Before Joal Ong and the alleged iCloud video and photo leak of several Singaporean influencers engaged in intimate acts, there was former pageant queen and Jianhao Tan video mainstay June Oh.

What happened in the June Oh sex tape leak?

June Oh finally addressed the video leak that happened three years ago, when her personal video engaging in intimacies with her boyfriend was leaked.

Check out these Singapore Staycation deals. One of them is really fishy …

She said that she and her boyfriend were quite young, innocent, and naive. Being eighteen at the time, she and her beau took a video of themselves during a very personal act, and then deleted the copies afterwards.

The footage was still leaked, however, and she was inundated with tons of messages, comments, and even propositions from strangers.

She even heard some people talking loudly about her when she left the house despite wearing sunglasses and a mask to cover her features. She said that this was the breaking point for her, and she ran home and did nothing but cry.

Thanks to the law, leaking sex tapes is now illegal.

Supportive friends and family

Through it all, she said that her friends and family were supportive. She mentioned that her family was careful not to mention the incident, and that her friends always visited her. She described how they would buy her food and encourage her regularly.

She also expressed gratitude for Jianhao Tan and her colleagues at Titan Media, where she made appearances for some of the top Singaporean vlogger videos. She would allegedly get nervous and have anxiety during filming, but the crew and Jianhao were very understanding with her problems.

Deals, career, sponsorships and works went downhill

June also described what happened to her career after her sex tape was leaked online, and it made a very dark time for her life much worse.

She said that the brands she was working with and all the things that were on the horizon for her work-wise had dried up. A lot of brands and other personalities distanced themselves from her.

Who is Joal Ong? Read about him here.

Stress eating and weight gain

According to the video, the most apparent affect of the video leak on her life was her weight gain. She said that she used to be very slim, but after her ordeal with the leaked tape, she had become very stressed.

This stress was what lead her to gain 10 kilograms–which meant stress eating. She was allegedly snacking every 15-30 minutes.

June Oh’s boyfriend DID NOT leak the sex tape

As if to answer what everyone was thinking even when the video was leaked, she also addressed the accusations leveled against her boyfriend.

While she said that she still hasn’t figured outwho leaked their sex video, she spoke for her boyfriend, saying that he was not responsible for the video going public.

She also said that he had been her anchor throughout the whole ordeal, and that they have stayed together for the past few years.

June has also said that she made the video to reach out to girls who had similar experiences, to express that she was with them and that they were not alone.

June Oh was crowned Miss Singapore in 2017, but had relinquished the crown following the scandal.

DJ Tenashar, whose full name was reported to be Debbie Valerie Tenashar Long, has claimed trial, said The Straits Times, on March 3 to nine charges. She was already charged with six counts of failing to report for a urine test to detect drug use after her release and one count of leaving Singapore without a supervision officer’s approval.

Two additional charges of recording a video at a prohibited location, the office of the Central Narcotics Bureau in Jurong Police Divisional Headquarters were added since she did this twice. She had ten previous charges as well, according to The Straits Times.

Who is DJ Tenashar?

The 35-year-old model-DJ mostly known as a contemporary of Dj Jade Rasif was most known for ther year-long prison stint that she claimed aided a brief rise to popularity. Alvinology previously reported that she had been living the high life; raking in gigs, flying in private planes, and staying in five-star hotels.

But that changed when she was incarcerated for eighteen months in Changi Women’s prison.

Her charges were related to her boyfriend at the time, who was Jamie Yeo’s ex-husband. She was found guilty of consuming illegal drugs overseas. She was acught when she had to return because her passport expired. She skipped out on paying her bail after she attended her trial.

She used to be an FHM cover girl and also appeared on Playboy Thailand. Alvinology previously reported that, “She also became the first Singaporean to make British music magazine DJ Mag’s list of Top 100 DJs, snagging the No. 87 spot. She was the only solo female DJ to make the list that year.”

What did DJ Tenashar do?

Just as she had gotten out of her year-and-a-half jail stint, DJ Tenashar said that she “trolled” the media with stories of a weekend gone awry.

A previous Alvinology report said that she spent a weekend in Johor, where she was found by a hotel attendant sleeping on a couch in the lobby of the Berjaya Waterfront Hotel in Johor Bahru on July 5 at 3:30 in the morning. She was not a guest at the hotel.

Upon being woken, the staff alleged she looked high on drugs. She asked to be taken to a police station where she filed a report claiming, “…she was robbed of her wallet, purse, documents, phone, credit cards, NRIC and passport and threatened with a knife. She alleged she was punched in the stomach and suffered injuries to her foot and upper thigh. She had no recollection of how she was kidnapped and said she was thrown into a sewage ditch where there were “rats and snakes”.

Malaysian authorities said that she had drugs in her system.

Did DJ Tenashar beg for money or troll the media?

Another report said that after beinf freed from jail, DJ Tenashar was unable to use her keys for her home, and that her keys only worked for her mailbox. She then allegedly stole toilet paper from a neighbor’s house as she did not have anything more than $4 a water bottle on her.

Using the post above, she said she simply “trolled” the media.

Her trial is reportedly ongoing, and she could be jailed for up to four years and fined up to $10,000 for each count of failing to return for a drug test.

39-year-old Cheng Hui Sang slashed his ex-girlfriend’s new beau and her sister in a blind rage on August 28, 2020. He was sentenced to a year in jail on March 5, said The Straits Times.

Cheng pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a chopper and another charge of voluntarily causing hurt with the same weapon. A third charge of criminal intimidation was considered in sentencing.

Hui was reported to be a Malaysian and Singaporean permanent resident.

What happened to Cheng and his ex-girlfriend?

Cheng and his 36-year-old Malaysian girlfriend reportedly lived together in a flat in Ang Mo Kio. They slept together in the same room during that time.

However, the couple broke up in November 2018, with the woman instigating the split. They still lived together in the same flat, but the woman’s sister came to live with her and slept in the same room.

In August of 2020, though, things changed when the woman brought a Malaysian man to their flat. The 36-year-old man was her new boyfriend.

At first, Cheng was unaware that another man was in the flat with them, but noticed something different when his ex-girlfriend fetched the man’s slippers and put them at the main door. Cheng then drank a can of beer, then threw the man’s slippers into the washing machine.

What has happened in the Orchard Towers murder case so far?

