can a Captain do to oppose such non-logical protocol?

It might sound like a small issue and I know many of you will tell me I am over reacting but I feel insulted that we are forced to sign a “consent form” or be charged. Like that, it’s not really consent since I have no choice.

The Truth

* Submitted by TRE reader.

Source: www.tremeritus.com

December 23, 2014
Video Of The Shooting of 12 Year Old Tamir Rice By American Policeman

A rookie Cleveland cop shot and killed Tamir Rice literally seconds after arriving at a park where the 12-year-old was carrying a BB gun. In disturbing new security video, released on Wednesday by police, the unnamed police officer is seen exiting his police vehicle and almost immediately deciding to shoot the child.

From Cleveland.com:

A rookie officer pulled the trigger, said Jeffrey Follmer, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association.

Police were sent to the Cudell Recreation Center at Detroit Avenue and West Boulevard about 3:30 p.m. when someone called 9-1-1 to report a “guy with a gun pointing it at people.”

The caller told dispatchers twice that the gun was “probably fake,” but that detail was not relayed to the responding officers, Follmer said.

The video was made public one day after the parents of Rice had sent out a letterasking the city’s Mayor Frank Jackson and the Cleveland Police Department to release the footage, NBC affiliate WKYC reported.

From the letter:

While we request the release of the complete video, we also ask for the media to give our family privacy as we continue to grieve and learn about what happened. We feel the actions of the patrol officer who took our son’s life must be made public.

It is our prayer and request for citizens in the City of Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio to remain calm at this time. We ask for the public to demonstrate peacefully.

Though the hurt our family feels is too painful for words to describe, we still have faith in the justice system. We thank the community for their prayers, encouragement and support. It has helped us during this difficult time.

Officials have said that the boy was shot when he pulled the pellet gun from his pants after he was told by cops to raise his hands, although he didn’t point the gun at the officers. The video appears to show that he was shot before he would have had time to point the gun, or raise his hands, anywhere.

Source: http://www.slate.com

November 27, 2014