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Singapore Law Watch
16-07-2025
- Health
- Singapore Law Watch
‘Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction
'Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction Source: Straits Times Article Date: 16 Jul 2025 Author: Nadine Chua Vaping in Singapore has become a growing problem; MP calls for etomidate to be classified as a drug for harsher penalties and mandatory treatment, plus a review of vaping legislation. The first sign that something was amiss was when Mary's (not her real name) husband shut himself inside the bedroom, ignoring his wife and two young sons. The once loving husband and father turned violent, wrecking things at home, kicking doors in the middle of the night. One day, he collapsed in the living room, his body slouched against the wall, with a vape in hand. Since The Straits Times launched its anti-vaping campaign, Vaping: The Invisible Crisis, on July 13, several readers have written in to share their experiences about loved ones vaping. Some said they never knew the effects vapes had on a user's health, while others called for vaping legislation to be strengthened. Three readers e-mailed ST about how vaping and Kpods, which contain the powerful anaesthetic drug etomidate, have ruined their families. Used in hospitals for inducing sedation during medical procedures, etomidate is designed to be injected directly into the veins under clinical supervision and never intended to be inhaled. When vaped, etomidate enters the lungs directly, potentially triggering spasms, breathing difficulties, seizures and even psychosis. Sons scared of father For years, the two boys, aged seven and nine, had always known their father to be a loving and doting man. But everything changed when the man, 41, used Kpods. Mary, 35, said her husband was so depressed he could not work, and got fired from his technician job. Mary, who works in marketing, said her husband spiralled into repeated episodes of violence, emotional outbursts and dangerous behaviour while using Kpods. One night, the family heard him destroying things around the home as they hid in the bedroom. The next morning, they saw their microwave badly damaged. Mary's younger son, who has autism, became afraid of his father. She said: 'They used to be close and would play badminton together. But he soon became fearful of his father. My husband would also snap at my older son. He was traumatised and anxious after being yelled at so many times.' In May, Mary moved to her mother's place with her sons, and has filed for divorce. She said: 'We dated for 10 years and were married for nine. Now, I don't even know who he is any more. Kpods broke our marriage and shattered our children.' Calling for stronger laws to tackle vaping, Mary added: 'I don't want another family to go through what we went through.' 'My sons are like zombies' One mother, who wanted to be known only as Ms Lim, 53, said she had seen her sons experience seizures from Kpods. When her 27-year-old son got a job as an antique shop assistant after his release from prison in July 2024, Ms Lim was hopeful about his future. Then, he was introduced to Kpods at a nightclub. He became sluggish, skipped work often and got fired. The Singaporean homemaker lives with her husband, who works overseas. She said: 'I can monitor my (older) son only using the CCTV in our home. I see him walking around like a zombie, and my neighbours would tell me they see him walking unsteadily and vaping openly in the park.' Her younger son was also addicted to vapes before he was convicted and jailed for assault in February. Ms Lim sent ST videos of her younger son trembling and struggling to close the gate to their flat after using Kpods in 2024. Her older son was fined by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) four times for vaping. She said: 'Every time he gets fined and his Kpods get confiscated, he just gets new ones.' Ms Lim said her older son has attempted suicide three times due to Kpods. In February, she bought him an e-bike after he promised to quit Kpods and get a job as a deliveryman. She found out he sold the e-bike to gamble and buy more vapes. Ms Lim said: 'I hope possessing and using vapes will become a crime that offenders can be jailed for. If that means my son getting jailed, then so be it. Because once he is behind bars, he will no longer have access to Kpods.' Possessing, using and buying e-vaporisers carry a maximum fine of $2,000. She added: 'My (older) son has attempted suicide before, and we have stopped him. But if he continues using Kpods, it would only be a matter of time before he dies.' Daughter vaped in toilet with boys When Sara (not her real name) received a call from her daughter, 13, at 4.30am to fetch her from a mall in Yishun, she feared the worst. The teen had been caught by the police vaping in a handicap-accessible toilet with three older boys. Sara, 55, who works in social services and is widowed, first found the girl's vape stash in her drawer in 2024. Sara said: 'She used to vape secretly, but then vaped openly. She was caught vaping in Orchard (Road) and in Serangoon.' Sara said she had approached agencies for help, but still feels helpless. Her daughter is at a residential girls' home undergoing rehabilitation. To fuel her addiction, she would borrow money from friends and sell her clothes and make-up online for quick cash. She even stole money from her late father's drawer. Sara said: 'I have gone beyond depression, helplessness, tears and frustration. I need to maintain the relationship I have with her. That is all I have. 