The Boon Tat Street killing that continues to make Singapore rethink justice
The incident was caught on CCTV, witnessed by passers-by, and ended with Tan calmly waiting for the police to arrive. As the details emerged in court, the story — and public sentiment — changed dramatically. A family and a business entwined
Tan founded TNS Shipping in 1974, building it into a family-run enterprise. His three daughters worked for the company, and in 2005, his eldest daughter, Shyller, married Tuppani, who soon became a director and later CEO of the firm.
Tuppani was credited with saving the company from collapse during the 2008 financial crisis, even selling personal assets to keep it afloat. By 2016, the business had recovered, and he brokered its sale for S$9 million.
But the sale left Tan with only about S$450,000 for his shares — a sum that fueled deep resentment. Soon after, Tan discovered that his son-in-law was having an affair and had fathered two children with another woman, while still living under the same roof as his wife and in-laws.
The family's private life was unravelling amid custody disputes, workplace suspensions, and public knowledge of the affair. Tan became convinced that Tuppani was manoeuvring to remove his daughters from the business and take full control.
By mid-2017, Tan's mental state had deteriorated. He suffered from major depressive disorder, ruminating obsessively about his daughter's well-being and feeling powerless to protect his family. Sleep eluded him. Conversations failed. Meetings were avoided.
On July 10, fate and fury collided. Spotting Tuppani at lunch, Tan retrieved a 22cm knife from the office pantry, walked to the coffee shop, and stabbed him three times in the chest. As Tuppani stumbled, Tan followed, stopping others from helping, and even kicking him twice before laying down the knife and waiting for the police.
Three years later, Tan pleaded guilty to culpable homicide, the charge reduced in light of psychiatric findings that his depression, as a result of a tumultuous few years, had significantly impaired his judgment and impulse control — in the end, he was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison.
His jail term was backdated to the date of his arrest.
With the usual one-third remission, The Straits Times reported in 2020 that he was expected to be released in about two-and-a-half years' time.
Online, a wave of compassion emerged. Netizens acknowledged the taking of a life while also understanding the chain of betrayals and perceived injustices that had driven Tan to the edge of sanity.
One particularly striking reflection read:
'Relying on official justice to be served by the institutions of the State is a social construct… I realised that recovery was not possible by legal means. And he could not rely on the State. The fact that he stood and waited for the Police says a lot. He was prepared to stand by his act… This case is an example of how to think and act without adhering to social constraints but do justice where the organs of government can't.'
While most agreed that killing can never be condoned, many recognised that Tan's act came from a place of desperation and a human response to a system that, in his eyes, had failed him.
Tan's case marks a notable moment in Singapore's legal history where mental health was weighed heavily in sentencing for a violent crime.
Mental health continues to be a prevalent concern as many citizens are in the midst of battling rising stress levels, long work hours, a sleep deprivation crisis and the costs of living.
The sentencing acknowledged that while the act was deliberate and deadly, it was also shaped by a mind besieged by illness.
