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Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Jail, caning for recalcitrant immigration offender who gave $36k in bribes to cop
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Chen Guangyun, 39, had given the money to Poo Tze Chiang, then a station inspector with the Singapore Police Force's Secret Societies Branch. SINGAPORE - A recalcitrant immigration offender who handed a police officer bribes totalling $36,000 over seven months was sentenced to three years' jail and six strokes of the cane on July 15. Chen Guangyun, 39, had given the money to Poo Tze Chiang, then a station inspector with the Singapore Police Force's Secret Societies Branch, after the latter claimed that he could help the Chinese national avoid prosecution over immigration-related offences. Poo also claimed that he could help lessen the potential punishment that Chen would receive for his crimes which were outstanding at the time. Poo, 47, who is no longer a police officer and is currently behind bars , ultimately failed to deliver on these promises. After a trial, District Judge John Ng convicted each man of four counts of graft in February . Separately, Chen also pleaded guilty to two immigration-related offences after he unlawfully entered Singapore in 2022. Two other charges including one count of assault, were considered during his sentencing. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms, 1 lawyer over seized properties Opinion What we can do to fight the insidious threat of 'zombie vapes' Asia China's economy grows 5.3% in first half of 2025, momentum slowing amid trade tensions Business 'Some cannot source outside China': S'pore firms' challenges and support needed amid US tariffs Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? Singapore Turning tragedy into advocacy: Woman finds new purpose after paralysis Opinion Sumiko at 61: Everything goes south when you age, changing your face from a triangle to a rectangle Sport Poor water quality off Sentosa delays World Aquatics C'ship open water swimming event by a day In earlier proceedings, the court heard that Chen had initially entered Singapore lawfully on Oct 20, 2014 but overstayed. On Jan 25, 2017, he was convicted of offences including overstaying before he was sentenced to six months' jail and three strokes of the cane. After serving his sentence, he was deported in June that year and banned from entering Singapore. Despite this, he later entered Singapore illegally by boat and officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority arrested him. Chen was charged in court again with immigration-related offences on June 8, 2019. Chen and Poo first met each other during a drinking session some time in or around 2019, and they maintained a casual acquaintance. Poo later told Chen that he was a police officer and showed him his warrant card. After that, Chen told Poo that he had a pending case for entering Singapore illegally. Deputy public prosecutors David Menon and Bryan Wong stated in court documents: 'Poo told Chen that he could help Chen with his ongoing case and lessen any punishment that Chen may face. Poo asked Chen to pay $8,000 in exchange for his help. Chen agreed.' The DPPs also told Judge Ng that Chen handed Poo the amount in cash around Geylang Lorong 27 in or around July 2019. About a month later, Poo informed Chen that he could make him a police informant, which would allow the Chinese national to continue staying in Singapore after serving his sentence for his immigration-related offences. The prosecutors added that Poo also told Chen that he would do so only if the latter agreed to pay him $3,000 a month. The DPPs said Chen later gave Poo a total of $18,000 between August 2019 and January 2020. In fact, Chen never provided Poo with any information. Chen later handed him another $10,000, but all these did nothing to alleviate his legal woes. The charges against Chen were maintained, and on March 30, 2020, he pleaded guilty to an offence of entering Singapore without a valid pass. He was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail and four strokes of the cane before he was deported on May 4, 2020. Chen was in China in early 2021 when he learnt that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was investigating Poo for unrelated graft offences. Chen then contacted the CPIB to report that he had paid bribes to Poo. The DPPs said Chen was 'still desperate to work in Singapore' and returned to the country illegally in or around September 2022. Police officers later arrested him in or around April 2023 over his involvement in a fight.