'But when I remind her about the damaging health effects vaping has, she just sniggers at me. I am at my wits' end.' Referring to ST's anti-vape campaign, she said: 'With this push, I hope there will be a review of the law and (it will) open up space for conversations on this issue. Kids are suffering. Parents are suffering.' Classify etomidate as a drug: Vikram Nair Mr Vikram Nair, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law, acknowledged the growing problem of vaping in Singapore and called for a much stricter regime for etomidate. Mr Nair, who is an MP for Sembawang GRC, said: 'I am in favour of etomidate being classified as a drug. The main purpose is for harsher penalties for those trafficking it. This would also permit ordering mandatory treatment for addicts and those caught using it.' Referring to the ST video of an HSA officer diving into a moving car to stop a suspected vape peddler from escaping, Mr Nair said: 'HSA is doing the best they can about this issue. I have seen stories on their crackdowns and the dramatic video with the car. 'But if the penalties are somewhat limited after their arrests, there is only so much that can be done under the current framework.' Former Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng said more than 10 Clementi residents, mostly young parents, had spoken to him in 2025 of their concerns of vaping before he retired from politics in April. He said one 13-year-old girl told him she was worried her friends could get vapes so easily. In January and March, Dr Tan raised the issue in Parliament. He brought up a case of a parent reporting the child to the police for vaping, and the child getting fined by HSA. Dr Tan then called for agencies to consider helping children curb their addiction rather than handing them fines. He told ST: 'We won't want vaping to be a crack in Singapore's defences against illegal drugs. So, the legislation needs to be looked at, and the agencies need to study ways to handle such vaping devices more effectively and with more muscle.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Straits Times
Jail for man, 60, who left for M'sia in 1990s to avoid NS, used fake passports to travel in and out of S'pore
Jail for man, 60, who left for M'sia in 1990s to avoid NS, used fake passports to travel in and out of S'pore Nadine Chua The Straits Times July 11, 2025 A Singaporean who was trying to avoid his national service (NS) obligations in the 1990s used fake Malaysian passports to enter and exit the Republic to conceal his identity from the authorities. Over a span of five years from 2006 to 2011, Low Eng Kheng, 60, used the fake passports 876 times at various checkpoints in Singapore. On July 11, he was sentenced to eight months and 18 weeks' jail after pleading guilty to five charges under the Immigration Act. The court heard that in the early 1990s, Low left Singapore for Malaysia as he did not wish to complete his obligations as an operationally ready national serviceman (NSman). He remained in Malaysia and did not return to Singapore, and his Singapore passport expired in June 2000. In 2006, he wanted to travel to Singapore to visit his family as his mother's health was deteriorating, but was afraid of using his actual Singapore identity as he believed that he was wanted by the authorities for not fulfilling his NSman obligations. Thus, he paid an unknown individual RM45,000 (S$13,600) for a Malaysian passport with his photograph but the particulars of one "Chong Poh Yin" and a birthdate that was not his. In the subsequent years between 2008 and 2010, Low obtained three more Malaysian passports with his photograph but which bore the particulars of "Chong". He paid the same unknown individual RM10,000 for each passport. Low used the first passport to enter Singapore on Aug 7, 2006. After that, he frequently travelled between Singapore and Malaysia using the four passports. He last arrived in Singapore using one of the passports on May 2, 2011. Between March and May 2011, he also gave false statements on his disembarkation forms to immigration officers on 59 occasions. These included his name, his date of birth and country of birth. In September 2023, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) began investigations into Low as he had been found to be someone with multiple identities. It was not mentioned in court documents how his crimes came to light. Low was arrested in August 2024. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES Deputy Superintendent Ganeshvaran, senior prosecution officer from ICA, highlighted to the court that it was a conscious decision on Low's part to run away from Singapore as he did not want to complete his NSman obligations, and to subsequently conceal his true identity to avoid the authorities. In mitigation, defence lawyer Thomas Tham said his client did not use the Malaysian passports to enter Singapore to commit offences. "Instead, he came to Singapore as a driver to send people around to try to make a living for his wife and kids. The sheer number of times he used the passports was because of the nature of his job as a driver," said Mr Tham. In a statement on July 11, an ICA spokesman said that since July 2020, multi-modal biometric clearance systems have been in place at the checkpoints to better detect and deny entry to those with multiple identities or impersonated identities. All automated and manual immigration lanes and manual counters at Singapore's land, sea and air checkpoints have been equipped with iris and facial scanners, said ICA, adding that the two biometric identifiers, in addition to fingerprints as a secondary biometric identifier, provide a highly accurate way of authenticating travellers' identities. "ICA will not hesitate to take firm action against travellers who attempt to enter Singapore using an impersonated identity or an identity different from their previous trips to Singapore," said the spokesman. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Straits Times
17-year-old youth who walked on MRT tracks to take video of train charged, remanded at IMH for assessment
The teen allegedly committed criminal trespass on March 27 at around 8.15pm by climbing a scaffolding along Upper Changi Road to access the train... PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM FACEBOOK VIDEO/COMPLAINT SINGAPORE 17-year-old youth who walked on MRT tracks to take video of train charged, remanded at IMH for assessment Nadine Chua The Straits Times July 3, 2025 A 17-year-old youth who allegedly trespassed onto train tracks between Simei and Tanah Merah MRT stations was charged on July 3. The teen was handed one charge of wilfully endangering the safety of passengers and another charge of criminal trespass. He cannot be named as he was 16 years old when he allegedly committed the offences in March. Individuals below 18 are protected under the Children and Young Persons Act. The teen appeared in court via video-link, with the prosecution successfully applying for him to be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric assessment. District Judge Brenda Tan asked if his parents were in court. When this question was posed to those in the court gallery, no one responded. The judge asked if the teen's parents had been informed of the charges, and he replied he had called his parents. According to charge sheets, he allegedly committed criminal trespass on March 27 at around 8.15pm by climbing a scaffolding along Upper Changi Road to access the train tracks during operational hours. In early June, SMRT said it had filed a police report after footage that appeared to have been taken from an MRT track was posted on social media. The video was taken in dimly lit conditions and shows a train passing by on a nearby track. The person filming it later moves closer to the train, before crossing the tracks. The teen is also accused of wilfully endangering the safety of those travelling along the railway by trespassing onto the track while train service was in operation. His case was adjourned to July 17. Those convicted of committing criminal trespass can be jailed for up to three months, fined up to $1,500, or both. An offender who wilfully does something that endangers those travelling along the railway can be jailed for up to five years, fined up to $10,000, or both. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
ByteDance food poisoning: Cockroaches found on premises of catering firm, 1 dish had unacceptable levels of pathogens
Yunhaiyao's chief executive Lu Zhi Tao appeared in court on July 2 on behalf of the company and pleaded guilty to two charges. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES ByteDance food poisoning: Cockroaches found on premises of catering firm, 1 dish had unacceptable levels of pathogens Nadine Chua The Straits Times July 2, 2025 Catering company Yunhaiyao, which was involved in the ByteDance mass food poisoning case, has been convicted after cockroaches were found on its premises. The wok-fried diced chicken prepared by the company was also found to have contained more than 2,000 times the acceptable level of pathogens. Yunhaiyao's chief executive Lu Zhi Tao appeared in court on July 2 on behalf of the company and pleaded guilty to one charge under the Sale of Food Act and another under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations. Singapore Food Agency (SFA) prosecuting officer Mohd Rizal told the court that on July 30, 2024, the agency was alerted to an incident of gastroenteritis involving 60 victims, who were the staff of ByteDance. The victims had suffered abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming catered lunches prepared by Yunhaiyao. Among the dishes from Yunhaiyao's menu sent for food analysis was the wok-fried diced chicken. The meat was found to contain over 200,000 colony-forming units (CFU) per gram of Staphylococcus aureus, a type of pathogen. This exceeded the specified levels of less than 100 CFU per gram. The prosecutor said pathogens exceeding this amount would make the food unsuitable for consumption and that eating such food may cause symptoms of gastroenteritis. During the inspection of Yunhaiyao's food preparation premises, SFA officers also discovered more than 10 live cockroaches beneath a folded grey plastic mat behind a rack. Yunhaiyao's staff immediately disposed of the infested material, said the prosecutor. Before a sentence was meted out, District Judge Janet Wang adjourned the case, seeking more information on how many victims needed medical intervention and how many were hospitalised, among other things. Lu, on behalf of Yunhaiyao, is expected to return to court on July 17 for mitigation and sentencing. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Singapore Law Watch
01-07-2025
- Business
- Singapore Law Watch
Police can control bank accounts of scam victims in S'pore from July 1
Police can control bank accounts of scam victims in S'pore from July 1 Source: Straits Times Article Date: 01 Jul 2025 Author: Nadine Chua With the Protection from Scams Act coming into effect on July 1, the police will be allowed to issue restriction orders (ROs) to banks, which will then limit the banking transactions of an individual's accounts. The police will now have powers to control the bank accounts of stubborn scam victims in Singapore who insist they are not being scammed despite evidence showing otherwise. With the Protection from Scams Act coming into effect on July 1, the police will be allowed to issue restriction orders (ROs) to banks, which will then limit the banking transactions of an individual's accounts. The Act, which was passed in Parliament on Jan 7, will enable the police to better protect scam victims by stopping them from transferring money into other accounts, using ATMs, and accessing credit services. In-person and over-the-counter transactions will also be restricted for them. Those subjected to an RO will still have access to money for legitimate reasons, including paying bills and buying daily essentials like groceries. On June 30, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said ROs will be issued if it is believed these scam victims will transfer money to scammers. The police said one of the biggest challenges they face is convincing people they are victims of a scam. Without the Act, the police cannot stop victims from doing what they want with their money, even if they are suspected of being scammed. MHA said ROs will be issued only as a last resort, after other options to convince victims have been exhausted. The decision to issue an RO will be made by a police officer, based on an assessment of the facts and circumstances of each case, said the ministry. Once the decision is made, ROs will be issued by default to the seven major retail banks here – OCBC Bank, DBS Bank, UOB, Maybank, Standard Chartered, Citibank and HSBC – but can also be issued to other banks. ROs will take effect for up to 30 days at a time and can be extended up to five times, which means they can last for up to six months. The police can cancel an RO ahead of the 30-day limit if the individual is assessed to be no longer at risk of being scammed. Appeals against the RO can be made to the Commissioner of Police, whose decision will be final. MHA had said 10 or more ROs could be issued monthly, based on previous cases in which the police were unsuccessful in intervening. In 2024, scam victims in Singapore lost $1.1 billion, a record high in a single year. The police saw the highest number of scam reports in 2024, with 51,501 cases compared with 46,563 cases the previous year. Overall, victims in Singapore have lost more than $3.4 billion to scams since 2019. In more than three in four cases in 2024, victims had voluntarily transferred money without scammers gaining direct control of their bank accounts. The police said these victims were manipulated into transferring money through deception and social engineering. The most common ruse in 2024 was e-commerce scams, with 11,665 reported cases. Victims of investment scams saw the highest amount of losses, with $320.7 million lost to such scams. Nadine Chua is a crime and court journalist at The Straits Times. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