As Cheng grew angrier and downed more beer, he took a chopper from the kitchen and placed it on the living room sofa. He waited until his former girlfriend came out of the bedroom. At that point, he confronted her.

A terrible argument ensued, which escalated into screaming and shouting. The woman wanted to disengage and return to the room, but that sent Cheng into a further rage.

He blocked her way to the room, and charged there himself, where he began to blindly slash and wave the knife around. Cheng was shouting at the man and using the chopper on a person he couldn’t see. For his efforts, the victim got his upper torso slashed. His ex’s sister was also in the room, and was woken up by the commotion.

Upon seeing the violence her sister’s former lover and flatmate was inflicting, the woman tried to step between the two men. For her trouble, she received a grievous wound. He did not stop even when she told him to, and did not care if he injured her as well.

While Cheng was slashing both victims, he said, “Snatch my girlfriend, chop you to death.” in Cantonese.

Cheng only stopped when someone physically restrained him.

Injuries to the woman’s boyfriend and her sister

The same report said, “The sister of Cheng’s ex-girlfriend sustained a long and deep 6cm laceration exposing the muscle of her forearm. She was given 42 days of hospitalisation leave.”

The prosecution had pushed for a jail term while the defence wanted a probation for Cheng’s sentence. The judge, however, said that the accused had no mitigating factors or remorse over the events. Cheng’s feelings of jealousy and rage overcame him, and he seriously harmed other people.

Asher attended two terms of Primary 3 English Enrichment Class at the British Council branch at Toa Payoh Hub. You can read our previous review here on the class details. 

After two terms, what takeaways did Asher gain? 

His English grades definitely gotten better. From only 13/20 for composition in August, Asher managed to pull up his socks and scored 17/20 for composition for his Semestral Assessment in October. 

On the personal development front, we posed to him the questions of what he learned from his British Council classes and what he enjoyed the most. Here are his answers in his own words.

Things I learned from my British Council Classes – by Asher Lim, 9

“I love British Council as it completely exposed me to new things I would probably not learn in school. For example, we learned how to write things like diaries, news reports and fantasy compositions. The latter requires us to be very creative in order to create a strong that was original, fantastical and magical.

They also taught interesting new topics like magic, escapologists and a teensy bit of the history of Earth’s creatures’ evolution. These are topics which are not available in school and expanded my horizon. 

I love the fact that British Council usually teaches us by playing games that test and slowly increase our knowledge of vocabulary.”

Things I enjoyed at my British Council Classes – by Asher Lim, 9

“I always enter the class expecting an extremely fun lesson and British Council never fails to meet my expectations. In fact, I can probably say they surpass my expectations. 

Our teacher is friendly and engaging. She always makes sure the class is fun and exciting while also ensuring we learn. She is also very patient and will guide me if I have any questions, big or small. 

I especially like the fact that we are able to make friends and do work as a group of three. This helps me with learning the importance of teamwork and collaborating with others. Due to Covid-19, we are unable to have group work in school last year, but British Council allows us to interact and learn with friends, with our masks on and classroom layout has been adjusted as part of the safe distancing measures.”

Turn curiosity into confidence. Turn mistakes into triumphs.

Some people may not know that the British Council is actually a non-profit organisation. It is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities and are on the ground in six continents and over 100 countries, bringing international opportunity to life, every day. Running English enrichment classes are just a means to an end of their corporate goals and missions. 

British Council’s core values include turning curiosity into confidence and mistakes into triumphs. The former is clearly demonstrated in Asher’s learning journey with them, as he built up stronger confidence over his English language ability to tackle his school work as well as expand his general knowledge. 

For the latter, Asher is by nature, a little shy. It took him a while to warm up to his classmates to enjoy the team work together with them in their class exercises. On his first lesson, Asher caused a minor hiccup by being unresponsive during class exercises and not interacting with his classmates. After his teacher conveyed her feedback, we had a word with him and was able to get him to change his attitude, under the patient guidance of his teacher over the subsequent lessons. By the end of his two terms, Asher bonded so well with his classmates that they became friends. 

Developed by the world’s English experts, the British Council’s enrichment courses for Nursery 1 up to Junior College are student-centred and aligned to the syllabus set by the Ministry of Education. 

All the teachers at British Council are internationally qualified to provide a safe, supportive and dynamic environment to help students succeed at every stage of their academic journey whilst developing the essential skills and proficiencies to be able to thrive in the fast-changing world

Nurturing Children to Become Creative thinkers and Confident Communicators

A holistic enrichment class should not be just able grades and training students to be book smart. It has to broaden their horizon, expand their creativity and instil confidence in them as communicators. 

The Lower Primary courses at British Council are designed to be in line with the syllabus set by the Ministry of Education to help students succeed in school whilst nurturing a love for learning. Students will focus on literature, helping them to grow as passionate readers and build on their written and communication skills through targeted individual and group practices. These were reflected in Asher’s own testimonial. 

Through a safe and nurturing environment at British Council, children are able to build confidence to enjoy learning new concepts and to express themselves by asking questions and applying their creativity when solving problems so they may be ready to face challenges in-and-out of the classroom.

Other Details

Class duration: From 1 h 30 min – 2 h (depending on level)
Levels: Nursery 1 to Junior College
What to bring: Writing materials, a notebook, a sweater, water bottle and student concession card to check in (if student doesn’t own a smartphone)

The British Council

Tel: 6473 1111

The British Council has four branches in Singapore:
1. Napier Road Centre, 30 Napier Road, Singapore 258509
2. Marsiling Centre, 1 Woodlands St. 31 #04-01 Fuchun Community Club, Singapore 738581
3. Tampines Centre, 11 Tampines Concourse, #01-02/03/04, Singapore 528729
4. Toa Payoh Centre, 480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, #09-01 HDB Hub East Wing, Singapore 310480

Let’s face it, masks are here to stay for an indefinitely long period. We have accepted the reality that we need to live in a world of Covid-19 and masks will remain an essential wear whenever we head outside or interact with others. Hence comes the new skincare issue of ‘maskne‘ – acnes caused by prolonged wearing of a mask.

Thankfully, many skincare brands have stepped up their game to address this growing issue and this includes home-grown brand, Rooki Beauty.

Rook Beauty has recently launched thier newest product – the new Mission Critical Acne Patch.

