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Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Straits Times
Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE – A former district judge who acquitted two men of corruption in a case involving a former Land Transport Authority (LTA) official was accused by the prosecution of copying from the defence's submissions and failing to consider all the evidence. The prosecution made the allegations on July 22 during an appeal to Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon to reconsider the case afresh. However, the defence argued that the district judge had applied his mind in deciding to acquit Mr Pay Teow Heng, 56, and Mr Pek Lian Guan, 59. Chief Justice Menon will give his decision at a later date. Mr Pay, a director at construction firm Tiong Seng Contractors, was accused of giving bribes in the form of loans totalling $350,000 to LTA deputy group director Henry Foo Yung Thye in 2017 and 2018. Mr Pek, the managing director of the firm, was accused of intentionally aiding Mr Pay in giving the bribes to Foo. In October 2024, the two men were cleared by then District Judge Soh Tze Bian, who found that the incriminating statements the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) had recorded from them were 'inaccurate and unreliable'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Miscalculation of MOH subsidies and grants led to $7m in overpayments, $2m in shortfalls Asia Malaysian aide's unresolved 2009 death tests govt's reform pledge despite DAP chief's apology Singapore Woman evacuated from lift in Supreme Court building after falling glass triggers emergency halt Singapore 2 charged over alleged role in posting bail for man who later absconded Business Chat with experts on brand media coverage at the latest Conversations with ST Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving Mr Soh, who was appointed a district judge on Aug 1, 2008, retired from the Singapore Judicial Service on Jan 17. In the past two years, the quality of his work has been criticised twice by two Supreme Court judges. In September 2023, Chief Justice Menon said Mr Soh's conduct in reproducing large chunks of the prosecution's written submissions in his grounds of decision with minimal changes was 'wholly unsatisfactory as a matter of judicial practice'. In December 2024, Mr Soh's use of substantial portions of the prosecution's submissions without his own analysis was flagged by Justice Aidan Xu as a serious concern. In the current case, the prosecution contended that Mr Soh had adopted the defence's written submissions as his own findings and failed to properly evaluate the conflicting evidence concerning the CPIB statements. On July 22, Deputy Public Prosecutor Alan Loh argued that the judge had failed to 'exercise his mind on the facts and circumstances of the case before him'. The prosecutor highlighted instances where the judge had adopted the pejorative language from Mr Pay's closing submissions. This includes describing a CPIB investigation officer as 'mischievous and conveniently selective' when recording Mr Pay's statements. Mr Loh also listed examples to show that the judge had replicated the assertions made in the defence's closing submissions with minor stylistic changes. Mr Pek's lawyer, Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull, argued that the prosecution's analysis of the wording of a selected number of paragraphs was too simplistic. Highlighting examples where the judge had given his own analysis, Mr Bull said the judge had independently considered the evidence. He noted that Mr Soh had identified three issues on his own and re-organised the points made by the defence. Mr Bull stressed that in criminal cases, it was entirely inappropriate to resolve any doubt in favour of the prosecution. Mr Pay's lawyer, Senior Counsel Tan Chee Meng, said it was unfair for the prosecution to contend that the judge did not consider its arguments. Mr Tan said his closing submissions contained more than 60 pages criticising the credibility of the investigation officer, but the prosecution had 'all of two pages' in reply. He argued that the judge gave the prosecution a chance to rebut the defence's points during oral submissions, but the specific concerns were not addressed. Mr Tan said the judge was entitled to accept the defence's argument because no contrary explanation from the prosecution was forthcoming. In September 2021, Foo, then 47, was sentenced to 5½ years' jail for taking about $1.24 million in bribes in the form of loans from several contractors and subcontractors. Foo first joined LTA in 1999. He was the deputy group director of the Thomson-East Coast and Cross Island lines from July 2017 to his resignation in September 2019. The prosecution said that LTA had engaged Tiong Seng to construct an MRT station under a contract initially valued at $315 million. The prosecution said Foo had called Mr Pay to borrow money on the pretext of needing to repay his mother's gambling debts to banks and loan sharks. The prosecution said Mr Pay did not have enough money at the time, so he approached Mr Pek for help. In his defence, Mr Pay said he gave the loan to help Foo as they were friends who met socially, and that he had no corrupt intent in lending money to Foo. Similarly, Mr Pek testified that he did not lend money to Foo with the intention of benefiting the company.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Himmat Singh's Special Ops season 2 dialogue is internet's new obsession: ‘Jitna watan se pyar...'
