SINGAPORE — Muhammed Dzulfaqar Abdul Mutalib, 39, was sentenced to four weeks in jail on Monday (Sept 2) for stealing diesel fuel from two parked lorries at Marsiling Industrial Estate. He had equipped his van with a specially designed system that allowed him to siphon fuel from other vehicles, which he later sold illegally.

Dzulfaqar, who pleaded guilty to one charge of theft, ran a business selling diesel without the necessary permits. To carry out his operations, he installed tanks, pumps, and hoses in his van, allowing him to siphon fuel at a fast rate of nearly a liter per second. On Aug 16, 2023, he stole 150 liters of diesel from a lorry belonging to LKG Engineering, valued at S$442.50. He then stole 200 liters of diesel from another lorry, valued at S$590.

The theft was discovered the next morning, and a police report was filed. Dzulfaqar’s van was traced, leading to his arrest on Aug 30, 2023. He later made full restitution to the company, reimbursing them S$1,032.50 for the stolen fuel. The court, however, noted the calculated nature of the theft, with Deputy Public Prosecutor Kiera Yu calling for a six to seven-week sentence due to the premeditated setup used in the operation.

For the crime of theft, Dzulfaqar could have faced up to three years in jail or a fine.

Title:
Doctor Jailed for Seven Months After Submitting Over 100 False Claims Under Government Scheme

Subtitle:
Dr. Wong Choo Wai ran clinics in Bedok and Jurong, submitting false claims worth S$7,627 to MOH under the Chas scheme.

Article:
SINGAPORE — Dr. Wong Choo Wai, 53, was sentenced to seven months in jail on Friday (Aug 30) after pleading guilty to submitting fraudulent claims under the Community Health Assistance Scheme (Chas). Wong, who operated clinics in Bedok and Jurong, made 116 false claims totaling S$7,627 over two years.

Chas provides subsidies for lower-income households seeking medical care. Wong abused this system by submitting false claims for patients who did not visit his clinic, who did not suffer from the chronic conditions listed, or who had not undergone the medical investigations claimed. An audit conducted in 2017 by the Ministry of Health Holdings (MOHH) revealed discrepancies, leading to a police report and an investigation by the Commercial Affairs Department.

Wong, who was the only person authorized to submit claims for both his clinics, falsified records to cover his tracks. While his defense argued that he was a dedicated doctor, the prosecution described his actions as “severely dishonest,” emphasizing the abuse of public trust. Wong could have faced up to 10 years in jail for his offenses.

Title:
Digital Media Outlet TODAY to Merge with CNA as Weekend Long-Form Magazine

Subtitle:
From October 1, TODAY will become CNA’s digital weekend magazine, focusing on in-depth features, human interest stories, and analysis.

Article:
SINGAPORE — Mediacorp announced on Wednesday (Aug 28) that TODAY, a digital media outlet, will merge with CNA’s newsroom starting October 1. Following the merger, TODAY will transition into a long-form digital weekend magazine published under the CNA brand.

According to Mediacorp, the merger aims to offer CNA’s larger audience access to TODAY’s high-quality journalism. TODAY’s weekend edition will feature in-depth analyses, human interest stories, and opinion pieces. Known for its “Big Read” brand, TODAY has been recognized for its engaging, accessible reporting, particularly among younger readers.

Walter Fernandez, Mediacorp’s editor-in-chief, emphasized the importance of adapting to changes in the media landscape, such as news fatigue and reduced discoverability of news on social media platforms. TODAY’s team will transition to roles within CNA, ensuring that there will be no manpower cuts.

Launched in 2000, TODAY was one of Singapore’s most widely-read newspapers before becoming fully digital in 2017. Its merger with CNA represents Mediacorp’s ongoing commitment to delivering trusted news in a rapidly evolving media environment.