Made with hydrocolloid, these patches are gentle, drug-free and features a non-drying technology that absorbs excess fluid like oil and pus. The patches come in adorable heart-shapes in 2 sizes to help drain and flatten acne, so makeup goes over smoothly the next day. Not only do they securely adhere to skin, they also protect your pimples from prying, bacteria-filled fingers, creating a sterile environment that speeds up skin healing (a bad habit of mine).

As you can see from the design, Mission Critical Acne Patch is a pimple-positive patch that encourages people to embrace their skin imperfections and love their skin. Instead of trying to conceal the acne by staying discreet, the heart-shaped patches actually draw attention to the acne.

“Zits are temporary, and skin can always be healed with patience, love and care. Always remember that you are more than your acne – it does not define who you are unless you let it.” Shared Hayley Yeo, founder of Rooki Beauty.

We tried the product and found it to be easy-to-use and well, extremely adorable in design.

Rooki Beauty’s Mission Critical Acne Patch retails at S$18 for a pack of 36 patches and is available for purchases online via their official website and e-commerce platform, Shopee.

While the British Royal family are currently sorting through their public relations nightmare, Southeast Asia has its own drama involving Felicia Chew, the former girlfriend of Indonesian Prime Minister Joko Widodo’s youngest son, 26-year-old Kaesang Pangarep.

The public breakup of Kaesang and Felicia has just begun, and both sides have aired their grievances, according to online reports.

Indonesian media usually called Felicia “Felicia Tissue.”

Who is Felicia Chew?

The woman who was formerly Kaesang Pangarep’s girlfriend studied with him in Singapore University of Social Science (SUSS). They both graduated in 2019 and lead a relationship that was very visible to the public. The two had appeared on each other’s Instagram and other social media accounts–until last month.

He and Felicia have businesses in Indonesia together.

Online reports said that Kaesang and Felicia had unfollowed each other last month on Instagram, which lead the public to think they had broken up.

He and Felicia were reportedly together for five years, and even have Instagram accounts dedicated to their relationship from fans.

Felicia Chew’s family speaks up

While the breakup may have been month-old news, the manner at which it happened to Felicia and Kaesang has now gone viral.

Meilia Lau, Felicia Chew’s mother, posted about the breakup on her Instagram account, with a photo of Felicia and Kaesang, along with President Widodo and his wife Iriana. She also tagged the Indonesian president and his son in her posts. She has over 123,000 followers.

In her post, she said that the Indonesian presiden’t son had met with them and assured them he would take care of their daughter during their studies in Singapore. Then late last year, he had allegedly asked the family for their blessing to marry Felicia.

Something changed in January 2021 though, when Kaesang had begun to grow distant from Felicia and stopped communicating with them. He became very distant and was said to have “disappeared.”

Meilia said that they only found out that he had a new relationship with a different woman from an Indonesian tabloid outlet.

The Instagram post above allegedly showed a woman named Nadya Arifta. She was reportedly an employee for PR department of PT Harapan Bangsa Kita, the holding company of Kaesang’s F&B ventures such as Sang Pisang and Ternakopi. 

Meilia posted another photo, this time with Felicia and Kaesang together with older female relative.

In this second post, she said that “No one really knows who their soulmate is. But if they were indeed soulmates and they had been holding their sacred promise in the past five years, and apparently someone really wanted to take away another person’s happiness. That person was an employee who was trusted by my daughter Felicia. Where is your heart, young woman?”

Felicia’s mother continued to say, “I posted this because we have been patient for too long. Felicia has been patient enough. Don’t show [everyone] such shameful behavior.”

Felicia’s brother also aired his side, and uploaded a YouTube video.

While Daryl did not mention any names, he said, “As a brother and a man, I do not condone such behavior. I am disgusted by this man’s behavior and to the manner in which he has treated my sister… And trust me, we have tried all ways and means to reach out to this man and his family,” 

He continued to say, “You walk into my family, asking for my sister’s trust and love, then you jolly well return her in a manner that she rightfully deserves as a respected woman. Be a man, act like one, and do the right thing. The people are watching.”

Felicia’s eldest brother works in Singapore, and her youngest brother goes to school here as well.

One of Felicia’s Singaporean friends was also featured on Meilia’s Instagram, where she accused the President’s son of ‘ghosting’. Indonesia got a crash course on the word, which usually involves completely stopping communication and disappearing from a person’s life and interactions after a previous involvement with one another. Any further instances of reaching out to the ‘ghoster’ by the ‘ghosted’ person is ignored..

She accused Kaesang of leaving Felicia without saying anything to her. Kaesang allegedly removed all photos of them together, stopped communications, and did not explain to Felicia what happened. She then called out his new relationship that surfaced after one month.

Kimberley Neo was reported to be Felicia’s friend in Singapore.

What did Kaesang Pengarep say?

As for President Widodo and his son, the message is that the breakup is a “private matter.”

Presidential spokesman Ali Mochtar spoke up against Meilia yesterday.  “They’re already adults and communicate as friends, best friends, so that means that no one should bring up the name of President Jokowi in this matter, because this is not the parents’ business,” Ali said in an Indonesian report.

As for Kaesang himself, who seems to be thoroughly miffed at the turn of events a month after he had broken up with Felicia, said in a very short video, “It’s a private matter, right, why did they have to air the dirty laundry? It’s unethical.” 

He also said, “So here’s how it went, I actually told her to end our relationship in mid-January, and that time I was yelled at. But alright, I kept my silence,” Kaesang said before leaving his seat.

Daniel Ong, known for being a former Mediacorp DJ, underpaying is former foreign workers, and closing his Rookery restaurants due to the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, has returned to the F & B industry to provide for his family.

The 45-year-old was set to open a Korean-themed Steakhouse called Dan’s Steaks, said 8 Days. After closing his Capital Tower restaurants called Rookery due to losses incurred from Circuit Breaker guidelines, he went into the renovations business.

But even those clients dried up once news of his previous conduct as co-owner of beleaguered Twelve Cupcakes brand was reported.

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Daniel Ong and Jamie Teo in hot water over reduced salaries for foreign workers

Alvinology said in an earlier report that his ex-wife Jamie Teo was found guilty of 10 instances of underpaying foreign workers when she and Daniel owned the brand in 2013 to 2016. She was told to pay $65,000 to the court, but Daniel’s case has not been heard.

Court proceedings showed that under Jamie and Daniel’s ownership, the restaurant engaged in practices that resulted in paying workers less than what was promised. One of these practices was disbursing an amount to employee accounts and asking them to return some of it in cash so that the records would reflect they were paid correctly.