Tan passed away on Aug 10 at the age of 77. Many netizens were comforted by the reminder that the law is not immune to compassion — and that public opinion can see shades of humanity even in the darkest acts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Commentary: What it means for Singapore to be exceptional needs updating
SINGAPORE: In his National Day Message last week, PM Lawrence Wong said that ' to stay ahead, Singapore must remain exceptional – in our cohesion, in our resolve, in our performance'. Mr Wong will deliver his second National Day Rally speech, where he is likely to expand on these themes and announce key policy directions. The speech comes amid a changing global and domestic context, as Singapore navigates economic uncertainty, shifting geopolitical tides and a generational shift in aspirations. Singapore's exceptionalism has long been baked into the national psyche. Our founding story, recounted through museum installations and National Day skits, tells of how a country that was 'not meant to be' overcame considerable odds to build a successful economy and society within a generation. Singapore's rapid ascent from Third World to First has been hailed as nothing less than an 'economic miracle'. In this narrative, exceptionalism is tied to vulnerability and survival. Being exceptional was the only way for a small nation lacking natural resources to survive. Singapore, therefore, had to be the best in everything - whether it was having the busiest port, best airline, top-performing students, or being ranked among the world's most competitive nations. TIME TO TAKE THE FOOT OFF THE GAS? Does this narrative need updating now that Singapore has become an affluent nation with considerable financial and human resources? While some argue for a more confident posture, others believe that as Singapore's inherent vulnerabilities of size and geography remain, we cannot afford to take our foot off the gas. Even if the latter is true for the nation, it must be squared with the inclinations and aspirations of the citizenry. Many young Singaporeans, having grown up in relative comfort, unsurprisingly lack the hunger that drove their grandparents to endure hardship in order to eke out a living. Our youths are more likely to prioritise work-life balance and seek work that is meaningful, rather than merely a means to earn a living. It is not uncommon for young Singaporeans to job hop until they find a position that is to their liking. However, this doesn't mean that the young have gone 'strawberry' soft or that Singapore will invariably lose its edge. Young Singaporeans can leverage the greater opportunities available to them to chart different paths to success and in so doing, take Singapore to greater heights. This will still require individual drive – perhaps motivated less by fear of privation, and more by passion and the desire to make a difference. It goes without saying that Singapore must find ways to earn a living in a competitive world wracked by trade and geopolitical tensions. This suggests that the nation must continue to be exceptional, although the very concept of exceptionalism needs broadening in the light of changed circumstances. It is no longer just about topping rankings or excelling in narrow measures of performance. In the current context, Singapore requires exceptional resilience, innovation and cohesion – points alluded to in PM Wong's National Day Message where he highlighted that Singapore must 'move faster, adapt quicker and innovate smarter.' For Singapore to be exceptional in these dimensions, both national policy and individual action have a part to play. RESILIENCE AND ADAPTABILITY Resilience and adaptability are a must in an era of rapid change induced by technological advances and a volatile global environment. At the national level, this means investing in resource buffers – financial, human and infrastructure – and designing for optionality. For instance, Changi Airport and Tuas Port are undergoing significant expansion, ahead of demand. Singapore is also building up expertise in nuclear energy to have the option of adding nuclear to its energy mix should the need arise. Adaptive policymaking is key in a complex, uncertain environment where it is often necessary to act before all the facts become known. In such a situation, it is important to respond first and adjust the approach on the fly as needed. For individuals, this means building career health and resilience through continuous reskilling. It is also about exercising learning agility, which is the ability to apply past experience to new or different circumstances. Finally, there is a need for fortitude to bounce back from inevitable setbacks. INNOVATION As Singapore is now on par with advanced economies in income per capita, it can no longer rely on 'catch-up' growth. The nation must therefore be at the forefront of innovation, leveraging our size and nimbleness. Greater affluence can in fact give Singapore an edge, as more Singaporeans now have the