Tag: Singapore

1 Family Plans To Do Crowdfunding For Legal Fees After 2 Singaporean Men Jailed For Crossdressing In UAE

Mr Fadli Rahman, 26, a fashion photographer, and Nur Qistina Fitriah Ibrahim, 37, were arrested on Aug 9, with an official court document in Arabic saying two Singaporean men were caught for wearing women’s clothes in public and for behaving indecently.

The Straits Times reported that Nur Qistina is a transgender person who had legally changed her name but has not undergone gender reassignment surgery to become a woman.

The pair, who had arrived in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Aug 8, were arrested while out buying lunch at a shopping mall and were sentenced on Aug 20.

Cross-dressing, homosexuality and transgender behaviour are crimes in the UAE.

Mr Fadli was in Abu Dhabi for a photo shoot. He had previously worked on TV show Mongolia’s Next Top Model, and fashion magazines Her World and Men’s Folio.

The New Paper spoke to Mr Fadli’s brother, Mr Saiful Rahman, 32, yesterday. The property officer said the family last had contact with Mr Fadli when he sent a selfie on Aug 9.

Mr Saiful said the family then heard of the arrest from Mr Fadli’s friends on Aug 14.

When asked how his parents reacted to the news, he said: “My parents were crying and worried about him over there.”

He added: “We just want him back. We want him back safely. They can even deport him.”

The two men have until Sept 4 to appeal against their sentence.

When contacted, a spokesman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told TNP: “MFA is aware of this case and is rendering the necessary consular assistance. We are also assisting the family to seek legal advice.”

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, in an e-mail to the family seen by The Straits Times, said: “I’m sorry to hear about this. Rest assured that our consular and mission colleagues will do their best to assist your brother. I understand that they are already in contact with you and your brother. Please let me know if you need further assistance.”

Mr Saiful said the family have reached out to a lawyer in Abu Dhabi, Ms Stephanie Mouanes, an associate at Al Suwaidi & Company Advocates & Legal Consultants.

Speaking to TNP over the phone yesterday, Ms Mouanes said she had been in contact with the family but would not be able to furnish any details about the case until they officially appoint her.

Mr Fadli’s family and friends are planning to launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for his legal fees.

Source: http://www.tnp.sg

August 24, 2017
Australia Is The Perfect Place For Me; 2 Singaporeans Chase Aussie Dreams With New Visa Scheme

Tutor Amira Rahmat, 24, had always dreamed of working in the fields of nature and wildlife conservation, but the chance to do so did not come along – until now.

For the next year, she will work in wildlife and nature conservatories, including one in Tasmania, while pursuing another interest close to her heart – learning about coffee and taking barista courses.

The avid nature lover plans to leave her job and go to Australia in October.

Ms Amira, a National University of Singapore life sciences graduate, is one of two Singaporeans to receive a Work and Holiday visa under a new scheme.

She said: “Australia is the perfect place for me. It will allow me to follow my passion and give me the opportunity, for the first time in my life, to work in my dream field. I will have easy access to activities I love, such as camping, diving and immersing myself in nature and wildlife.”

Also off to Australia is advertising account manager Deborah Yap, 29. The diving enthusiast said she cannot wait to spend her time in a place where she can easily access dive spots and places like the Great Barrier Reef.

She said: “It was really surprising to hear I was granted the visa. It is such a blessing.”

Part of a bilateral agreement between Singapore and Australia, the visa will allow Singaporeans to spend up to 12 months in Australia, and allow Australians to do the same in Singapore.

And, for the first time, it will allow Singaporeans to hold jobs in Australia for up to six months each time under a single employer.

Singaporeans can also take up short courses for up to four months at a time.

Ms Amira and Ms Yap are the first two candidates to be granted the visa under the scheme. The initiative was launched in June, and applications opened on Aug 1.

The 125 spaces offered in this first round were taken up within an hour of the launch.

There will be a total of 500 spots each for Singaporeans and Australians each year.

Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo, speaking to the media in Singapore yesterday, said: “We knew that this visa programme was going to be popular, and the response just confirms it.”

He said that Singapore and Australia are linked by investments, trade and defence, among other things.

The visa scheme, he said, will help to build personal ties and allow Singaporeans and Australians to get some exposure to each other’s cultures.

The application for the next batch of visas will open on Oct 2. The scheme is open only to Singaporeans between the ages of 18 and 30, and who have completed at least two years of tertiary education or the equivalent.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com

August 24, 2017
Animal Cruelty: Man Wrapped Up A Stray Cat In Masking Tape, Another Woman Abandoned Her Cat

A man was fined S$6,000 for animal cruelty, after he wrapped up a stray cat in masking tape, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) said on Wednesday (Aug 23).

