Tag: Singapore

James Raj Arokiasamy aka the Messiah Pleads Guilty To 36 Charges Of Computer Misuse

Hacker James Raj Arokiasamy, who goes by the moniker “Messiah”, has pleaded guilty to 39 charges of computer misuse for hacking into the web servers of Fuji Xerox, a fan site of popstar Sun Ho and government-related websites in 2013.

The 36-year-old had faced a total of 162 charges, of which 39 computer misuse charges and one charge for drug consumption were proceeded with. The remaining 121 charges will be taken into consideration for his sentencing. Deputy presiding judge S. Jennifer Marie adjourned sentencing to next Friday (Jan 30).

The prosecution, which described James Raj’s offences as “the largest, most prolific cyberattacks … against IT systems in Singapore”, asked for five to six years’ imprisonment, while defence lawyer M Ravi sought a jail term of four years.

Today, a district court heard that James Raj performed a series of seven high-profile cyberattacks between March and November 2013, six of which were committed within a span of two months.

On Oct 17, 2013, he defaced a web page of the People’s Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) with a hooded figure accompanied by the word “HACKED”.

His other actions included illegally accessing and modifying content on servers of the Ang Mo Kio Town Council’s website, The Straits Times blogs, a fan site for popstar Sun Ho, who is also the wife of City Harvest Church’s founder Kong Hee, and Fuji Xerox. The Fuji Xerox hack attack compromised a server containing confidential data belonging to 650 of Standard Chartered Bank’s clients.

The attacks had stirred public anxiety, with government agencies raising vigilance after James Raj published an online video threatening that infamous hacker group “Anonymous”, which he claimed to be part of, would “go to war” with the Singapore Government.

Affected organisations spent about S$1.36 million to repair their computer systems, the court heard.

Deputy Public Prosecutor G Kannan said James Raj was a serial offender whose acts warranted a sufficiently severe sentence to deter re-offending.

“The offences involved a significant degree of premeditation and were committed in a highly sophisticated manner … It was easy and will remain easy for him (to do it again),” said
Mr Kannan.

Defence lawyer M Ravi contended that the acts were “highly amateurish” and had not resulted in any physical damage or theft of intellectual property.

“(James Raj’s) acts helped to identify weaknesses in the networks which could have, in time, been destroyed by people with far more malicious intent,” Mr Ravi added.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 24, 2015
Chan Chun Sing to Join NTUC

Singapore’s Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing on Friday joined the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), in a move widely seen as his imminent takeover as labour chief later this year, when Lim Swee Say steps down.

He will be co-opted into its central committee on 27 January, and will be appointed the role of Deputy Secretary-General, according to local media.

The news of Chan joining the NTUC was posted on its website alongside correspondence between the 17-member committee and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The committee had written to PM Lee in a letter dated Friday to request his release of Chan, one of the youngest ministers of Singapore’s current cabinet. The letter explained that current labour chief Lim Swee Say will not be able to serve another four-year term in office as he will turn 62 in July next year.

“We would therefore like to put in place the succession for the NTUC Secretary-General, preferably a few months ahead of the National Delegates’ Conference (in October), to pave the way for election by Delegates at the said Conference,” the committee wrote. “After careful deliberation, the Committee unanimously agrees that Minister Chan Chun Sing is a suitable Cabinet Minister who can strengthen labour leadership at the NTUC and the link between the labour movement and the Government.”

In a reply dated Friday as well, PM Lee said he would allow Chan to join the NTUC immediately on a part-time basis and full-time from 1 April onwards.

“For now Chun Sing will continue in MSF (and MINDEF, where he is Second Minister). But he will leave gaps when he goes over to NTUC full-time in April. I will announce Cabinet changes to fill the vacancies after the Budget session,” he added in a Facebook post on Friday evening.

In his first comments following the announcement, Chan wrote on his Facebook page that he was “humbled” for the opportunity to serve the labour movement.

“There is much to learn. I look forward to working closely with the tripartite partners to advance our cause to care for all workers,” he said.

He also expressed his appreciation to his ministry staff, whom he worked with for the past four years as acting and then full minister.

“I’ve no doubt that they will continue to strive unwaveringly to improve the lives of all Singaporeans, especially the less privileged ones,” he added.

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

January 24, 2015
#IamRaviPhilemon – Charlie Hebdo Cartoon Not Attack On Islam

Dunno if our community knows this. I read on another alternative media actually. As a Muslim I am offended.

After the Charlie Hebdo incident, this Ravi Philemon tweeted #IamCharlieHebdo and express “solidarity with victims of terror attack in France”. This he share himself on his Fb and blog – some people later advise him not to share in bigotry and racism of Charlie Hebdo.

But he stubborn. He say from what he understand, Charlie Hebdo’s cartoon was “not against Islam but against ultra-fundamentalism and extremism” (this is his own word you can see his blog on 9 January).

Everybody who follow the Charlie Hebdo saga know they attack Islam…bukan only I say but many other ppl also say! Even the Pope pun lebih open-minded.