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
$230,000 in fines issued after MOM checks safety at over 500 workplaces from April to June
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The ministry's inspections targeted machinery safety across the construction, manufacturing and marine sectors. SINGAPORE – A total of $230,100 in fines and three stop-work orders were issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) after it conducted 514 site inspections between April and June . The inspections targeted machinery safety across the construction, manufacturing and marine sectors, the ministry said in a Facebook post on July 14 . A total of 1,263 unsafe conditions were uncovered during these checks. Safety breaches found include dangerous machinery parts, like saw blades, that are not protected by guards, exposing workers to injuries, according to the Facebook post. Also, forklifts were found without seat belts, mirrors and lights, or they were found to be faulty. There were a total of 587 major injuries and 43 fatalities in the workplace in 2024, according to MOM's Workplace Safety and Health Report 2024. Examples of major injuries include amputations, blindness, deafness and paralysis, according to the ministry. The two top contributors to workplace fatal and major injuries were the construction (166) and manufacturing (125) sectors. The marine sector had 22 such injuries. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms, 1 lawyer over seized properties Opinion What we can do to fight the insidious threat of 'zombie vapes' Asia China's economy grows 5.3% in first half of 2025, momentum slowing amid trade tensions Business 'Some cannot source outside China': S'pore firms' challenges and support needed amid US tariffs Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? Singapore Turning tragedy into advocacy: Woman finds new purpose after paralysis Opinion Sumiko at 61: Everything goes south when you age, changing your face from a triangle to a rectangle Sport Poor water quality off Sentosa delays World Aquatics C'ship open water swimming event by a day At 35. 8 injuri es per 100,000 workers in 2024, the marine industry, which has a relatively smaller workforce , had its highest workplace fatal and major injury rate since 2018 (27.8), the report said.
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Jane Fonda warns climate and democracy are both in crisis
Fonda said her PAC is 'building a firewall' against Mr Trump at the local and state level. Jane Fonda, one of Hollywood's most outspoken actors and campaigners, has urged fresh action to tackle failures in politics and progress on emissions reduction. 'We have two essential crises and for both, it's now or never: democracy and climate,' 87-year-old Fonda told the Bloomberg Green Seattle conference on July 14. 'We're losing the democratic infrastructure and norms to deal with climate, and we're losing the climate stability that is essential for democracy. We have to solve them together.' Fonda has spent much of the past decade raising attention to the issue. Her climate activism started in 2019, when she launched what she called Fire Drill Fridays, a series of weekly protests near the US Capitol building in Washington, DC. She started her protest to denounce climate inaction and call for the end of fossil fuel use, and was arrested more than once. 'I turned 82 in jail,' said Fonda. When protesting was not bringing about change fast enough, Fonda got more directly involved in politics. In 2022, she launched the Jane Fonda Climate Political Action Committee, or PAC, to support political candidates and other groups. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms, 1 lawyer over seized properties Opinion What we can do to fight the insidious threat of 'zombie vapes' Asia China's economy grows 5.3% in first half of 2025, momentum slowing amid trade tensions Business 'Some cannot source outside China': S'pore firms' challenges and support needed amid US tariffs Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? Singapore Turning tragedy into advocacy: Woman finds new purpose after paralysis Opinion Sumiko at 61: Everything goes south when you age, changing your face from a triangle to a rectangle Sport Poor water quality off Sentosa delays World Aquatics C'ship open water swimming event by a day The PAC raised nearly US$2 million (S$2.56 million) in the 2022 election cycle and more than US$5.7 million for 2024, according to data compiled by nonprofit Open Secrets. To make the biggest impact, Fonda said, her PAC is laser-focused on supporting down-ballot state and local elections, including for mayors, city councilors and state legislators. The group has exclusively backed Democrats. 'The most important thing is to elect climate champions up and down the ballot, all over the country, starting yesterday,' she says. The PAC has already endorsed or supported some 170 candidates who won their races, according to Fonda. Climate policies are under assault at the national level in 2025, with US President Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans in control of both branches of Congress. Mr Trump has rolled back a number of policies and cut climate grants and signed a law earlier in June that winds down tax credits for renewables and other carbon-cutting technology like electric vehicles. Fonda said her PAC is 'building a firewall' against Mr Trump at the local and state level. But she argued it takes more than money to address large challenges – and implored the room of attendees to take action. 'Everybody rise up, protest, make yourself heard,' Fonda said, adding it was important to help people understand what's in Trump's tax law. 'Let's just not sit around talking about it – let's really do it. We have to do something really brave here. This is worth saving.' BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Do regular facials actually improve your skin?
