Latest news with #SingaporePrisonService
AsiaOne
6 days ago
- AsiaOne
17-year-old girl breaches home detention, arrested after car crashes into prison van while fleeing, Singapore News
A 17-year-old girl who broke her home detention curfew was arrested alongside a 22-year-old man after they crashed into a Singapore Prison Service (SPS) vehicle while attempting to flee. A video and picture seen by AsiaOne on Aug 1 shows a collision between a yellow car and a grey, unmarked van near a multistorey carpark at Yishun Street 22. The resident who had captured the video told AsiaOne that he heard a loud bang from his window at about 9.30pm on July 31. Upon looking out, he saw "plainclothes officers" dragging a woman — seemingly in handcuffs —to a grey van as she resisted. Several police cars arrived at the scene soon after, and officers were conducting checks, said the resident. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) confirmed that a 17-year-old girl and a 22-year-old man had been arrested in the vicinity of Blk 269A and 269B Yishun Street 22. The teen had been admitted to admitted to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) on Oct 16, 2024 for drug consumption and was placed under home detention on June 6 this year. Suitable inmates are placed on community-based programmes (CPB), such as home detention, at the tail-end of their incarceration to help them reintegrate back into society. The girl was electronically tagged and required to observe curfew hours, be gainfully employed or studying and report to SPS regularly for urine testing and counselling, according to the prison service. On July 17, 2025, she breached her curfew and did not return to her residence. When she was recalled to assist in investigations regarding this incident, the teen also failed to report to SPS. As such, her CBP order was cancelled. On July 31 at about 9.30pm, acting on information received, SPS officers spotted the teen and a man exiting a carpark in a yellow vehicle. Their car collided with the prison vehicle carrying the SPS officers in their attempt to leave. SPS arrested the teen at about 9.40pm and called the Singapore Police Force for assistance. Her 22-year-old male companion was arrested by the police for rash conduct with his vehicle and endangering human life, driving without a licence, and other offences. No one was hurt during the incident. SPS stated that investigations are ongoing. [[nid:720909]]
The Star
25-07-2025
- The Star
Singapore prison officer accused of taking bribes to smuggle nude photos, prescription drugs to inmate
Mohammad Asri Abd Rahim was handed five charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act for accepting gratification. - ST/ANN SINGAPORE: A prison officer who allegedly took bribes from an inmate to smuggle prohibited items, including nude photos and prescription drugs, into Changi Prison was charged in court on July 25. Mohammad Asri Abd Rahim, 39, was handed five charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act for accepting gratification. In a statement, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) said Asri has been interdicted on half pay, pending the outcome of the case. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a separate statement that on seven occasions between August 2021 and June 2022, Asri allegedly accepted bribes amounting to S$3,700 (US$2,892) from inmate Mohamad Yusof Kasimas, 50. This was an inducement to smuggle the prohibited items, which also included magazines, into Changi Prison, said the CPIB. Two other inmates – Wilson Ang, 37, and Murali Vigneshwaran, 36 – allegedly aided Yusof in giving the bribes to Asri on several occasions. Yusof was handed five charges related to the giving of bribes, while Ang and Murali each faced a similar charge. In court on July 25, Asri said he will not be engaging a lawyer and that he will be pleading guilty. The prison officer, who is out on bail, will plead guilty on Sept 5. Yusof and Murali, who are still serving sentences, also indicated their intention to plead guilty and will do so on the same day. Ang, who is out on bail, was represented in court by a lawyer, and his case was adjourned for a further mention on Aug 22. Wilson Ang allegedly aided inmate Mohamad Yusof Kasimas in giving bribes to a prison officer. In its statement, the SPS said it was alerted on Oct 10, 2022, that Asri had smuggled nude photographs into prison for an inmate in exchange for money. It immediately launched an investigation, and the case was later referred to the CPIB. The SPS said its officers are expected to uphold the law and maintain the highest standards of conduct and integrity. It added that it takes a very serious view of officers who break the law. 'Any SPS officer found to have done so will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law, including being charged in court,' it said. Any person convicted of accepting or giving bribes under the Prevention of Corruption Act can be fined up to S$100,000, jailed for up to five years, or both. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Straits Times
Singapore Prison Service debunks online claims that it launched ‘the world's first floating prison'
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Social media posts claimed that the move was to 'solve overcrowding and land issues'. SINGAPORE - The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) has debunked claims online that the Republic had recently launched the world's first floating prison. This comes after several social media posts went viral, suggesting that the facility located on water 500m off Singapore's coast would solve overcrowding and land issues. In one such post on Instagram, the facility was described as being 'equipped with AI surveillance, biometric security, robotic patrols, and no traditional bars — just geofenced digital boundaries'. It purportedly could house over 2,000 inmates. The post has garnered over 9,000 likes since it was shared on July 15. Another post with more than 7,000 likes, first posted on July 13, claimed that the move was to 'solve overcrowding and land issues', touting the facility to be 'the future of urban incarceration'. SPS said it is aware of such posts being circulated online. 'This is untrue. Neither have we had any discussions or plans for such, nor is there a need,' it said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Jail for elderly man for using knife to slash neighbour, who later died of heart disease Singapore Maximum $7,000 fine for caterer involved in ByteDance food poisoning case Opinion Grab tried to disrupt taxis. It now wants to save them 'We urge members of the public not to spread misinformation, nor to be taken in by such wild stories, and refer instead to SPS's website and social media platforms for official information,' it added.
