Singapore police investigate 2 Chinese bus drivers" allegations of police ...

SINGAPORE – Police are investigating two Chinese men’s allegations that officers assaulted them while they were in custody over participating in Singapore’s first strike in three decades, the city-state said Tuesday.

The men said in separate interviews with a local documentary filmmaker in January that they were threatened and beaten by police during questioning. Both were among five bus drivers charged for involvement in the Nov. 26-27 strike which saw 171 Chinese immigrant bus drivers of a public transport company protesting over being paid nearly a quarter less than their Malaysian colleagues. The labour action disrupted about 5 per cent of bus services in the city-state where such labour actions are almost unheard of.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday evening that it takes a serious view of the public allegations and that an independent office within the police force was investigating the men’s claims.

“Such allegations must be taken seriously as it has a detrimental impact on public confidence and trust in the integrity” of the police, it said. The investigators would seek assistance from bus drivers, the producers of the video and other related parties during the investigation, it added.

In one of the videos, Liu Xiangying said, “He (police officer) said, ‘Do you know I can dig a hole and bury you? No one will be able to find you.’ Those were the police’s actual words.”

Liu added that during the interrogation, he was beaten at the back of the neck and shoulder blades after denying that he ever knew another co-defendant, He Jun Ling. “He (police officer) showed me a photo of He Jun Ling. I said, ‘I don’t know him.’ Because I didn’t know He Jun Ling, he beat me,” said Liu.

He, who faces an additional charge of posting material online that instigated other bus drivers to strike, recounted in his separate video interview that he was questioned for eight hours and punched in the stomach.

“I was interrogated from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. In between they punched me once. They locked me in a small room. At the time, a police officer handcuffed me and after that, he punched me in the stomach,” he said.

One of the drivers was jailed for six weeks and deported. Liu, He and two other drivers are out on bail and represented by lawyers while deciding whether they want to go on trial. If found guilty, they face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.

Of the other drivers who went on strike, 29 lost their work permits and were deported them to China. The rest were issued warnings but were allowed to remain and work in Singapore.

Singapore police investigate 2 Chinese bus drivers" allegations of police ...

A Quick Trip To Singapore On The Anniversary Of Its Founding (PHOTOS)

Most people would equate the name Raffles with the iconic Singaporean hotel, and, by association, the famous Singapore Sling. Though to outsiders Raffles is more synonymous with cocktails and luxurious hotel accommodations, Raffles was a real person, and the founder of modern Singapore.

Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded Singapore on February 6, 1819. He had arrived on behalf of the British East India Company to develop the southern part of the island as a British trading post, which he did after signing a treaty with the sultan. It wasn’t until 1824 that the entire island went to the British, and it wasn’t until 1963 that Singapore would gain its independence.

Due to its position in Asia, Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures from Malaysia, China, India and this is reflected in the architecture, culture and cuisine of the nation, all of which are also still flecked with remnants of the Brits.

There are plenty of things to do in Singapore, like visiting the famous botanic gardens, exploring the Singapore Art Museum and shopping on Orchard Road. However, the number one activity for visitors to Singapore is certainly eating, as the country is famous for its hawker centers. Here, street food is almost an art form, and a trip is not complete without a taste of local classics like hokkien mee, chicken rice, carrot cake or chili crab.

There’s lots to love about Singapore, take a peek below.

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• This general view shows the Marina Bay financial district buildings in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• Visitors gather along the pier in front of the iconic sculpture of the Merlion in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• Pedestrians walk down a street in downtown financial district in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• A white painted bronze sculpture of a baby titled ‘Planet’ by British artist Marc Quinn appears to float at Garden by the Bay in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• A metal figurine of a dragonfly sits in a lake against a backdrop of Marina Bay Sands hotel resort. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

• Amazing city views from the pool at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark

• Infinity Pool Atop The Marina Bay Sands

• A young boy watches marine wildlife on display at Resort World Sentosa’s Marine Life Park, January 18, 2013 in Singapore. The Marina Life Park is Resort World Sentosa’s newest attraction and is the world’s largest aquarium, with 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species housed in 45 million litres of water. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

• Parliament House

• Singapore Raffles Place (Central Business District)

• Singapore city skyline at dusk as viewed from the Pan Pacific Singapore

• St Andrew’s Cathedral

• An overview shows the two conservatory domes at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore on September 16, 2012.The 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay situated at the heart of Singapore’s new downtown at Marina Bay has attracted 220,000 visitors since it was officially opened on June 28. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/GettyImages

• Visitors look at a colourful display of flowers and plants at the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/GettyImages

• A Hawker Center

• Hawker Centre

• Maxwell Road Hawker Centre

• Chicken Rice At Maxwell Center

• Singapore Chili Crab

• Laksa

• Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum

• National Museum Of Singapore

• Little India

• Abdul Gafoor Mosque, Little India

• Serangoon Road, Little India

• Chinatown

• Chinatown

• Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown

A Quick Trip To Singapore On The Anniversary Of Its Founding (PHOTOS)

RAFFLES HOTEL SINGAPORE LAUNCHES NEW MICE OFFERINGS ...

