PARLIAMENT

Parliament Shorts: Kovan murder update

Kovan murder update

The former policeman accused of the Kovan double murder two years ago will attend a committal hearing on July 29.

This is to establish if there is sufficient evidence to commit him to a full High Court trial.

Iskandar Rahmat, 36, who faces the death penalty, is now in remand at Changi Prison pending court proceedings.

Trial dates have been set from Oct 20 to Oct 30 this year, and from March 29 to April 8 next year, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said in a written reply to Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC), who asked for an update.


New hawker centres

Residents in Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang will have new hawker centres. This is part of the Government's plans to build 10 more such centres by 2027 in new or existing estates that are relatively under-served.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said this yesterday in a written reply to Mr David Ong (Jurong GRC) and Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC). But planning is still in the early stages, and more details can be provided only at a later time, said Dr Balakrishnan.


Bankruptcy data 'stable'

The number of people declared bankrupt has been relatively stable, with 1,760 last year, 2,000 in 2013, and 1,750 in 2012.

DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in a written reply to Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), said that 41 per cent of those who became bankrupt last year cited excessive use of credit as the cause. This is down from 46 per cent in 2009.


PR for citizens' spouses

An average 4,000 spouses of Singapore citizens were granted permanent residency under the Family Ties Scheme each year from 2010 to 2014.

DPM Teo Chee Hean said in a reply to Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) that the number of marriages between Singapore citizens and foreigners has remained "relatively stable" at around 6,700 on average in each of the past five years.

Walter Sim

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 14, 2015, with the headline Parliament Shorts: Kovan murder update. Subscribe