Man jailed for slashing gang members

A secret society member slashed a rival gang member with a knife outside Cathay Cineleisure Orchard in June 2013, then attacked a member of his own gang with a knife a year later, a court heard.

Mizra Abdul Azman, 26, also shoved and spat at a police sergeant while in a police lock-up.

Yesterday, he was sentenced to five years' jail and six strokes of the cane.

On June 15, 2013, Mizra met up with eight friends, six of whom were from his secret society. At about 9.10pm, five of the men slashed, kicked or punched a rival gang member, while four watched. The victim had cuts to his scalp and both hands, and underwent extensive physiotherapy.

On Aug 16, 2014, Mizra also kicked, punched and knifed a fellow gang member, who had taken part in the assault a year before, as the victim had stopped going for gang activities, among other reasons. This victim suffered cuts to his left index, middle and ring fingers, and had to undergo surgery.

4th public bus operator hires over 400 drivers

Singapore's fourth public bus operator Go-Ahead has hired 424 bus captains since it announced its employment package on Feb 15.

That is 60 per cent of the 700 bus captain positions it is hoping to fill before it starts operations on a package of routes in Loyang in the third quarter, the Britain-based firm said yesterday.

The Loyang package comprises three new services and 22 existing ones now run by SBS Transit in Pasir Ris and Punggol.

Go-Ahead said 358 of those hired are currently serving on the 24 operational routes in Loyang, meaning 87 per cent of the existing bus drivers affected by the transition to the contracting model have joined the company.

The other 66 hires consist of Singaporeans and permanent residents from Go-Ahead's recruitment drive and come from outside the public bus services industry.

Sixty per cent of them already have a Class 4 or 4A driving licence.