Latest news with #Goh
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Jail for man who helped loan sharks borrow $800,000 from financial institutions, including DBS
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mitchell Goh Mia Chiu, 54, was sentenced to 32 months' jail after he pleaded guilty. SINGAPORE – While facing financial difficulties, a man decided to help loan sharks obtain loans from financial institutions, in exchange for money. Through his complicity, the unlicensed moneylenders received $800,000 from two financial institutions, including DBS. The financial institutions only realised something was wrong when the bulk of the loans went unpaid. On July 30, Mitchell Goh Mia Chiu, 54, was sentenced to 32 months' jail after he pleaded guilty to two cheating charges, transferring the benefits of criminal conduct, and an offence under the Moneylenders Act. Another charge under the same Act was taken into consideration for his sentencing. The court heard that in April 2023, Goh took a $500 loan from unlicensed moneylenders he saw on social media as he was in financial difficulty. To get more money, he agreed to give his particulars to the loan sharks to register a company, Rhino Technology, which would be used to obtain loans from financial institutions. As part of this arrangement, Goh – as the firm's registered director – would receive 2 per cent of the loan amounts. In May that year , the unlicensed moneylenders made a loan application of $300,000 to payment institution Xfers. The application was accompanied with forged supporting documents suggesting that Rhino Technology had rented an entire office for its company operations. Goh was instructed by the illegal moneylenders to book a conference room in the office, where he met the Xfers representatives to confirm the loan agreement. The sum was disbursed into Rhino Technology's bank account in May, but it defaulted on the loan repayment the next month. Suspicious, Xfers conducted further checks and discovered that the supporting documents had been forged. The second loan application of $500,000 was made to DBS bank in June 2023, similarly accompanied with forged bank statements. Goh also met a DBS relationship manager at the office conference room which he booked beforehand, and was paid $2,000 for doing so. After getting the loan, Rhino Technology only paid monthly instalments of $10,199 to DBS from July to November 2023. The outstanding amount of $465,000 was left unpaid. Both DBS and Xfers did not recover any of their lost sums. Goh also helped the loan sharks with other tasks, such as withdrawing $84,999 in cash from an OCBC bank outlet at Toa Payoh and passing it to a runner. He got $1,500 as a reward. In May 2024, another unknown unlicensed moneylender asked Goh to splash coffee at a borrower's front door and paste a debtor's note there, in exchange for $100. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ryan Lim called for Goh to be sentenced to between 35 and 36 months' jail, and highlighted the sophistication of the cheating offences. The prosecutor said using false documents to induce institutions to provide credit and financing undermines the confidence of the financial industry in such instruments. However, DPP Lim acknowledged that Goh was not the mastermind and was operating at a lower level in the scheme.
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
Schools' alumni celebrate 63-year friendship
Alumni came from as far as the UK and Australia for the reunion in Melaka. Alumni from two Melaka schools – Banda Hilir English School (BHES) and Malacca High School (MHS) – gathered for a grand reunion. Some 136 old boys (and a few old girls) met up with 17 of their former teachers on July 12. Some of the former students have been friends from Year One to Form Six. The reunion, themed 'Splendid@Seventy' as most are 70 this year, was the seventh in a series of gatherings which began when the alumni turned 50 in 2005. The alumni of BHES and MHS held their bash at the New Lagoon Restaurant in Kota Syahbandar in Melaka. A large number flew in from as far as England, Scotland and Australia, while a few came from across the Causeway to join the fellowship of old friends. Before the sumptuous dinner, the old boys and girls observed a moment of silence for their many friends who had passed away over the years. Besides the catching up and merry making, there were also speeches by the ex-students and teachers and as well as performances. Class of 1974 MHS captain Dr Goh Day Way, who flew in from Adelaide, Australia, for the occasion, traced the group's remarkable journey which began in 1962 when they were just seven. 'We have known each other for 63 years and this is the seventh reunion with the record number of participants at 139,' he said. Dr Goh thanked the organising committee and a few prominent old boys, who generously sponsored the latest gathering as they did for previous occasions. Besides specially designed T- shirts, souvenirs given to participants were pouches decorated with the two school badges. The teachers, now in their mid 80s and early 90s, were presented with Thermos mugs with a citation that read: 'Tribute to a Great Teacher who has guided our hands, opened our minds and touched our hearts.'