A gripping scene from Special Ops Season 2, featuring Kay Kay Menon, has taken the internet by storm. In the sequence, Menon's character, Himmat Singh, confronts a key informant in his investigation, sharply questioning their commitment to the nation. The emotionally charged exchange, marked by Menon's intense performance and impactful dialogue, was first posted on X (formerly Twitter). Since then, it has gone viral, with audiences widely applauding both the powerful lines and Menon's delivery. Many viewers have hailed it as a standout moment of the season. Here's a deeper look at the scene that has captured the attention of fans and sparked a wave of appreciation online. Must Watch Scene from Special Ops 2 No Muslim was Harmed Here! Special Ops season 2 dialogue goes viral, here's why! In the scene, we see Himmat Singh confronting the source, stating that he hasn't received the money they had agreed upon. The source claims the money was sent to one of his men, but Himmat insists that it wasn't. During the exchange, the source swears on his two wives and four children, and while getting out of the car, he says that he, too, loves the nation. After a brief pause, Himmat asks him to transfer money to a specific bank account. When the source asks how much to transfer, Himmat replies, 'Transfer as much as you love the nation.' Reacting to this, one wrote, 'Jitna watan se Pyaar hai utna paisa daal dena. Perfect scene which is equal to reality.' Another added, 'Himmat singh should never retire! On duty!. A third one went on to add, 'Watan se pyaar=0 ...paise daalega 0.' Special Ops, created by Neeraj Pandey and produced under the Friday Storytellers banner, first premiered in 2020. The latest season brings together a stellar ensemble cast, including Prakash Raj, Vinay Pathak, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Parmeet Sethi, and Kali Prasad Mukherjee. Where to watch Special Ops season 2? You can stream Special Ops season 2 on JioHotstar.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kay Kay Menon returns as Himmat Singh in 'Special Ops 2', calls it an unforgettable ride
Versatile actor Kay Kay Menon has once again returned to the screen with another powerful performance as R&AW officer Himmat Singh in the second season of the espionage thriller, "Special Ops". Showing his gratitude to the entire team for a memorable ride, Menon said that he will fondly remember each and every moment from the making of the show. Dropping a pic as Himmat Singh on his IG, Menon wrote, "Thank you, Team Special Ops - what a ride! Every moment on this one will be fondly remembered." He further revealed that Himmat Singh's watch, which is an integral part of his rustic charm, enjoys a separate fan base. "And yes, Himmat's watch... couldn't take my eyes off it. It had its own fanbase. Big thanks to Neeraj Pandey for bringing this world to life again. Grateful to be a part of it." Menon concluded. On Tuesday, before the premiere of "Special Ops 2", Menon, Parmeet Sethi, Karan Tacker, and director Shivam Nair paid a visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. While they were there, they witnessed the Change of Guard ceremony, a striking display of ceremonial precision and tradition. Sharing his experience, Menon said, "As someone who plays a character deeply involved in the system, it was surreal to be present at one of the most important places in India. The ceremony, the energy, the space - it was an experience unlike any & it all felt very real and aligned with the world of Special Ops 2". Tacker added, "Returning here for this extremely prestigious ceremony was an absolutely surreal experience. The grandeur, discipline, and sheer energy of the moment gave us all goosebumps". Prior to this, the team even visited the I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) in Delhi, and spoke about cyber crime with Shri Rajesh Kumar, I.P.S. - CEO, I4C; Nishant Kumar , Director, I4C and Roopa M, Director, I4C. "Special Ops 2" premiered on JioHotstar from July 18.