confidence and resources to start innovative companies. Being an innovative nation is not just about entrepreneurship and breakthrough innovations, important as these may be. It requires all Singaporeans to take pride in their work, seeking to add unique value through daily innovation. This is critical for employability amid the AI revolution, and is also necessary for a world-class workforce. The public sector, too, must continue to set the pace. It has a track record of world-leading innovations, from electronic road pricing and our unique housing model to the recent introduction of passport-less immigration clearance. Public agencies should not rest on their laurels, but continue to pursue innovation to improve their service to the public. SOCIETAL COHESION With societies across the world polarising along ideological lines, social cohesion can be Singapore's secret sauce for success. However, this cannot be just left to chance; it is a continual work in progress. Overlaying the traditional fault lines of race and religion are new divisions stemming from socioeconomic status, identity politics and more. Meanwhile, malicious actors seek to sow division among Singaporeans, and are poised to exploit any domestic tensions to further their agenda. Singapore's continued success hinges on the ability of Singaporeans to work together and strive for the collective good despite differences in beliefs. This requires constructive politics; our leaders need to set the tone, and take steps to address grievances before they erupt into full-blown crises. Everyone in society has a role to play in strengthening the middle ground and enlarging the common space for all Singaporeans. If exceptionalism has taken Singapore to where it is today, the challenges that lie ahead will require a renewed, refreshed exceptionalism – in resilience, innovation and cohesion – for Singapore to continue thriving in the next 60 years.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Silence does not work when dealing with job loss blues
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Retrenchment is viewed differently now. Just look at the LinkedIn networking platform, which is peppered with posts on job losses, says the writer. SINGAPORE - Growing up, I was obsessed with collecting toys that came with Happy Meals. Whenever my parents took me to a McDonald's outlet, I looked forward to going home with a Hello Kitty plushie or a Transformers autobot. For what I thought was a blissful period, my dad started adding a new toy to my collection almost every day. I learnt only recently that I had got it completely wrong. He had been retrenched. Not wanting to worry my mum, he continued to leave home as usual and spent the day at the library, often having lunch at McDonald's, until he found a new job. Unbeknownst to him, my mum knew about the ruse. She had tried to reach him in the office and was inadvertently told that he had lost his job. I did not understand why my parents, who had a loving relationship, found it difficult to talk about retrenchment, until earlier this year. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want That was when my then employer, an international media outlet, closed most of the roles in my Singapore-based division. My colleagues and I were encouraged to apply for new positions that were made available under a restructuring process. I had dialled into the meeting because I was on annual leave and thousands of miles away from home. Towards the end, we were asked if we had any questions. I found myself with a jumble of thoughts and nothing to say. I wandered around a museum and watched a ballet performance. All while feeling like I was going through the five stages of grief. I kept it from my mum, not wanting to worry her. In other conversations, I said I was feeling okay. I was determined to focus on the positives. I would not feel the impact immediately, as I was expected at work for several more months. I also had the opportunity to apply for roles within the company, and I knew I had a decent chance at them. Finally, I did not have large financial commitments. I did not have a mortgage or children. Then the insecurities crept in, and these were much harder to talk about. I felt shame, even though we were told the restructuring was not based on performance. I questioned if I was employable in an industry that I had spent a decade in. I stacked myself up against my colleagues, many of whom were trying for roles in the restructuring, and external applicants. I contended with how I would feel if I failed to get a role, and as importantly, how that would look. The optics bothered me and there was nothing I could do but sit with uncomfortable feelings. I can only imagine what was running through my dad's mind in the late 1990s, when retrenchment was a taboo subject. He was the sole breadwinner supporting a mortgage, my mum and I, and with more at stake than existential thoughts and a bruised ego. Retrenchment is viewed differently now. Just look at the