Two new event spaces have recently been launched for the MICE market Raffles Hotel Singaore. The Bar Billiard Room and Raffles Courtyard offers new and exciting options for event organizers.

(TRAVPR.COM) SINGAPORE – February 6th, 2013 – For a meeting or event with a difference, Raffles Hotel’s colonial ambience and lush gardens will set the tone for your delegates. The Grand Dame has boosted its selection of event and meeting rooms that are unequalled. The glamour of the Ballroom with its glittering chandeliers and fabled frescoes; the tropical languor of the East India Rooms opening onto the Palm Garden and the formality of the Casuarina Suites all add up to the most memorable experience while in Singapore.

Two new event spaces have recently been launched for the MICE market at our Singapore hotel (http://www.raffles.com/singapore/), The Bar Billiard Room and Raffles Courtyard offers new and exciting options for event organisers.

Bar Billiard Room                              

Most well-known for its legend of “Tiger under the Billiard Table”, Bar Billiard Room at Raffles Hotel offers a hip and upbeat atmosphere, with a distinct character of colonial chic. Taking pride of place are two earth-red chandeliers by award-winning Spanish designer Miguel Carcio Martins. Inspired by murano glass chandelier and the passementerie (soft furnishings) used in Asia, these works-of-art not only make bold statements but are also great conversational pieces. The painted mural ceilings add to the ambience of spirited jest and stylish vogue.

With a floor space of 617 sqm, Bar Billiard Room is available for event organisers to create their most inspiring occasions at our luxury hotel Singapore (http://www.raffles.com/singapore/rooms-suites/presidential-suites/).

Raffles Courtyard

Built in the tropical setting of an open courtyard, Raffles Courtyard, a timeless structure flanked by white arches and verdant palms, keeps the feeling of ‘Old Singapore’ alive. Raffles Courtyard presents a perfect venue for an alfresco experience in the lush gardens of Raffles Hotel, beneath the enchanting starry sky. Together with Gazebo Bar, the two venues offer a floor space of 892 sqm in the palm-fringed heart of the Grand Dame, perfect for a casual luncheon reception or a cocktail party under the stars.

MICE Suite Package

Book a luxurious suite stay for your meeting and incentive groups at Raffles Hotel from SGD 550 ++ per night (single or double occupancy), for a minimum of 15 suites with one suite complimentary offered for the organiser, for every 15 paid suites.

Suite Package includes the following:

Welcome ‘Singapore Sling’ served upon arrivalSuite category: Raffles Inc Stateroom with complimentary upgrade to Courtyard SuitesComplimentary Internet AccessSGD 100 Food Beverage or Meeting Credit per suite per night (non-cumulative)SGD 500 worth of shopping discount vouchers, to be used at participating shops at Raffles Hotel Arcade

For enquiries and reservations, please call (65) 6412 1250 or email salesmarketing.raffleshotel@raffles.com

* Terms and conditions

Special Group Promotion Rates are available for booking and travelling from now until 31 August 2013. Black-out dates apply. Advance reservations are required. This promotion is subject to availability. Above suite rates are exclusive of 10% service charge and 7% government taxes thereafter. Above special rates are not applicable in conjunction with any other promotions. This offer only applies to new bookings. The Hotel reserves the right to withdraw the suite package without prior notice.

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RAFFLES HOTEL SINGAPORE LAUNCHES NEW MICE OFFERINGS ...

Singapore sees red over match-fixing ring - Mid

While police gave no immediate comment and the country’s pro-government media downplayed the news, some Singaporeans expressed shock, and analysts warned the scandal could harm the wealthy island’s image.

Singapore’s drive against corruption helped transform it into a trusted centre for business and banking, earning accolades from Transparency International and the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy.

But in just the latest indication that Singapore is at the heart of a global match-fixing empire, European police said they had smashed a network rigging hundreds of games, including in the Champions League and World Cup qualifiers.