Daniel Ong loses all income from his home renovations business

The report said that Daniel went through a lot of hardship during 2020. He said, in an interview, “I lost everything I worked for for six years. [Running a business in the] CBD is tough. Business dropped by 70 per cent [during the Circuit Breaker] and then to 50 per cent, so we bit the bullet and just shut.”

But for his new steakhouse, he plans to cater to a niche market who prefers their steaks high-end. “I intend to keep it small simply because I will be the one cooking and serving. I want to keep it tight so that service and food can be great. We will serve 20, 30 steaks a day and we want to keep the quality really high,” shares Daniel.

But as the months went by and the case continued, Daniel revealed how it has affected him personally. He said in the 8 Days interview, “Because of the Twelve Cupcakes incident, I lost all my income from my renovation business. Clients pulled out and I basically had no income. I was forced to rethink my life and how I’m gonna put food on the table for my family, and one thing I can do is cook. So Dan’s Steaks itself is a product of necessity and a product of people egging me on and giving me encouragement. Even though there’s a lot of bad press about me, I think I was pushed in this direction to start this concept and hopefully it does well.”

Daniel expressed fear that the case would also continue to have a negative effect on the new business. He continued to say that the truth would come out and that his employees at Twelve Cupcakes said that he was a good boss.

Earlier in January this year, POP MART, the largest and fastest growing pop-toy maker in China opened their first first official store in Singapore at Funan mall. First founded in 2010, POP MART now operates more than 136 retail stores and over 1,001 Roboshop vending machines in 33 cities in China.

The Singapore store is located on a first floor unit in the exterior of Funan mall, directly opposite of The Aldephi. It is easy to spot as you walk past as there is always a flow of excitable youngsters snapping pictures outside or looking happy with a bag of their new collectible purchases.

Asher and I headed to POP MART for an unboxing experience over the weekend and he got to select and unbox six different characters in the store directly.

Upon entering the store, you will be treated to an exciting selection of licensed pop-toys with fresh new designs to be released every week. Popular brands include Disney Princess, Frozen, Mickey Mouse, Warner Bros. Harry Potter and Universal Studios Minions. A Naruto character series immediately caught Asher’s eyes as he is a big fan of the anime and manga series. Alas, they were sold out. You have to be there early to get what you want as the collectibles come in limited quantity and are always high in demand.

POP MART is renowned for its extensive line of high quality pop-toy figures in blind boxes. The publicly listed company has teamed up with famous designers like Kenny, Pucky and Kasing Lung, to launch many fan-favourites such as Molly, Pucky, Dimoo, Labubu, Bobo & Coco and more. Every box is a surprise, including extremely rare mystery figures which are highly sought-after by devoted fans who enjoy the thrill of collecting the whole series.

An insider trick is to shake the box and attempt to listen to the sound of the figurine jingling in the box to attempt to identify which design it is. You can also attempt to compare the weight by weighing it in your hand one by one. All these add to the thrill of the unboxing experience.

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Said Forrest Gump in his famous quote about life. This sums up the fun experience of visiting POP MART.

Our haul for the day for Asher and I:

The 1,122 sq ft flagship store situated in the city centre of Singapore is POP MART’s first store in Southeast Asia. This new store adds to the brand’s presence in Asia and will support the company’s growth plans outside of China. Located at the main level of Funan, this inaugural POP MART store features a futuristic concept with the sleek and easy-to-shop interior with wide aisles and eye-popping visual and merchandising concepts to provide shoppers with a delightful shopping experience.

POP MART official store in Singapore is wholly owned and managed by POP MART South Asia Pte. Ltd., a joint venture between POP MART GLOBAL and ACTIONCITY, a homegrown retail chain with 20 years of expertise in the business of collectible pop-culture art toys and strong community presence in Asia.

A platform for local and regional artists to grow beyond their existing profile

Being a part of the exciting store opening are Singaporean sculptor Daniel Yu’s The Lunar Creep, all 3 versions of the AP-2K by Singapore-based artist, Wetworks, Singapore-based illustrator and toy designer Jessica Emmett’s resin toys from the Draffi Pup series and Unicorn series, and local toy designers Mitoys’ FRANK! series and Peter Draw’s 哀Ai愛 series on display, along with the product features by local and regional artists, Kong Andri, gagatree and Sean Studio, who have created quirky Looney Tunes merchandise such as Sylvester & Tweety, Sylvester OBOT and Bugs Bunny.

A deliberate focus on the products created by these local and regional artists on the opening day of the Singapore store perfectly aligns with POP MART’s direction of grooming budding artists by providing opportunities for them to showcase their creations and assisting them in areas that they might not have had the capacity to take on alone.

POP MART exclusives available only at Funan

To celebrate the opening of POP MART’s first official Southeast Asia flagship store, exclusives and gifts that are only available at the Funan store will be released.

Pucky Rose Knight Baby Figure

Introducing the star of the show, the Pucky Rose Knight Baby is a Singapore-exclusive collectible figure, specially designed to celebrate this exciting occasion. Her candy-like colours are inspired by the soft colour of her hand-held rose and her heart-shaped shield and pastel helmet plume certainly perfects the look of a baby knight. This exclusive figure can be purchased at $39.90, with a minimum purchase of any 2 blind boxes.

Skullpanda Exclusives

Skullpanda’s first appearance in POP MART made a tremendous impact on fans with its Skullpanda Ancient Castle Series being sold out globally within a short period of time. Its return is expected to garner huge attention once again. The Skullpanda Cowboy, a limited edition item, will also be making an appearance on this special day. In synergy with Skullpanda’s overall aesthetics, this figure portrays a street-style fashion showcasing her attractive denim jacket. Standing at approximately 18.5cm tall, this casual and avant-garde personality of the movie league has an amazing sense of fashion, making it the ideal collectible for all the fashionistas out there.

Shopaholics will need to recruit this sassy shopper. The Skullpanda Shopaholics is another popular mini figure that comes in a clear blister card park. She has got her bags full and most importantly, pumped with energy to shop all day long. This mini figure stands at approximately 3.5 inches tall and comes with a
star stand. Fans are able to get their hands on this highly sought-after figure, priced at $39.90, by purchasing a minimum of 2 blind boxes.