LinkedIn networking platform, which is peppered with posts on job losses. The responses are overwhelmingly positive, offering comfort and, more often than not, connections to a new gig. As one retrenched worker put it: 'The response from you all has been so supportive and genuinely encouraging that it almost makes a girl want to get laid off more often! Emphasis on the almost...' In the current economic climate, with companies from Microsoft to the Bumble dating app announcing layoffs, people are using the platform to talk about the grief associated with losing a job. I have benefited from this, as it reminds me that retrenchment is a relatively common experience. But I could not find the words for a post, and having to engage in a public space felt like too much of a burden. Grief, however, had a way of reminding me that it needed some place to go. I was hypersensitive and erratic, and I knew I needed to accept that things would not be the same. With the restructuring, I lost a job that I loved, which came with a range of functions. I lost colleagues, many of whom had become friends. In choosing to leave the company, despite being offered roles, I gave up the prestige that comes with working for a global organisation. Giving grief an airing looks like this to me. In the immediate aftermath of the restructuring, my colleagues and I spoke a lot, sharing our worries, encouragement and practical resources. This grounded me during a challenging time when I was often working the early shift, and spending the afternoons and evenings at interviews. I am seeing a counsellor, which was a benefit offered to affected staff. She has helped me to balance my identity as a journalist with the other things I value. I told my loved ones about my struggles. I put aside thoughts of whether my feelings were valid and focused on what I knew I was carrying. Somewhere along the way, I told my mum. 'Never mind,' she said. 'Remember to eat well or else you will have no energy.' I learnt a big lesson. The stigma of retrenchment is nowhere as strong as my dad's experience, but it still carries a sting. During the process, I felt most comfortable keeping silent, thinking it was the best way to figure out the next steps. That silence magnified my inner turmoil. In crises, we are often our harshest judges. We live in a world that I hope has become kinder to downturns, failures and messy feelings. I don't think I have grown more comfortable with putting my thoughts online. But I did not have to look far for support, with people who were willing to see me through a difficult season.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Your odds of winning the Toto jackpot? One in 14 million
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Why do Singaporeans spend billions chasing lightning-strike odds? Meet the winners, learn the lessons, and find out where state-run gambling revenue really goes. Singaporeans rank among the world's most avid lottery and betting enthusiasts. SINGAPORE – It was 2013, just a few days before Chinese New Year. Mr Ivan Leong, then 23, had just started working as an associate consultant for a head-hunting firm when his colleagues told him about a Hong Bao Draw taking place that night. The jackpot was $5 million. Mr Leong had never bought lottery tickets before, but readily joined in when his colleagues pooled money to place a Toto bet. 'I had just started working and had less than $1,000 in my bank account,' he recalls. On a whim, he placed another bet on his own, a $10 quick pick where six numbers are randomly chosen by a computer generator. His girlfriend shared the ticket with him. That evening, he went over to his girlfriend's house to play mahjong with her relatives. When the results of the draw were announced online, she asked him how many matching numbers were needed to win. 'I recall telling her, 'I am not really sure, maybe three or four?'' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want Looking disappointed, she threw the stub away. However, Mr Leong fished the stub out of the bin and discovered that she had checked the results for the wrong date. His girlfriend checked the results again on her phone. 'Wait, I think we have six numbers,' she said excitedly. The mahjong tiles fell silent. Mr Leong placed the phone and the piece of paper on the table, and everyone huddled around him, checking the digits multiple times. The room erupted in screams. Mr Leong and his girlfriend had won the first prize, a jackpot of $5 million, which was split with others who had chosen the same set of numbers – clinching the couple $1 million. They pocketed the full amount as Singapore, unlike many countries, does not tax gambling winnings, which are considered windfalls rather than income. Singaporeans' love of the lottery Singaporeans rank among the world's most avid lottery and betting enthusiasts. In financial year 2022-2023 alone, local punters wagered $11.4 billion on lotteries and other games of chance, far outpacing the A$7.8 billion (S$6.5 