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
How she's helping forge Singapore's defence partnerships and NS policy, all in her 20s
From strategising the island-state's positions at global security summits to reviewing national service policies, this Defence Merit scholar is building expertise in what it takes to safeguard the nation Currently with the National Service Policy Department, defence executive officer Adeline Goh oversees policies on national servicemen, including streamlining processes such as exit permit procedures. PHOTO: MINDEF At 27, she has contributed to bilateral defence agreement negotiations, supported Singapore's top diplomats with research and analysis, and attended global security summits. Meet Ms Adeline Goh, a defence executive officer (DXO) in the Ministry of Defence (Mindef). Just two years into her role at the Defence Policy Office (DPO), she has already gained a wealth of experience many others would have taken years to acquire. Her interest in international affairs intensified after an unprecedented wave of global events in 2016. Then a student in junior college, three events that year stood out to Ms Goh: the election of Donald Trump as US' 45th president, the United Kingdom's referendum vote to leave the European Union, and the tribunal ruling over the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines. 'I didn't want to just read about these events on the news – I wanted to personally make sense of these developments in terms of their history and their impact on Singapore and our region,' she says. 'There was a yearning within me to get into the thick of the action, as Singapore navigated a rapidly shifting geopolitical and security environment. 'I wanted to witness first-hand Singapore's thought leadership and diplomacy at work, and to be part of history in contributing to Singapore's foreign and defence policies.' A recipient of the Defence Merit Scholarship, she is putting her passion for global affairs into practice – helping to shape policies that support Singapore's security and resilience. Making a choice Ms Goh's interest in global affairs initially led her to consider a career path in the think-tank sphere, where she hoped to have a hand in influencing policy and shaping public opinion about geopolitical and security issues. At the same time, as many of her friends were either in the midst of enlisting or had just begun their National Service (NS), their accounts of their experiences intrigued Ms Goh about what it took to contribute to Singapore's defence. During her time at the DPO, Ms Goh (fourth from right) worked closely with Singaporean and foreign diplomats to strengthen bilateral defence relations. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ADELINE GOH This led her to discover the DPO, where she would later take on responsibilities ranging from charting out Singapore's defence engagement strategies at the macro level to planning the details of engagements at the micro level. 'The DPO would give me a firsthand experience of what it takes to don a diplomat's hat, and go out to advance and safeguard Singapore's defence interests on the global stage – as well as the behind-the-scenes planning and preparations that shape the course of these engagements,' she says. That goal guided her decision to apply for the Defence Merit Scholarship, Mindef's top-tier civilian scholarship. Under the scholarship, she completed her degree in international relations from the University of Edinburgh in 2021, before graduating from the University of Hong Kong with a Masters in International and Public Affairs in 2022. Shortly after, she was posted to the DPO's North-east Asia desk, where she oversaw Singapore's defence relations with countries in the region at a time when the US-China strategic rivalry – intensified by Covid-19 – was reshaping regional dynamics and putting pressure on security. 'We are realistic about the weight and agency that small states such as Singapore have vis-à-vis big powers,' she says. 'But this does not stop us from making our worth as a neutral ground for dialogue and a trusted interlocutor. 'Helping to strengthen Singapore's credibility in the international community brings meaning to my work.' One such platform is the annual S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Trilateral Exchange, a dialogue which brings together senior academics from Singapore, the US and China to discuss security issues. As part of Mindef's support for the series, Ms Goh contributed to its conceptualisation and execution, and helped facilitate conversations among participating academics. She also planned then Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen's combined engagement with the American and Chinese delegations. At the broad level, this included researching and strategising how to brief him on relevant geopolitical and security issues and each academic's area of expertise. It also involved paying attention to the micro details that influenced the atmosphere of the conversations, such as the engagement modality and seating arrangement. Ms Goh (first from left) at the 5th Trilateral Exchange, organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in April 2024. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ADELINE GOH On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2023, which gathered defence ministers in Singapore, she supported the conclusion of two key agreements: an agreement to establish a secure defence telephone link between Singapore and China, and an agreement on defence equipment and technology transfer with Japan. These affirmed Singapore's efforts to deepen regional defence cooperation. Strengthening home-grown capabilities After two years in the DPO, Ms Goh is now with the National Service Policy Department (NSPD), where she reviews and implements policies to ensure effective optimisation of NS resources and strong public support for NS. Her time at the DPO deepened her appreciation of NS as a cornerstone of Singapore's defence policy. Pointing to how several European countries that abolished conscription now face manpower challenges, she says: 'These countries are finding it difficult to secure manpower, because it's hard to convince the public to bear arms.' In contrast, she says, Singapore is often seen as a model for running a conscription system with strong public commitment – a reputation that motivated her to request a posting to NSPD. 'I wanted to have the opportunity to also develop new skills in formulating domestic policies, which have far-reaching implications for the man-in-the-street and for Singapore's overall defence policy and standing on the world map.' Ms Goh (third from left) and her NSPD colleagues took part in a run to support cancer research in November 2024. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ADELINE GOH As a manager in the National Service Resource Branch under NSPD, she works on reviewing policies and streamlining NS processes such as digitalising call-up notices and refining exit permit procedures. She notes that sustaining public support for NS is more important than ever in today's volatile geopolitical climate. 'The idea of perpetual peace is never a given, but what we can do is to always be prepared for the unexpected.' Living in north-east Singapore, the sound of fighter jets from Paya Lebar Air Base serves as a daily reminder of that mission. 'Many people complain about the noise, but it's reassuring to hear it,' she says. 'It's a reminder that as we work and live in Singapore, there are people who continue to safeguard our country.' 'It motivates me to continue to do my part as well to contribute to Singapore's security.'