POP MART Funan Store Address

Funan, 107 North Bridge Rd Singapore 179105, #01-02

Hinode Izakaya & Bar is a new Japanese izakaya restaurant at Hamilton Road in an increasingly gentrified Lavender neighbourhood with rows of old shophouses. It opened its door about 4 months ago, without much fanfare.

I stay nearby in the Boon Keng area and the new restaurant location is just a 7 minutes walk from my home. As such, I had to go try it when I knew there was a new izakaya opening so near my home. The Japanese word izakaya (居酒屋) is made up of three kanji with the meaning, in order, “stay-drink-place.” A spot to grab a drink, settle in, and get comfortable. In other words, a happy place for comfort food for regular people like yours truly.

The restaurant is a little hidden due to the various construction hoardings around it. From the outside, it looks retro-themed, while the inside is lightly furnished with various cliche Japanese posters, figurines and decors so you know you are definitely stepping into an izakaya.

Hinode’s menu features a wide range of bar bites and drinks, ranging from yakitori to sushi and more. I went in the afternoon, too early for a beer or sake, and with my son, Asher. These were the items we tried:

Verdict?

Hinode definitely delivers on value for money. For the lunch sets, the Chirashi Sashimi Don comes with a generous serving of sea urchin, scallops, tuna, salmon and swordfish sashimi, while the Salmon Ikura Don comes with large slices of salmon, overflowing with salmon roe.

If you are there for a drink or two with your buddies, the grilled skewers and squid were prepared well and serve as excellent bar food to accompany your drinks.

Given its convenient location for me, it can be a “stay-drink-place” for me and those who live nearby in the Lavender/ Boon Keng neighbourhood.

Hinode Izakaya & Bar

Address: 14 Hamilton Road

Tel: +65 6293 3018

In collaboration with Singapore River One, the precinct trade association for businesses around Singapore River, home-grown tour company, Monster Day Tours has launched an exclusive Eat, Play Love @ Singapore River tour from now till 30 June 2021, for a #SingapoREdiscovers journey.

Asher and I went for the tour over the weekend and here is our honest feedback. The whole walking tour lasts for about three and a half hour, with multiple stops in between to enjoy food and drinks in the precinct while the friendly guide shared historical snippets and trivia of the Singapore River and the businesses around the area.

Some of the tour highlights include:

• Tales of past and present about Singapore River
• Scenic walk along Singapore River
• Tapas food tasting
• Quiz and trivia fun with the tour guide to win small surprise gifts
• Complimentary $10 F&B voucher to be used after the tour

A promotional price of S$40 is available now for each paying adult, with kids (age 6 to 17) tickets priced at S$35 each. You will get to sample food and drinks from a variety of restaurant brands such as Harry’s, Keisuke Lobster Ramen, Rendezvous Restaurant Hock Lock Kee and Brewerkz.

Here is a snapshot of the various food items we tried during the tour:

Pizza and ramen are two of Asher’s favourite food and he was extremely satisfied with the pizza he was served at Harry’s and the lobster ramen at Keisuke. For me, it was interesting to learn a little more about these familiar F&B brands to understand how their entrepreneurial journey started and for some of them, how they managed to scale-up into the chains they are now.

SingapoREdiscovers Staycation deals: Three ideas here, including a very fishy one!

Our friendly guide for the day, Angel, together with her assistant, promptly registered us via an online web form when we arrived at the meeting point at 4pm at the start of the tour. A text reminder was also sent a week and a day prior to ensure we are adequately prepared for the tour, with detailed instructions on the recommended attire, wet weather plan and what to expect. Safe distancing measures were observed throughout the tour to ensure the utmost safety of the tour guests as well as those we interact with.

Without giving away too much of the tour route and itinerary to spoil the fun, our verdict for the tour is that it a relatively good deal for a weekend outing with the family or your loved ones, given that the pricing is similar to what you would pay for a decent restaurant meal in the Singapore River area. This comes with a hosted tour experience, on top of a selection of various food items you can try in tapas-sized servings.

You may think you know Singapore River and the history around it very well, but there were some surprise locations and stories which I didn’t know about, prior to the tour. Here is a sharing of some of the photos I took during the tour:

The tour is also eligible for redemption with the S$100 #SingapoREdiscovers tourism voucher provided by the Singapore government. More details below.

Eat, ​Play Love @ Singapore River

Tour Schedule: Wednesdays & Saturdays, 4:00PM – 7:30PM

Meeting Point: UOB Plaza (Big Bird Sculpture)

Ending Point: Riverside Point

Duration: 3.5 Hours

Some deals are just so good that you will find it hard not to share it. The PRISM+ Q55, 55″ 4k Android TV is one such. Priced at a promotional price of just S$769, it blows competitors away, with most brand-name models with similar specifications, priced at a premium price of S$1000 or more at the very least.

The Q55 is part of an entire line-up of 4K Resolution Android TVs, called the PRISM+ Q Series TVs, and is the flagship model of the series. Full technical specifications of the Q55 are as below:

First founded in 2017, homegrown smart TV brand has grown tremendously in capturing the local market share, being the first Singaporean brand to produce Smart TVs powered by Google’s Android TV operating system. During the Circuit Breaker and with more people staying home now due to the new normal of Covid-19 safety measures, PRISM+ sales continue to accelerate with their attractive pricing and fuss-free online shopping experience. The brand has gained a lot of traction and is currently Singapore’s number one Monitor Brand and Singapore’s first TV brand with over 100,000 customers.

PRISM+ is able to keep their prices low through a direct-to-consumer business model which skips the middleman markup. The brand’s aim is to provide products with high-end premium features to the Singaporean mass market at the best prices possible.

We have been using the PRISM+ Q55 for a couple of months now and the quality is amazing, given the super reasonable price tag.

Upon ordering your smart TV from the official PRISM+ website, a delivery date will be arranged with you over text messages, followed by a phone call if there are any hiccups along the way to ensure a smooth customer experience. Some assembly is required when you receive your smart TV and this will be taken care of by the delivery staff who doubles up as a assembly technician.

I had a friendly chat with the guy who helped setup my Q55 for him and he shared that business has been booming for PRISM+, with non-stop orders.

Once the setup is done, simply connnect your PRISM+ TV to your home internet Wi-Fi connection, log into your respective Google account, Netflix and other online video streaming services, and you are ready to roll.