billion) spent in Australia, a country with four times Singapore's population. A 2023 survey by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) found that four in 10 Singapore residents aged 18 and above had gambled at least once in the past year. Consistent with earlier surveys in 2017 and 2020, lotteries remain the most popular form of gambling. Legalised gambling has been part of Singaporean society since the 19th century, when colonial leaders like William Farquhar and John Crawfurd introduced gambling farms to raise government revenue. By 1826, it was the most lucrative tax source for the colony, accounting for nearly half of its annual revenue. A hundred years later, the island state continues to rely on legalised gambling to boost public funds and tourism. Singapore Pools, the only legal lottery operator here, contributes about $2 billion in betting duties and goods and services tax to the state each year. Besides running the lottery, it also takes bets on sports and horse racing. Total betting activity hit a record $12.2 billion in FY2023-2024, 7 per cent higher than the previous year's $11.4 billion. Singapore Pools, however, does not reveal the exact dollar amounts or percentage split between its lottery and other betting games. The state-owned company was set up in 1968 after founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew mooted the idea of a state-run lottery to tackle illegal gambling. In the 1950s and 60s, an illegal lottery known as chap-ji-kee (which means '12 cards' in Hokkien) was so widespread in Singapore that it became known as the 'housewives' opium'. At its peak, the game operated through a vast underground network of promoters, agents, bet collectors and cashiers. Chap-ji-kee syndicates reportedly raked in up to half a million dollars a day. The odds were rigged – syndicates often picked the least-backed number to win, guaranteeing consistent profits. The profits were then funnelled into other triad-linked criminal activities. In 1977, Mr Lee, explaining the need for state-run lotteries, said: 'If you do not run (the lotteries), the chap-ji-kee man who has always swindled the people of their money is still there. It is the history of Singapore.' He also gave his take on the roots of the Singaporean gambler's psyche: 'The Chinese who travelled overseas are the biggest gamblers you can find in the world. Because to leave China was to gamble.' More on this topic She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey One-in-14 million chance With draws for Toto on Mondays and Thursdays, 4-D three times a week, and the Singapore Sweep every first Wednesday of the month, Singapore could, in theory, produce two new millionaires every four days. The odds of a seven-figure win, though, are much slimmer than one in a million. Marketing professional Jason (not his real name) spends between $1 and $10 for every regular Toto draw and up to $40 for larger draws. 'I would bet more, especially if there was no Group 2 winner in the last draw and the winning amount snowballs. Because when that happens, the chance of winning a life-changing sum of money goes up,' explains Jason, who has won smaller prizes of up to $500. In Toto, punters get a cash prize if they hit at least three of the seven winning numbers drawn from a pool of 49. The payout climbs with every additional match. To hit jackpot, a player must match all six numbers. Since the numbers do not repeat, there is only one winning combination each time, making the odds of winning the top prize one in 14 million. Group 2 winners must have five matching numbers plus an additional number. While they get only 8 per cent of the total prize, typically ranging between $50,000 and a few hundred thousand dollars, the odds of winning are better – about one in 2.3 million. For comparison, the odds of getting struck by lightning are one in 775,000, and for having quadruplets, one in 729,000. In 4-D, top winners get between $2,000 and $3,000 for every $1 bet. Punters pick a four-digit number from 0000 to 9999. Each draw has 23 winning numbers: 10 consolation prizes, 10 starter prizes and the top three wins. That means every ticket has a 23 in 10,000 chance of winning – better odds than Toto, but frequent wins are still rare. So, why do typically rational, risk-averse individuals willingly spend money on something as statistically improbable as the lottery? Jason, who is married and not planning to have children, considers himself a conservative spender. The 33-year-old saves more than 20 per cent of his pay cheque and has a non-risky investment portfolio. 'It seems quite unlikely our generation can retire early. Also, job prospects are forever questionable,' he says, explaining why he sees the lottery as a form of investment hedge. 'I buy expecting to lose, but on the very off chance that it pays off, then it is a safety net,' he adds. 