CNA
30-06-2025
- General
- CNA
This ex-offender rebuilt her life and reunited with her daughters with help from a halfway house
A fellow resident at the halfway house had made a mistake. And once again, Faradilla Abdul Latiff lost her cool. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help losing her temper. Faradilla expected to be told off and put down, but to her surprise, the staff at Rise Above Halfway House were kind. After she admitted that she struggled with anger, they offered to work with her on managing her rage and other negative emotions. 'I get mad with others even when it comes to simple disagreements, and I used to think my anger was always going to be part of me,' she said. 'But the staff didn't judge me. They encouraged me and made me feel safe to talk about my issues,' she added. 'They believed in me, and I learnt to trust and forgive myself, too." Rise Above Halfway House, a collaboration between the Singapore Muslim Women's Association (PPIS) and the Singapore Prison Service, is a secular rehabilitative centre for women inmates serving the tail end of their sentence, mostly for drug offences. Faradilla spent the final six months of her fourth prison sentence there. 'I used to think that because I was a repeat offender and drug abuser, I'd never change,' the 41-year-old told CNA Women. 'I believed myself to be the bad person that everyone around me thought I was, and I was stuck in this negative cycle that I'd never escape. 'It didn't matter that there was a voice inside me telling me that I was good and I wanted to be better. I was just going to be like that – until I came to the halfway house.' THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE BELIEVED IN HER Founded in 2021, Rise Above Halfway House can house 40 to 50 women. Each resident is assigned duties and given opportunities to attend programmes that help them readjust to life after prison, including resume writing, financial management, and interview workshops. As someone who struggles with addiction, Faradilla recognised that what helped her the most in her rehabilitation were the soft skills: Anger management, self-acceptance, communicating with others, fostering empathy and trust. 'I never got much support from some people around me,' she said. 'I'd want to change, but the moment I slipped up or relapsed, they'd say things like 'you'll never change' or 'you'll be this way forever'. 'It hurt to hear them, but I wouldn't show my pain. Since people didn't think I was good, I might as well be bad.' I believed myself to be this bad person that everyone around me thought I was, and I was stuck in this negative cycle that I never thought I'd escape. Stuck in a spiral of self-loathing, Faradilla would turn to the familiar – drugs and other crimes – to cope, even though she desperately wanted to be free from them. Her time at the halfway house, however, helped to break the cycle. This was Faradilla's second stint at a halfway house, referred to by the prison service. However, compared with the first time, which she perceived as merely a temporary shelter before reintegrating into society, her time at Rise Above led her to think about rebuilding her life more intentionally. Each resident at the halfway house is given a list of tasks, such as cleaning and cooking. While they seem menial and inconsequential, these duties gave Faradilla trust and responsibility. It boosted her self-esteem and taught her better self-control. 'Toilet duty, kitchen duty, cooking – all these tasks made me feel like I could take care of all the residents in the house. And when I did them, I realised that I could do it. I could be better.' LANDING A JOB THAT GIVES HER PURPOSE When she was coming to the end of her prison sentence, Faradilla had to choose a sector and job to apply for. 'I've done many jobs in the past – admin work, factory roles – they were the kind I could easily finish and be done with,' she said. 'But in the house, after starting to think differently about myself and what I could do, I wondered, what if I could do more?' Faradilla then thought about her parents, both of whom have medical conditions, and how she wanted to learn skills that would help her care for them better. She told CNA Women that before this most recent imprisonment, she had had a bad argument with her mother. 'My mum had a stroke and is mostly bedridden. At that time, I was going through so much trouble and pain, so I lashed out at her. That was the last time I saw her before going back into prison,' Faradilla said. 