Like any other brand-name smart TV brands, you navigate round the platform with a TV remote which is designed with intuitive buttons to make the viewing experience as seamless as possible.

With over 7,000 apps that you can install in your Android TV operating system, ranging from Prime Video to Netfix to YouTube to HBO GO to Twitch, there is really endless, global entertainment at your fingertips to make even the longest stay home notice much more bearable.

Instead of diving too deep into the tech specifications, the fundamental takeaway for choosing a PRISM+ Android TV is that it is priced extremely competitive, with over 100,000 customers in Singapore voting for the brand directly with their wallets. A three-year warranty is also provided, with free delivery and assembly.

More details.

There’s nothing more timeless and tasteful than the gift of flowers. Fortunately, flower delivery services in Singapore have made the process of buying bouquets easier and more enjoyable. Gone are the cumbersome days of going to the market and having to settle for cut blooms that are way past their prime. These days, you can quickly order flowers online and have them delivered in a matter of minutes within the comfort of your home.

Florists and entrepreneurs alike are offering a diverse array of bespoke services any flower aficionado can enjoy. So if you are shopping for blooms, here are 10 of the best florists in Singapore.

A Better Florist

Take all the things you look for in a florist and you’ve got A Better Florist. All the bare essentials are there from a simple and responsive online shop, lightning fast free delivery service, high quality yet affordable blooms and tastefully arranged bouquets for all sorts of occasions. Their customisable bouquets are meticulously curated and arranged by their team of professional florists. They also offer workshops every Saturday for flower aficionados interested in the art of flower arrangements and floristry. To guarantee freshness, their flowers are sourced from the nurseries of Cameron Highlands, which means they arrive at your doorstep no more than 2-3 days old from the time of harvest. The best part? You get your flowers delivered free of charge in just a few hours!

www.abetterflorist.com | +65 3163 1525

Sing See Soon

Sing See Soon grew from a small and traditional family business to being the blooming online florist that it is today. They specialise in creative consultations for corporate clients and events. So far, they’ve clinched projects for Hotel InterContinental, Shangri-La, Fullerton, The Ritz Carlton and Marina Bay Sands. They also have a wider selection of flowers as they source their blooms from various places, including New Zealand, Thailand and India, in addition to Malaysia and Holland.

www.singseesoon.com | +65 6285 2777

Roses Only

Founder James Stevens found a niche in the flower industry and made the most of it. As clearly indicated in their brand, Roses Only specialises in the classic bloom—roses. Specifically, they offer the finest long-stemmed roses in colourful hues of reds, whites, yellows and purples. Initially based in Australia, Roses Only started expanding globally, finding its way in Singapore’s shores in 2013.

www.rosesonly.com.sg | +65 6256 1818

Floral Magic

One of Floral Magic’s primary services are bridal bouquets and other wedding-related arrangements. They offer nine bouquet arrangements which would complement any wedding theme or motif. Consultations are by appointment only, so better ring them beforehand to make sure they can accommodate you on the day. You can also order bouquets from their online shop which features popular blooms like roses, lilies, freesias among others.

www.floralmagic.com.sg | +65 6337 6398

Poppy Floral Studio

Poppy Floral Studio, founded by former advertising executive Sarah Lim, uses seasonal blooms for their arrangements. The studio’s aesthetic veers more on the rustic and informal. Lim prefers using wildflowers and less popular flowers to create bucolic floral bundles. Weddings with bohemian or countryside themes would definitely benefit from Poppy’s chic and laid-back visual appeal.

www.poppy.com.sg | +65 6225 8496

Far East Flora

Far East Flora has over 50 years of history and experience under its belt. This award-winning florist specialises in traditional bouquets and classic displays for various occasions, from wedding flowers to condolence flower stands. Their wide selection of arrangements start at S$50 for budget-conscious consumers. They also have floral packages for different events such as baby showers baskets and get-well-soon hampers which incorporate gifts and novelty items appropriate for such occasions.

www.fareastflora.com | +65 6251 2323

The Bloom Room

The Bloom Room’s repertoire consist of bouquets, dried flowers, silk flowers, centrepieces, gift sets and flower stands. They also cater to crafty DIY-inclined customers by selling floral crafting tools and materials on their online shop. They hold beginner classes for small groups where you can learn the basics of flower arrangements.

www.bloomroom.sg | +65 6447 0217

Ferns N Petals

First started with a single store in New Delhi, India in 1994, Ferns N Petals has been in the business for 25 years now and has established a niche for itself in the online gifting market. With 320 outlets in 120 cities PAN India and a strong presence across the globe in 70+ countries, including Singapore, Ferns N Petals is continuously foraying into small towns and every nook and corner of the country to mark its presence. They continue to grow with the core emphasis on customer delight and a constant aim to deliver happiness. Ferns N Petals is the one-stop florist shop in Singapore that offers flower bouquets and arrangements for every occasion prepared using farm-fresh flowers wrapped beautifully in safe packaging.

www.fnp.sg | +97279363

24 Hrs City Florist

For last-minute flower purchases or urgent floral needs, check out 24 Hrs City Florist. You can order flowers online or drop by their retail outlets to pick up your bouquet. They’re open daily from 9am to 6am with a 24-hour delivery service.

www.24hrscityflorist.com | +65 6396 4222

Little Flower Hut 

LittleFlowerHut.com.sg is a home grown online flower delivery service that are based in Singapore. Little Flower Hut are passionate on delivering flowers or gifts to put a wide smile on our customer face. For us, sending out flower is not just about sending nice thoughts to, we also aim our very best to cheer up their day.

www.littleflowerhut.com.sg | +6565039750

In 2017, a National University of Singapore Master’s student abused and did unspeakable acts to his own elderly mother, just because he was stressed with school work.

30-year-old Andy Koh Ju Hua starved his mother, and also used a large padlock and his knee to abuse her genitals in a heinous crime, according to TODAY. He blamed school work and the stress of finishing his Master’s degree on what he had done to his mother.

He pleaded guilty on Tuesday (March 16) to four counts of voluntarily causing hurt, one of which is under the newly enhanced provisions for victims in close relationships with the accused.

NUS professor who sent sext to student multiple times said it was meant for his wife.

Who is Andy Koh Ju Hua?

The report said that Koh lived with both parents in 2017 when his studies had made him quite distressed. Due to his difficulties with schoolwork, he then forbade his mother from bathing or making any noise in the home.