'My personal philosophy is to spend at least $1 per draw. It is minimal, but can be life-changing.' The gambler's fallacy Dr Jared Ng, psychiatrist and founder of psychiatric clinic Connections MindHealth, says: 'Lotteries tap into people's hopes and aspirations.' For just a few dollars, a ticket offers the tantalising prospect of overnight transformation, a low-risk gamble for a potentially life-changing reward, he says. This is linked to a phenomenon known as probability neglect, where the size of the potential reward overshadows the improbability of winning. The emotional appeal of imagining sudden wealth can easily override rational thinking. 'In a country like Singapore where living costs are high, and income gaps can feel stark, this hope becomes especially compelling,' adds Dr Ng. Another factor is the gambler's fallacy – the mistaken belief that a win is 'due' after a string of losses. This leads people to keep buying tickets, thinking their odds are improving. Dr Annabelle Chow, clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology, says: 'Punters often fail to realise that each lottery ticket has the same odds of winning, regardless of previous outcomes. As a result, they overestimate their chances and underestimate the actual cost of playing.' Lotteries also create an illusion of control, where people believe their personal choices – such as selecting certain numbers or rituals, or even placing bets at specific outlets – can influence an entirely random outcome. No such luck. 'Toto gives every number and combination an equal chance; there is no pattern or lucky pick,' says Dr Chua Tin Chiu, a statistician at the National University of Singapore. 'It is like flipping a fair coin. Previous outcomes don't affect the next,' Dr Chua explains. 'Numbers have no memory. They don't think, 'I haven't come out in a while, maybe today's the day.' That is not how probability works.' Meanwhile, some individuals believe lucky numbers are not random but revealed through dreams, temple visits or even rituals like lion dances during Chinese New Year. Lottery buying for these people is guided by signs, says Dr Chow. Then there are the stories: The distant cousin who hit the jackpot, or the colleague's friend who suddenly bought a condominium in cash. Dr Ng says: 'Frequent news reports and word-of-mouth tales about people winning life-changing sums make such outcomes feel more common than they really are. The effect is even stronger when the story comes from someone you know or trust. It feels more believable, and more attainable.' Singaporeans rank among the world's most avid lottery players. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG The dark side of winning A windfall, however, may not always be a blessing. We hear of lottery winners who squander their new-found fortunes in no time. Some winners even end up worse off than before – broke, burdened and alone. Financial consultant Ian Isaiah Ding vividly recalls a conversation he had during a Grab ride in 2020. His driver, Mr Teo Xinshun, shared how he had won the second prize in the Singapore Sweep lottery in 2015, pocketing half a million dollars. Then 38, the man immediately quit his job, flew business class and splurged on a luxurious holiday to Taiwan. This was followed by a months-long spending spree filled with lavish nights at a nightclub. But the dream life quickly turned into a nightmare. 'After 45 nights of drinking, he got up to shower and slipped in the bathroom,' Mr Ding recalls. 'He fractured his spine and became paralysed from the neck down. At the hospital, scans also revealed he had stage 3 brain cancer.' Although insurance covered most of his medical bills, Mr Teo quickly lost the rest of his winnings. He gambled away over $100,000 at the casino and later fell for a scam that cost him another $130,000. The remaining funds soon vanished. To make ends meet, he became a Grab driver. Mr Ding later shared the story on Facebook. Through a mutual friend, he and Mr Teo reconnected and exchanged messages. Not long after, Mr Ding learnt that the Grab driver had died because his cancer had returned. More than five years on, Mr Teo's story still haunts him. 'Easy come, easy go. Unplanned money leads to unplanned expenses. There is nothing wrong with spending for happiness, but without an objective or plan, it's easy to lose it all,' he says. In other countries, stories of the so-called 'lottery curse' are all too common – where sudden wealth fuels reckless spending on vices like drugs, gambling and lavish lifestyles, eventually leading to ruin. Briton Callie Rogers was just 16 when she won £1.8 million in the National Lottery back in 2003. In an August 2025 interview with UK tabloid The Mirror, she described how she quickly spent it all on parties, drugs and cosmetic surgery. Now 38, she touched on the darker side of sudden wealth, revealing that the pressure of her win pushed her into depression. At one point, she even tried to take her own life. 'It just became too much to cope with,' she said. 