If Ravi bother to know Islam he will find out that Islam do not allow picture or drawing of Nabi Muhammad (saw). We Muslims pun dont do it kan! If against extremism then do caricature on Osama or IS or whoever extremist. Why must use Nabi Muhammad (saw)???

Even more funny, Ravi said even his Muslim friend tell him that “we need to stand on the right to offend because if not we go down slope of censorship”. Apa ni? Muslim friend? Who is this Muslim friend? Apa advise dia give Ravi ni? Tak ke ni Charlie Hebdo cartoon is attack on Islam? So just because dier tak nak censor then he is ok with people making fun of Islam?

I shock lar bila tahu dier actually politician from NSP. Is this the calibre of politician we have? Or just NSP? Yang NSP Malay members macam mana pulak?

Then last I tengok dier ada make police report on one blogger who also write about this. The blog is kat sggeneralelections2016.blogspot.com you tengok 11 January punya entry. Dia boleh offend orang tapi orang cannot offend him? Dia confuse ke?

What about Muslims like me yang offended? What about me and my friends who are offended with dier punya pandai-pandai on Islam? Who is he to say that Charlie Hebdo cartoons not attack on Islam? What right he have?

Entah lah why have this kind of people…I dunno why dier mesti action pandai macam dier understand Islam sangat and dier understand intention Charlie Hebdo. To me dua-dua pun salah. Condemn lah yang attackers memang patut…they deserve it. Tapi must be fair lar and condemn Charlie Hebdo juga kan? I betul concern ada politician macam gini.

Tolong publish so that our Muslim friends will be aware.

Muslimah Singapura

January 23, 2015
Blogger Alex Au Wai Pang Guilty Of Contempt Of Court

Blogger Alex Au Wai Pang was on Thursday (Jan 22) found guilty of scandalising contempt over a blogpost in which he discussed challenges of the constitutionality of Section 377A.

However, High Court judge Belinda Ang found that a second post by Au was not in contempt of court.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) took action against Au, 61, over two articles on his Yawning Bread blog in October 2013, arguing that the articles were not fair criticism and risked undermining public confidence in judiciary. The AGC also charged that the articles were baseless attacks against the authority of court and crossed the legal line.

Justice Ang found that Au’s first article, 377 Wheels Come Off Supreme Court’s Best Laid Plans, had imputed judicial partiality and impropriety on the part of the Chief Justice, and risked undermining public confidence in the administration of justice in Singapore.

However, she ruled that the AGC failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the charge of scandalising contempt on the second post titled Church Sacks Employee and Sues Government – on one ground right, on another ground wrong.

In this post, Au wrote that he did not have high hopes that former Robinson & Co employee Lawrence Wee’s application for a court declaration that Article 12 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, “mostly because my confidence in the Singapore judiciary is as limp as a flag on a windless day”.

Justice Ang disagreed with the prosecution that Au’s graphic description of his lack of confidence in the judiciary “stems from the judiciary’s inadequacies, incompetence and/or partiality against cases which relate to issues of sexual orientation”.

Sentencing for Au’s conviction in relation to the first article will proceed at a later date.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

January 23, 2015
Irfan Fandi Featured On Cover Of Latest Issue Of Manja Magazine

Footballer Irfan Fandi, the 17-year-old son of football legend Fandi Ahmad and model Wendy Jacobs, got a taste of his mother’s profession when he posed for the cover of entertainment and lifestyle magazine Manja. Its 15^th anniversary issue will be out on Friday (Jan 23) with two variant covers.

“This is Irfan’s first ever magazine cover shoot. He is the youngest person ever featured on our cover. We chose him because he embodies our vision for Manja. He is young, very talented and faces up to new challenges. He is set to become an icon ten years down the road.

“Our vision for Manja is similar – to face up to new challenges and remain an iconic magazine in the next decade,” said Manja editor Ruslina Affandi.

She added that the first-time cover boy is “very good-looking”. “Irfan is hot both on and off the field!”

Manja senior writer Aizam Omar revealed that Irfan had been looking forward to being featured in Manja. However, it took some time for her to make the footballer, who recently made it to a list of top 40 best young talents in world football, open up to her.

“He isn’t quite like your average 17-year-old. He is very reserved and shy, different from the image he has on social media. It took a while for him to warm up,” said Aizam. But once he did, they spoke about everything from what food he can’t live without to the qualities he is looking for in a girlfriend, as well as his desire to play for a European football club.

Manja’s associate art director Muhamad Azlin, who oversaw the photo shoot, shared Aizam’s sentiments.

“Initially, Irfan was totally uncomfortable. He was very stiff. We couldn’t get him to smile naturally. I was like ‘Oh man, how is this going to turn out’. But after about half an hour, he warmed to us and became more relaxed,” he said. “The result was good. He has the potential to be a great model. He has the height and he is very good-looking.”

The February issue of Manja goes on sale on Friday (Jan 23).

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

January 22, 2015