Li Xiaojing, 30, admitted to wrapping the stray cat in masking tape after it entered his home.

He claimed the cat had urinated in his home, and that he had taped it so that it could be taken away.

The cat – with its entire body taped up tightly – was found by a member of the public at Ubi Avenue 1, community group Yishun 326 Tabby Cat said in a Feb 1 Facebook post appealing for information.

The cat was taken to a veterinary clinic, where it had to be anaesthetised before all the masking tape could be removed.

The cat did not sustain any physical injuries from the incident and has been rehomed.

In a separate case, Noorfazanah Abdul Salam, 32, was fined S$3,000 for abandoning her pet cat.

Noorfazanah said she had taken the cat to the vet on Nov 22, 2016, but took it back home as she could not afford the treatment for it.

Later that same day, she abandoned the mixed-breed cat in a pet carrier at Sumang Walk in Punggol.

A member of the public found the cat and AVA was alerted to the case the following day.

The cat was in need of urgent veterinary attention at the time, AVA said.

The cat has since been treated and rehomed, it added.

Those who abandon their pets could be fined up to S$10,000 and/or jailed up to a year. Anyone found guilty of animal cruelty can be fined up to S$15,000 and/or jailed up to 18 months.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com

August 24, 2017
Dr Tan Cheng Bock: I Firmly Believe The Gov Should Have Answered In Parliament Instead Of Challenging A Parliamentarian To Go To Court.

Court of Appeal verdict
As you know by now, the Court of Appeal has dismissed my appeal. I am disappointed, as are all my supporters, because we had hoped to contest in this PE (through the deliberative track) after I lost narrowly (0.34%) in PE 2011. Nevertheless, I am very comforted to know that many of you were strongly supporting me in this case. I never felt alone. For that, I sincerely thank every one of you.

Some may say that my court application was a fool’s errand. But I do not see it that way. When MP Sylvia Lim asked the Government in Parliament why they chose to start the count of 5 presidential terms with President Wee Kim Wee (resulting in 2017 being a reserved election year), the Government challenged her to go to Court for an answer. That is wrong and I felt the need to respond. I firmly believe the Government should have answered in Parliament instead of challenging a Parliamentarian to go to Court.

So I filed a case to argue what most Singaporeans felt was proper, that the count should start with the 1st Elected President Ong Teng Cheong (which would result in 2023 being a reserved election year). The Court of Appeal, however, decided that as a matter of law, the Government has discretion to start the count with President Wee Kim Wee. They issued a 66 page long judgment detailing full legal reasons. Now that the Court of Appeal has had the final say, I accept the verdict – but with a heavy heart.

My team and I will now rest, regroup and re-energise ourselves. I promise you, I will always speak up for Singaporeans and do my very best for our country.

Meanwhile, let me be first to wish the participants of the coming reserved PE 2017 all the best, and to do your very best for our country!

Source: Dr Tan Cheng Bock

August 23, 2017
Literally Closing The Door On Smuggling, ICA Detected Duty-Unpaid Cigarettes Inside “Wooden Doors”

On 17 August 2017 at about 6pm, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers conducted checks on a 40-footer container at a warehouse in Chai Chee Lane. The container was presented for clearance at the Tanjong Pagar Scanning Station and was sealed for checks at the premises of the freight forwarder. During the checks, the officers noticed that there were 35 boxes wrapped with corrugated paper among a consignment declared as “display stand and keychain card holder”.

When the ICA officers unwrapped the boxes, the items turned out to be wooden doors. Suspecting that contraband items may be concealed in the wooden doors, the officers pried open the side panel and found duty-unpaid cigarettes. Singapore Customs was alerted, and 1,894 cartons and 660 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the wooden doors were uncovered.

Based on the leads gathered from the case, Singapore Customs identified another suspicious consignment of wooden doors and mounted a follow-up operation on 21 August 2017 night. Singapore Customs officers kept a close watch as two vans were driven into a building in Playfair Road. They saw the consignment of wooden doors being unloaded from the vans and conveyed to a unit on the fifth level of the building.

The Singapore Customs officers then moved into the unit to conduct a search, and they found 1,890 cartons and 700 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the wooden doors. Two male Chinese nationals, aged 28 and 34, were arrested for being involved with duty-unpaid cigarettes. A follow-up search of the two men’s flat in Sims Avenue also uncovered another three packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

A total of 3,784 cartons and 1,363 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized over the two days, with the total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounting to about $304,210 and $22,540 respectively. Investigations are ongoing.

See the full press release here.

Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

August 23, 2017