The victim said that she did not report any of it to the police because she did not want to jeopardize her son’s future. She instead confided in other relatives instead, like her nephew and niece.

Before she told the police about the offenses her son committed, she had been hospitalized three times. She was also removed from a living situation with her son and placed in a safehouse, but she always returned.

One incident of abuse happened in January 2018, where her son had used his knee to inflict injury on her groin. He meant to hurt her with his actions. She was only cared for when her niece noticed that she was having pain in her lower regions and looked unkempt.

While at the hospital for this particular episode, she lied to doctors and authorities that she fell down the stairs. She did not want to implicate her son. The report said, “A medical report noted extensive bruising over the victim’s abdomen, buttocks, lower limbs and external genitalia. She was started on intravenous antibiotics and discharged later that month.”

Who is Dr. Jeremy Fernando? Why did he get fired from the NUS?

That was not the last nor the worst incident of abuse. When Koh’s mother returned in December 2018, he hit her face with his hands. He also hit her private parts with a heavy metal padlock. He hooked the item to his finger then struck her.

Just like the incidents before, she did not retaliate or defend herself, and let her son take out his frustrations over schoolwork matters and other issues on her body. Her injuries this time included bleeding in her vaginal area and swelling on various parts of her body.

June 2020 saw another abusive episode. Her son punched her in the mouth three times, and she ran out of the home desperately. Relatives said she looked frail and sickly. This time, she told the doctors and authorities what her son had done.

Unrepentant about abusing his mother

Court proceedings showed that Koh did not feel bad about what he had done to his mother. He even expressed that he looked forward to being with his mother again since he wanted to take care of her in her old age.

The accused was said to have sniffled, and appeared without a lawyer.

“I love my mother a lot and I do not know why I committed all those silly things to her. I need to undergo treatment to overcome my psychotic disorder,” he said.

“I hope to undergo treatment and cure myself so that I can live happily ever after with my mother. She is not young anymore and I certainly wish to take care of her in her remaining days.”

The judge has adjourned the case to a later date pending a mandatory treatment order evaluation.

A man who could not afford sex worker services admitted to lying to them to let them give him sex in exchange for a connection with a ‘sugar daddy’.

De Beers Wong Tian Jun admitted to duping at least eleven women through his scheme, telling them that he acted as a “sugar daddy agent” to “test them out” so he could recommend them to a wealthy man willing to pay them an allowance in exchange for their company. Aside from an allowance, the man would be expected to spend a lot of money on the woman in the form of gifts, dates, and other needs.

Sometimes, the company would include sex.

Who is De Beers Wong Tian?

The 39-year-old conman De Beers Wong Tian, “pleaded guilty in a district court on Thursday (March 18) to 10 charges, including multiple counts of cheating. Twenty-six other charges will be considered during sentencing.” said The Straits Times.

Wong went about his scheme by answering sex worker advertisements online in 2011, even if he was aware that he could not afford any of their services. He then used a website called Locanto to set up his own advertisement to call for “sugar babies” or girls interested in “sugar daddies” who would receive cash in exchange for sex.

Between April 2015 to January 2016, at least eleven women responded to his ad, ranging from eighteen to 24 years old. Wong then lied to these women, saying that he knew men who would agree to pay them $8,000 to $20,000 monthly for their services.

Did Natalie Siow Yu Zhen of the Orchard Tower murder case try to get a sugar daddy years ago?

Deputy Public Prosecutors Cheng Yuxi and Tan Pei Wei stated in court documents: “He also told them that, in order to successfully secure a ‘sugar daddy’ arrangement with these clients, they had to send their nude photographs to the accused, have photographs taken of them in the nude, and/or engage in sexual conduct with the accused, which were filmed by the accused on some occasions.

“The accused further deceived the victims that these acts were necessary so that the victims could be ‘evaluated’ by his clients to assess their suitability for the ‘sugar daddy’ arrangement.”

With the collateral secured from this women, Wong was able to extort more sex from some of them even when they refused.

Victim testifies

The report said that one of the victims fell for Wong’s lies, and had sex with him. The 24-year-old woman met Wong at a Hotel 81 branch on Oct 18, 2015. He took topless photos of her and was able to have unprotected sex with her after that.

Later, the woman said she experienced anxiety about the photos and the unprotected sex she had with Wong.

The prosecutors said: “She would sometimes cry during these attacks, and these were occasionally accompanied by shortness of breath, headaches, nausea and giddiness. In addition, she began having sleeping problems and nightmares.”

The woman turned out to have adjustment disorder, said the Institute of Mental Health.

An insider’s guide on how to be a sugar baby and get the actual wealthy sugar daddies you need.

When she asked Wong to delete her photos, he refused, and instead told her that he would only delte them if she provided him with sex. She said that she only wanted the photos deleted and was doing him a favor instead of going to the police. Wong countered, “Now I have to pass your photos to my friends, in case anything happens to me, they will use the photos as they wish.”

The woman nonetheless filed a police report on February 3, 2016.

Wong victimized ten other women similarly, with his next trial date set for April 20, 2021.

Header image from The Straits Times.

Lee Cheng Yan, who was supposed to be banned from driving in Singapore for his whole lifetime, claimed trial to four other unrelated traffic violations, said The Straits Times.

He was previously sentenced to four years and seven months in jail for dragging a policeman for more than 100 meters after he was flagged down for not wearing a seatbelt. The incident happened on Bedok road while Cheng was in his white Maserati. He tried to get away from the policeman, but ended up dragging and injuring the officer.

He was not allowed to drive a vehicle at the time as well, since he was also facing several different traffic charges.

Who is Lee Cheng Yan?

The man who seems to be making a career out of traffic violations and other incidents gained infamy when the case of a Maserati involved in a traffic accident surfaced. On November 17, 2017, a police officer named Staff Sergeant Khairulanwar Abd Kahar flagged down Lee’s white Maserati along  Bedok Reservoir Road at about 9:20 pm. Lee was not wearing a seatbelt.

While the officer was standing next to the driver door, Lee reversed into the man and accelerated suddenly. The policeman was dragged violently for more than 100 meters. The officer dropped onto the road when Lee stopped, and suffered serious injuries.

Who is Lee Cheng Yan? Read about the Maserati driver who still maintains he didn’t drag the police officer here.