'Not knowing who genuinely liked me any more was hard – and the stress of all that money made it worse.' More on this topic What to do with $100,000 windfall or spare cash? Care for Winners In 2010, Singapore Pools launched the Winners Wealth Management programme, a voluntary programme designed to help lottery winners who have received more than $1 million learn how to manage their new-found wealth. In 2016, the programme was relaunched as Care for Winners. In collaboration with MoneySense, Singapore's national financial education programme, winners are offered practical financial planning tips, such as keeping news of the win within a trusted circle, settling outstanding debts and making sound investment decisions. 'We realised that coming into sudden wealth can be overwhelming, and people often need some help navigating what to do next,' says Mr Chin Sau Ho, senior director of community partnerships and communications at Singapore Pools. Citing cautionary tales from overseas, he notes that many big winners eventually find themselves worse off than before their windfall. 'That is exactly what we are trying to help winners in Singapore avoid. You have already beaten the odds to receive this large windfall. We want you to be a winner for life, by equipping you with the tools to manage your money wisely,' he says, adding that most lottery winners are open to enrolling in the programme. While dramatic stories of sudden wealth gone wrong often make headlines and serve as cautionary tales, the lottery winners interviewed by The Sunday Times appear to be more level-headed about their unexpected windfall. How a million dollars changed his life Mr Leong describes the sudden wealth in his early 20s as 'a stepping stone for you to do whatever you want'. It changed the course of his life, although the journey started on a muted note. During the Chinese New Year holidays, the Singapore Pools office was closed, so he had to wait three days to collect his $1 million winnings. 'Honestly, I kept questioning whether it was real. I worried about losing the ticket or getting into an accident,' he recalls. When the office reopened, he went to the main branch with his girlfriend and her father, expecting a long and complicated process. He was surprised when all he had to do was take a queue number before he was handed a cheque. After cashing the cheque, he gave half the winnings to his girlfriend (now wife). Both gave part of the money to their parents. The son of a taxi driver and an office administrator, Mr Leong says he did not know how to manage the money. 'But I was clear on one thing: I wasn't going to 'flex' or change my lifestyle. Char Siu Lang founder Ivan Leong showing his winning Toto ticket. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO 'I don't know much about luxury brands. I don't know anything about Chanel or Louis Vuitton,' says Mr Leong, who splurged only on a $500 Tissot watch he had been eyeing. After working at his first job for a year, he decided to resign. 'I was pretty relaxed at that time. With that kind of money, my girlfriend and I took a short break from work, did some travelling and just enjoyed life,' he says. They then successfully applied for a Build-To-Order flat together, and paid for most of the mortgage in cash. Now 36, married and a father to a two-year-old, he says the real jackpot was the freedom to explore various careers without stress. He worked in a start-up as an operation manager and sold insurance for a few years. In 2017, a friend took the foodie and enthusiastic home cook to a hawker stall for char siew rice. It sparked the idea of starting his own char siew stall. As it turned out, his friend knew the hawker who mentioned he was looking to hire a helper. The pay was modest, at just over $1,000 a month, but Mr Leong did not hesitate. To him, becoming a hawker's assistant was a hands-on apprenticeship in the art of roasting and the realities of running a hawker business. Two years later, he struck out on his own, launching Char Siu Lang in Bukit Merah. That first stall eventually closed, but he runs two other outlets in Ang Mo Kio and Woodlands today. Many are surprised that despite winning the lottery, Mr Leong still chooses the sweaty, backbreaking grind of hawker life. 'If I were you, I would retire,' people often tell him. Others pitch unsolicited advice, urging him to invest in cryptocurrencies or financial portfolios. But Mr Leong prefers to play it safe, sticking with tried-and-tested options like property and fixed deposits. He believes everything happens for a reason, and that buying a lottery ticket was 'buying a hope'. A 10-year survey on older Singaporeans, which included their lottery habits, explored how unexpected winnings affect how people spend their money. The researchers tracked spending patterns across more than 30 categories, comparing splurges on long-lasting goods like furniture and electronics with day-to-day purchases, and weighing public, showy spending against private indulgences. 