Singapore’s role in international match-rigging has long been clear, with Wilson Raj Perumal jailed in Finland in 2011 and another Singaporean, Tan Seet Eng or Dan Tan, wanted in Italy over the “calcioscommesse” scandal.

However, the latest announcement uncovered the huge scale of the activities, and raised potential problems for Singapore’s reputation, as well as questions about how authorities are dealing with the match-fixing syndicates.

“Singapore’s public policy makers need to reassess whether they have enough resources dedicated to monitoring and enforcing laws relating to illegal gambling and sports corruption in the country,” Jonathan Galaviz, managing director of US-based consultancy Galaviz Co, told AFP.

“Major questions will arise as to what the government authorities in Singapore knew, when did they know it, and why this illegal network running out of Singapore was not caught sooner,” he added.

FAS vows crackdown
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said it takes “a serious view of allegations pertaining to match-fixing and football corruption” and vowed to “spare no effort” to crack down on any such activities.

“The problem of match-fixing is not just confined to Asia. It is a global problem and FAS will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities, both at the domestic and international levels, to combat match fixing and football corruption aggressively,” FAS said in a statement.

Even Zaihan Mohamed Yusof, an investigative reporter with Singapore’s New Paper who is considered a leading authority on match-fixing, admitted he was taken aback by the numbers revealed by Europol.

“This number to me it’s huge, 680,” he told AFP.

“Whether Singaporeans were involved in the whole 680, I’m not sure but at least there’s a figure and you can see the scale there,” he added. 

Singapore sees red over match-fixing ring - Mid

Singapore Incubator JFDI.Asia Announces The Roster For Its First 2013 ...

JFDI.Asia (AKA Joyful Frog Digital Incubator), the incubator program that seeks to “innovate in Asia, for Asia,” just announced the eight startups that will be part of its accelerator program. The competition, which pushes teams to take an idea to investment in 100 days, begins on Feb. 21 at JFDI.Asia’s new purpose-built facility in Singapore.

The eight startups, which have each already received an initial investment of $24,000 SGD, have a chance of winning $600,000 SGD or more at the Demo Day which will mark the end of the program. Each startup will get six minutes on stage to showcase their product in front of an audience of early-stage investors. The focus of JFDI.Asia’s program is “less about brilliant ideas than it is about focused execution.” Each team must accomplish three things: focus on a real-world problem that is worth solving, show that its solution fits the problem, and then prove that there is market demand for that solution.

Most of the teams are using mobile tech, reflecting the importance of featurephones and other mobile devices as the main way many Southeast Asias users get online. The current roster includes:

1. AskAbt, from India, a platform to manage real-time crowdsourced queries
2. Collabspot, from France and Philippines, a customer relationship management platform
3. DayTripR, from Singapore and New Zealand, an online data collection utility
4. DocTree, from Singapore and India, software for medical practice management
5. Duable Chinese (讀able), from the USA, seeks to make Chinese language learning fun and effective
6. FashFix, from Singapore and Malaysia, helps fashionistas turn their wardrobes into blog shops
7. My Fitness Wallet, from Singapore, are working on a health and wellness platform
8. Referoll, from Singapore and Vietnam, have a business that recruits participants for research studies

(Many of the teams are using temporary names and JFDI.Asia says it might add one or two additional teams before the bootcamp begins).

This year’s teams were picked from an application pool of 262 teams. JFDI.Asia incubated 11 startups in its 100 day program in 2012, seven of which raised follow-on funding and are still trading, a good success rate compared to the 14% rate reported for other early stage startups in Singapore. Funding raised by the seven teams totaled $3.3 million SGD and continues to increase.

According to JFDI.Asia, more than 30 percent of the participants in the program are Singapore citizens or permanent residents, up from 20 percent in 2012. About 10 percent of entrepreneurs taking part are women, double the number from last year. The average team size is just over three people and include the “‘holy trinity’ of a ‘hacker, a hipster and a hustler’” to span the key skillsets of coding, design and business.

• JFDI.ASIA

JFDI.Asia leads people to think and act entrepreneurially by helping them to engineer innovative businesses around their ideas.

JFDI.Asia accelerates start-up companies from idea to investment in 100 days, using intensive mentoring and systematic processes that mitigate risk and align key stakeholders. It achieves greater than 60% success raising an average S$650,000 per team.

JFDI.Asia facilitates early stage finance, operating its own pre-seed fund, arranging seed investment, and brokering introductions between acquirers and their acquirees.

JFDI.Asia shares innovation know-how, co-creating new businesses…

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Singapore Incubator JFDI.Asia Announces The Roster For Its First 2013 ...