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after PUB tests
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE – The sinkhole in Tanjong Katong Road South has been backfilled, and national water agency PUB will conduct tests before the caved-in road is repaved. Giving this update in a Facebook post on July 28, Mr Goh Pei Ming, an MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, said PUB 's tests will include drilling probes, which are up to 20m deep, to check that there are no air pockets in the soil. These come on top of radar scans to assess ground conditions. A section of Tanjong Katong Road South collapsed on the evening of July 26, swallowing a car and its driver. The driver was rescued and sent to Raffles Hospital for observation. She had experienced muscular pain. The sinkhole was located near a PUB construction site, which involved sewer laying works. The road has since been closed, with traffic and bus services diverted. The tests and analysis will take some time, said Mr Goh, who is also Minister of State for Home Affairs as well as Social and Family Development. 'I understand residents are keen to know when the road can be reopened. I think it is best we give the agencies the time to be doubly sure the road is safe before we reopen,' he added. In a statement later in the day, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said it is starting an independent investigation into the incident under the Building Control Act. The probe will examine the circumstances leading to the sinkhole's formation, identify the causes, and act against any non-compliance under the Building Control Act and Regulations. 'Given the complexity of the incident, the investigations could take several months to complete. It will include detailed geotechnical analysis and other validation tests by BCA and its appointed consultants,' the authority added. Mr Goh said traffic was smooth when he visited the site on the morning of July 28, noting that the Land Transport Authority had put out messages to motorists, as well as worked with the Ministry of Education to notify parents of road diversions. Tanjong Katong Road South is on the boundary of Mountbatten constituency and Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. PUB said on July 27 that the works at the site next to the sinkhole involved the construction of a 16m-deep shaft to connect three existing sewer lines, and a structure in the shaft had failed at about 5.50pm on July 26 – around the same time the sinkhole formed. It is still unclear what contributed to the failure of the caisson ring, a concrete structure in the shaft. A caisson ring is a watertight concrete cylinder that is sunk underground to form a stable foundation for other structures. The Straits Times has asked PUB for more information, including the nature of the failure, the ground monitoring regime in place before the incident, as well as whether a reported burst water pipe nearby on July 25 was connected to the sinkhole occurring the next evening. Editor's note: An earlier version of this report quoted MP Goh Pei Ming saying that LTA will conduct tests before the road is repaved. Mr Goh has since updated his Facebook post to say PUB is carrying out the tests.
The Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests
LTA's tests will include drilling probes that are up to 20m deep into the soil to check that there are no air pockets. - GOH PEI MING/FACEBOOK SINGAPORE: The cavity along Tanjong Katong Road South that resulted in the formation of a sinkhole has been backfilled, and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will conduct tests before the caved-in road is repaved. Giving this update in a Facebook post on July 28, Goh Pei Ming, an MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, said the LTA's tests will include drilling probes that are up to 20m deep into the soil to check that there are no air pockets. These come on top of radar scans to assess ground conditions. A section of Tanjong Katong Road South collapsed on the evening of July 26, swallowing a car and its driver. The driver was rescued, and sent to Raffles Hospital for observation and had experienced muscular pain. The road has since been closed, with traffic and bus services diverted. The tests and analysis will take some time, said Goh, who is also Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development. 'I understand residents are keen to know when the road can be reopened. I think it is best we give the agencies the time to be doubly sure the road is safe before we reopen,' he added. Goh said traffic was smooth when he visited the site on the morning of July 28, noting that LTA had put out messages to motorists, as well as worked with the Ministry of Education to notify parents of road diversions. - The Straits Times/ANN