'I felt horrible, I had so much guilt. When I was released, I knew I wanted to make things better.' The motivation sparked her interest in senior care. With help from the staff and volunteers at Rise Above, she landed the job as a senior community care associate at a nursing home early this year. Many of the elderly residents there have medical conditions like Parkinson's disease, stroke, and advanced dementia. Her job includes cleaning up after them and supporting those who are less mobile. It requires her to know her patients well – their feeding habits, physical and mental capabilities, and even their favourite games and activities. As most of the patients are Chinese, she has even picked up basic Mandarin and Hokkien. 'The old me would have laughed at the me now, doing this role of caring for others,' she said. 'But you know what? I'll laugh back at her, because I feel glad I'm doing this. 'This job helps me help others, and more importantly, it allows me to help my mother after giving her so much grief all these years. The role gives me a new purpose in my life.' For the first time, I had other people who believed in me, and that meant a lot to me – I learnt to trust and forgive myself. Faradilla added that being busy mentally and physically also helps her focus on life away from drugs and other crimes. 'There are days I'd bump into my old circle of friends,' she said. 'And I won't lie, they will tempt me into using again, but I'll remember that, now, I have a job to get to, I've people to be responsible for. I don't want to live that life again, and so I'll say no.' DOING HER BEST TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES FOR HER LOVED ONES While Faradilla believes she's in a much better place now, she acknowledges that each day is challenging. 'That is the reality for an addict – every day is hard,' she said. 'I will remember the feeling (of being high), I will think about using again, but my time in Rise Above taught me how to overcome these thoughts,' she said. One of the ways the halfway house taught Faradilla to manage herself is to fill her time with positive activities and by serving her family. When she was incarcerated, Faradilla felt tremendous guilt at being absent from her two daughters, now aged 21 and 15. She also felt bitter anger and resentment towards some family members whom she thought were not supportive of her. During her time in prison, her older sister cared for their elder daughter, while the younger girl came under her ex-husband's care. Since her release, Faradilla has made it a point to spend more time with her girls to reconnect with them. She sees them several times a week as they don't live with her. She has also learnt to think more positively of her family, and to slowly let go of the bitterness she harbours. 'Now feels different from the previous times I was released,' she said. 'I think differently. I want to think better of the people who helped me care for my girls. These days, I just focus on rebuilding our relationship and making up for all the lost time.' Tearing up, Faradilla said she thought that because of her past mistakes, her relationship with her daughters would always be fractured, but that hasn't been the case. 'My girls see me pray, they see me less angry, they see me talk and mean what I say about my belief in God and getting better,' she said. 'They laugh with me, they open up with me about boys, friends, and family. They even want to stay with me.' All these moments with her daughters mean a lot to her and reassure Faradilla that getting better, no matter how challenging, is worth it. As a former drug addict, she acknowledges that the road away from addiction is always going to be challenging. Rehabilitation, dealing with relapses, reconciliation, all these take up much time and energy. 'I'll be honest, once you're in, it will be so, so hard to get out,' she admitted. 'But I also remember the days I couldn't sleep, the nights I was awake with paranoia, the time I was in prison and none of my loved ones were around, the anxiety I felt about being inside in case any of them passed away. 'These thoughts keep me going, even when it's hard,' she said. 'So no, it's not impossible and never too late to change. I never want anyone – even myself – to think that my past life was the only kind of life for me. 'In the halfway house, one of the quotes that stuck with me and will always keep me going is this: 'After the darkest chapter, there is a new page waiting to be written'.'
CNA
13-06-2025
- CNA
Offenders serving community sentences given wrist bands instead of ankle tags to reduce stigma
Offenders serving their sentences in the community can now be issued a tracking device on their wrists that looks like a smartwatch, instead of traditional ankle tags. These GPS-enabled devices help the Singapore Prison Service monitor inmates' movements. The new wrist tags were rolled out to help reduce stigma and meet their lifestyle needs. Both the wrist and ankle tags cost about the same to produce and operate with the same technology. Aslam Shah reports.