Glowing skin is a major and immediate benefit of getting a facial. But that perk tends to fade after a few days or weeks. NEW YORK – Smoother skin, smaller pores, better hydration – these are just a few of the many benefits facials claim to offer . And who is not relaxed after being horizontal for an hour while someone massages his or her fac e? Glowing skin is a major and immediate benefit of getting a facial. But the perk tends to fade after a few days or weeks. And aestheticians will often say that if you want longer-term improvements, such as fewer wrinkles, less acne or an even skin tone, you will need to get facials regularly. Is that true? T hree dermatologists weigh in. What are the benefits? Facials come in many forms, said Dr Susan Massick, a dermatologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Standard ones incorporate some type of deep cleansing, exfoliating, moisturising, massaging and sometimes 'extraction', or squeezing the gunk out of your pores, she said. They are also often tailored to address specific skin issues such as acne, dullness or discolouration, she added. You can get facials at medical spas or salons, and dermatology offices. When your skin is cleansed, massaged and exfoliated, dead skin cells are removed from the outermost layer of the skin called the epidermis, said Dr Helen He, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. This speeds up the skin's cell turnover rate, which may help brighten your complexion, smooth its texture and shrink pores, she added. The skin is also typically massaged during the cleansing, moisturising and serum application steps. This can boost circulation and lymphatic drainage, Dr He said, which may minimise puffiness. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms, 1 lawyer over seized properties Asia China's economy grows 5.3% in first half of 2025, momentum slowing amid trade tensions Business 'Some cannot source outside China': S'pore firms' challenges and support needed amid US tariffs Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? Singapore Turning tragedy into advocacy: Woman finds new purpose after paralysis Opinion Sumiko at 61: Everything goes south when you age, changing your face from a triangle to a rectangle Sport Poor water quality off Sentosa delays World Aquatics C'ship open water swimming event by a day Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Beyond skincare , regular facials can help you to unwind and de-stress, said Dr Basia Michalski-McNeely, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. 'It's an hour where you don't have any interruptions, and it's just focused on wellness and taking care of yourself,' she said. Will regular facials extend those effects? Generally, the benefits of a single facial are short-lived, lasting a few days to a couple of weeks, Dr Michalski-McNeely said. This is because the epidermis naturally renews about every month, Dr He said. When this happens, dead skin cells build up and can clog pores, potentially leading to acne and dull skin, she explained. A good skincare routine can address this build-up, but getting facials regularly – every four to eight weeks, for instance – can s upport healthy skin cell turnover, which may enhance collagen production, leading to more firmness and elasticity in the long run, Dr He said. Regular facials that are tailored to your skin may also offer extended benefits, Dr Massick said. If you are prone to acne, you might get one that incorporates extraction. If you have dry skin, you might seek extra moisturising steps. Still, there are some skin qualities that regular facials may not improve. People with deep wrinkles or skin sagging, for instance, may not get as many skin-smoothing or tightening benefits from facials alone, Dr He said. Sometimes, facials incorporate treatments such as chemical peels or LED light therapy, which, when done regularly, can bring more 'lasting results' than traditional facials, such as lightening dark spots or treating acne, Dr Massick said. What else should you consider? Regular facials are safe for most people, Dr Massick said, though she recommended avoiding them if you have an active skin infection – such as cold sores or shingles – or facial wounds that are still healing. She also recommended being cautious of facials or consulting a doctor if you have rosacea, psoriasis, eczema or sensitive skin. Dr Michalski-McNeely said she does not discourage people from getting facials, but she also does not think they are necessary for those with a good, consistent skincare routine. A basic one includes cleansing, moisturising and wearing sunscreen of at least SPF 30 daily, Dr Massick said. Dr Michalski-McNeely also suggested incorporating an over-the-counter retinol or a prescription retinoid. It is a more effective and longer-lasting option for increasing skin cell turnover, improving collagen production and brightening the skin. This, with a good skincare regimen, is far more effective for anti-ageing than facials alone, Dr Massick said. But facials can complement these habits, she added. Cosmetic procedures such as Botox, microneedling or laser resurfacing treatments can also offer longer-term benefits than facials, such as boosting collagen, smoothing fine lines and minimising the appearance of acne scars and dark spots, Dr Michalski-McNeely added. But these can be expensive too and might require a visit to a dermatologist, which she recommended. If you get a facial at a medical spa or salon, Dr Massick suggested seeking out a licensed and experienced aesthetician – and asking about the products he or she uses, the procedure and what to expect afterwards. Always tell your aesthetician if you are allergic to fragrances or other ingredients that may be in skincare products. Facials can be 'a fun and relaxing treat', Dr Massick said, just make sure you set appropriate expectations and do not rely on them as your sole source of skincare. NYTIMES
