Man jailed for pouring corrosive mix on worker
Upset that his colleague was having dinner with a friend instead of collecting plates, a dishwasher decided to "teach him a lesson" - by pouring a corrosive mixture of soda powder and water over him.
Mr Tan Kah Chee, 65, suffered chemical burns to 23 per cent of his body, including his face, scalp and neck after the attack at a Lavender coffee shop. He spent over a month in hospital, but was left partially blind and has to use a wheelchair.
Yesterday, 62-year-old Lim Yeow Heng was jailed for 21/2 years after pleading guilty to a single charge of causing hurt by a corrosive substance.
Mr Tan underwent several operations and developed a blood infection during his hospital stay, and had to go through in-patient rehabilitation.
The maximum penalty for voluntarily causing hurt with a corrosive substance is seven years' jail and a fine and caning. Those above 50 cannot be caned.
Pedestrian dies in Hougang van accident
A 53-year-old woman was killed in a crash involving a van in Hougang early yesterday. Police received a call about the accident, which occurred along Hougang Street 52, at around 4.55am. The pedestrian was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene, a police spokesman said.
The 54-year-old male van driver was arrested for causing death by a negligent act. Police investigations are ongoing.
Photos of the accident aftermath were posted by Facebook user Lim Loon Qian. According to Mr Lim, the victim was on her morning jog when she was hit by the "fast-moving" van.
S'pore-born NZ teen 'must fulfil NS liability'
Singapore-born New Zealand teenager Brandon Smith will be required to fulfil his national service (NS) obligations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said yesterday.
"Singapore adheres to the fundamental principles of universality and equity for NS. All Singaporeans are expected to fulfil our NS obligations as citizens," MFA stated in a written reply to Jurong GRC MP David Ong's question in Parliament.
"It would not be fair to allow citizens to avoid NS just because they reside overseas."
Mr Ong had wanted to know if the ministry had entered into discussions with New Zealand on the case of Mr Smith, who holds dual citizenship and had previously stated his desire to seek exemption from NS.
The 19-year-old, whose mother is Singaporean and father a New Zealander, moved to Dunedin at age eight. He has had multiple applications to defer his NS call-up until he turns 21 - the age at which he can relinquish his Singapore citizenship - rejected.
He told New Zealand news site stuff.co.nz in an interview on Jan 24 that spending two years doing NS was "pointless" as he did not speak Mandarin and would feel like an outsider.
But MFA has clarified that Mr Smith would still be liable for any breaches of the Enlistment Act, even if he were to apply for renunciation of his Singapore citizenship after attaining the age of majority.
Mr Smith faces a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a maximum of three years in prison if he fails to comply.