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Special Ops 2 Review: Tahir Raj Bhasin Steals The Show, Kay Kay Menon's Return Is Impressive
Last Updated: Special Ops 2 Review: The second season of Special Ops is an open battle between Menon's Himmat Singh and the antagonist Tahir Raj Bhasin. Special Ops 2 Review: Kay Kay Menon is back as Himmat Singh in Special Ops 2, a RAW agent who has only one motive – eliminate India's enemies. While the first season of the show revolved around Menon and his team on a mission to end a 19-year-long manhunt of a terror mastermind, the second season takes a completely different turn. This time, the fight involves Artificial Intelligence – AI. The second season of Special Ops is an open battle between Menon's Himmat Singh and the antagonist Tahir Raj Bhasin. The show begins with the abduction of a renowned scientist who can access critical government domains using AI. Bhasin's motive with this abduction is not destruction or terrorism but to take over India's UPI control system. Therefore, Menon's aim this season is to prevent a cyber attack that can bring the country to its knees. With Special Ops season 2, Neeraj Pandey returns to doing what he does best – thrillers and not love stories or heist narratives. Remember Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha or Sikandar Ka Muqaddar? Nope, we don't either. Hopefully, Neeraj will keep his blinders on and focus only on espionage and geopolitics and national security hereon. Pandey brings out the best from his cast. With season two, Kay Kay Menon once again impresses with his simplicity, wit, smartness and intelligence as Himmat Singh. Joining him in season two is Tota Roy Chowdhury as Vinod Shekhawat, who plays his part with perfection and brings an interesting sub-plot to the show. Karan Tacker gets less screen time in comparison to the first season but does his part with utmost perfection. Muzammil Ibrahim also looks charming on screen and returns as fearless agent Avinash. Returning as a special agent in Special Ops 2 is also Saiyami Kher. However, she also gets very little time to showcase her acting skills solely because her character is written that way. We hope Neeraj Pandey's world includes more women too. However, one person who stands out in the show is Tahir Raj Bhasin. He delivers a chilling performance as the antagonist. Tahir masterfully embodies a complex character, exuding intelligence, ruthlessness, and calmness simultaneously. His portrayal is multifaceted, making him both captivating and terrifying to watch. His ability to convey menace while maintaining an air of sophistication makes his character unpredictable and interesting to watch. Where Does Special Ops 2 Lack? The first season of Special Ops was gripping. It did not let you blink your eye even for a second. Unfortunately, this aspect comes a little late in season two. The show begins with a slow pace and looks a little dragged initially. One of the major issues this season is how Menon's character is involved in multiple investigations running parallelly. With the introduction of several sub-plots, the show only gets a little confusing. It not only divides the attention of the viewers but also leaves them a little baffled at times. The action scenes in Special Ops 2 are somewhat underwhelming, feeling forced and lacking natural flow. The cinematography during these sequences is detracting from the overall impact. As it stands, the action feels somewhat disjointed, disrupting the otherwise gripping narrative and failing to leave a lasting impression. First Published: July 18, 2025, 09:33 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Air sirens part of life, nearly 1,500 Indian students still in Ukraine: Malayali doctor
KOCHI: The people in Ukraine have learnt to cope with a deadly war, which began in February 2022, even as Russian bombing continue to cause civilian casualties on a daily basis, said Dr U P R Menon – who has been residing in the eastern European country for the past 40 years – in Kochi on Tuesday. He is currently on a short visit to his ancestral house at Edappally. 'Air sirens have become a part of our lives. As they sound, we will all go to the underground shelters. The country has an underground metro system and the stations will be packed with people when the air sirens go off,' Menon said at the Changampuzha Park as part of a talk on 'Devastation Due to War: A First-Hand Account'. While most of the foreign citizens have fled the country, many foreign students pursuing higher education have returned, he said. 'There are now only around 50 Indians continuing to reside in the country. However, there are nearly 1,500 Indian students. The medical course there is of six years. Those who were studying up to third or fourth year courses have migrated to universities in other countries like Georgia. But the students in the final year semesters (5 and 6) have returned and are studying in universities located close to eastern Europe,' he said. Menon is set to return to Ukraine on July 19. Having settled down in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, he is running a medical consultancy there.