'One myth is that if you win a big lottery prize, you are going to spend it in a way that is very conspicuous and irrational,' says economics professor Kim Seonghoon of Singapore Management University, who led the study released in 2024. But the truth is quite the opposite, he adds. Most lottery winners continue to live life pretty much like how they did before they struck gold. For every $1 of lottery prize, consumption spending increases by 50 cents within the first year of winning. Instead of spending on luxury cars or homes, lottery winners here spent most of their money on non-durables like food and household goods. In a separate 2021 study, Associate Professor Kim discovered that every $10,000 boost in income from a lottery win led to a small but meaningful and measurable increase in self-reported health. He cites a famous Swedish study published in 2020 which showed that lottery winners' long-term health did not improve there despite a big jump in income. However, in Singapore, he continues, lottery winners reported feeling healthier, at least in the short term, after their windfall. 'It does not necessarily reduce objective health markers like cancer incidence or stroke incidences, but lottery winners might have better peace of mind, better life satisfaction via higher income,' he says. 'As far as my empirical analysis suggests, I don't see an adverse impact of winning a lottery prize from Singapore,' Prof Kim says with a laugh. More on this topic $200k jackpot: US man wins lottery 3 times in a year with same set of numbers Society also wins Since its inception, Singapore Pools has operated as a not-for-profit organisation. In 2024, it reported a record turnover of $12.2 billion. 'Many people tend to see Singapore Pools only in terms of our products and services,' says Mr Chin. 'But what they may not realise is that if we didn't exist, much of that gambling activity would move to illegal platforms, and the $12 billion in revenue would leave our economy and flow overseas.' He adds that by operating legally, Singapore Pools ensures that the money stays within the country, ultimately benefiting Singaporean society and its people. For every dollar placed as a bet, the organisation pays a 22 cent betting duty to the Government. According to its 2024 annual report, 70 per cent of Singapore Pools' revenue is spent on prize payouts, 22 per cent on gambling duties and taxes, and 3 per cent is earmarked for operational costs. Around 5 per cent of the gambling revenue is channelled back to the Tote Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of Finance that oversees Singapore Pools and functions as a broad-based grant-making organisation. Especially during the early nation-building years after independence, these profits helped to fund the building of major landmarks in Singapore. Between 1968 and 1976, $14.5 million of lottery revenue went towards the construction of the former National Stadium. It also helped to fund the building of the Indoor Stadium (1988), Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (1996), and Gardens by the Bay. The Tote Board gives, on average, $500 million a year to support programmes that uplift vulnerable groups, champion community well-being and encourage social cohesion. These include programmes in the areas of healthy living, community care, sports and arts. Reflecting on Singapore Pools' pragmatic approach to gambling, Mr Chin notes: 'Some people see gambling purely as a vice, and may not understand our role. But they don't realise that good can still come from it.' On an individual level, some winners also believe in paying it forward. One of them is Madam Tan (not her real name), who has won four times in the past year alone. The biggest prize was $17,800 for a $30 4-D bet made in December 2024. Her other winnings ranged from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Despite these windfalls, the 67-year-old says her lifestyle has not changed much. She still has never taken a flight out of Singapore. Instead, Madam Tan, who is self-employed and married with adult children, spends her winnings supporting a cat welfare organisation she has been volunteering with for the past 20 years. 'These animals are so pitiful, and if we don't help them, no one will,' she says, adding that the shelter she volunteers at needs around $5,000 a month to cover rent, food and medical expenses for the animals. She credits her good luck to good karma, and also a little divine help. At least once a week, she visits the Chinatown Erawan Shrine, which is in a religious goods store in People's Park Centre. Thai dancers at the Chinatown Erawan Shrine on Feb 26. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG 'I always bet on the numbers on my identity card,' says Madam Tan, who has spent about $40 on Toto or 4-D bets each week for the past two decades, betting on a set of numbers up to three times. If there are no wins, she moves on to a new set. If she ever wins a big jackpot, she hopes to use the money to buy a property and turn it into an animal shelter. 'I always say, this is money that drops from the sky, so I must use it for good,' she says.