Lee then sped off, leaving the officer injured on the ground. The white Maserati was later found abandoned on Cedar Avenue next to Wan Tho Avenue. Lee was apprehended five hours later at Geylang Bahru HDB, which was one kilometer away from where he left his car.

Lee was already prohibited from driving at the time the hit-and-run happened.

He maintains a defense that he handed his keys to a person named “Kelvin” two hours before the Maserati hit-and-run happened.

Lee Cheng Yan’s father apologizes for his son.

Lee Cheng Yan doesn’t care he’s banned from driving, has 65 other charges

The Straits Times reported, “Although banned from driving, he allegedly drove on four occasions this year: at about 2.30pm on Feb 13 at the service road of Block 18 Upper Boon Keng Road; at about 5.25pm on March 1 at the service road of Block 2C Upper Boon Keng Road; at about 12.40am on March 4 along Ang Mo Kio Street 32; and at about 4am on March 12 along MacPherson Road towards the direction of Airport Road.”

Lee appeared in court recently, however, to appeal his sentencing pertaining to the hit-and-run case. He said that he needed the trial adjourned since he was getting a new lawyer and they had not “signed” yet.

Aside from traffic charges, Lee was also set to face charges pertaining to illegal moneylending and gambling, among others.

Header image from The Straits Times.

If you have sensitive skin and are prone to skin irritation or flare-ups, here is a local skincare brand that aspires to offer you an easy, no-frills solution at an affordable price with their range of products.

Enter BELVEA, a clinical product range by Singapore home-grown pharmaceutical company, Capsule Pharma. Belvea is formulated for condition-specific healthcare used to address essential areas of nutrition and disease conditions. The BELVEA dermatology range includes the BELVEA Gentle Skin Wash and the BELVEA Moisturising Skin Cream, among others.

Flare-ups, peeling skin and inflammation are some of the most common symptoms faced by those with sensitive skin every day. In the Covid-19 new norm where everyone is to constantly have a mask on when we are out of our homes, mask-wearing has exacerbated skin problems and has even contributed to the rise in skin-irritation cases during this period.

For those with sensitive skin, the cost of treatment can be significant. Common over-the-counter products may also be costly. Some may also contain a long list of ingredients that may not be essential to combat symptoms of sensitive skin. 

Introducing BELVEA’s skincare range that consists of a wash and a moisturiser. They are priced 30% – 40% lower compared to similar brands in the market, but is also formulated with simple and low-irritation-index ingredients, ensuring that consumers are reaping the benefits of the essential ingredients, without potentially harmful enhancers like fragrances and colouring that can be easily found in similar skincare products.

We tried out the two products below and found them to be comforting to use, with a natural feel.

BELVEA Moisturizing Skin Cream Formula (left) and BELVEA Gentle Skin Wash Formula (right)

Unlike many other on-the-shelf skin creams that may be loaded with a long list of complex ingredients, BELVEA’s Moisturising Skin Cream Formula (S$20) contains only six active ingredients that form a humectant effect to prevent moisture loss and hydrate skin. It is best applied on dry and fragile skin after showers whilst skin is still moist, and is suitable for infants, children, adults and seniors. For patients undergoing steroid cream therapies, this cream formulation can be applied as an adjunctive moisturiser in between steroid cream applications.

For a versatile full-body wash that can be used as a facial wash, body wash and shampoo, those with sensitive skin can count on BELVEA’s Gentle Skin Wash Formula (S$20) as it does not contain the common soap agent Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) which irritates sensitive skin. Unlike other soap-free cleansers, this product lathers well, and at the same time, effectively moisturises the skin. 

By keeping product prices affordable and formulations simple, BELVEA seeks to be the ultimate option for underserved communities with dry and sensitive skin conditions. BELVEA’s clinical dermatology range is also recommended by doctors, and are sold at selected clinics island-wide and e-commerce platforms Shopee and Qoo10. 

So if you are looking to get an affordable skincare brand that caters for sensitive skin, consider Belvea to #supportlocal and also save on cost at the same time.

A woman and the San Guo Kao Yu restaurant argued over the fine print of a coupon for a four-person meal set, which lead to the owner of the restaurant allegedly telling her, “Can’t afford then don’t eat.”

What happened with the restaurant and the woman?

Using the website Fave which offers discounts and vouchers, the woman purchased a coupon for a four-person meal set worth $59.68. The price of the meal set was usually $116, according to website 8world.

She then called the restaurant on March 19, and said that she wanted to reserve a table for four people and two children using the coupon. The male attendant who answered her call, though, said that he could not permit her to use the coupon if she was going to bring two other children to sit at the table.

“But the platform didn’t state that,” the woman told 8World. “I didn’t know before I bought the coupon.”

The same report said that the restaurant explained allowing larger groups to dine using the four-person set meal would negatively affect their business. The four-person coupon could only be used by four people and not one more unless they paid $10 for each extra diner.

This meant that the woman would be paying an extra $20 for the same amount of food, since the restaurant called it a “seating fee.” The two extra children she planned to bring were five and eleven years old.

Can’t afford? Then don’t eat!

The woman, unsatisfied with the conversation with the attendant, called again to speak with a manager or owner of the restaurant. Allegedy, upon explaining what she wanted to do with the coupon and her reservation, the manager said, “Can’t afford then don’t eat.”

That irritated the customer who then said, “This isn’t about the money, this is about his attitude. I just wanted to make a reservation.”

According to the same report, a female representative from the restaurant said that they only serve the four-person set meal to groups of four. Anyone who brings more diners to their group should pay a seating fee of $10 per person, or order additional dishes.

The manager of the restaurant said that the customer accused them of “taking her money.” He explained that while he may have scolded her, their establishment does not get paid unless the coupon has been used.

“Only when the customer dines at the shop does Fave give us the money that was paid,” he said. “All she did was calling us to ask. We haven’t even charged her, so how can she say we’re taking her money?”

The restaurant attendant also said that the first person the customer may have spoken to mentioned that she could order additional dishes instead of paying the seating fee, but the the latter said that she was not given that option.

San Guo Kao Yu has asked Fave to make sure that their website listing for their deal would reflect the restaurant policies on number of diners. The woman involved has asked the public to make sure to read the fine print carefully.

Her coupon was eventually used by a separate customer who said that they did not have any trouble since they were only four in the group.

Khin Myo Chit, 6 years old, died as she ran into her father’s arms in fear, as Myanmar security forces kicked down their door in a series of raids.

She was previously reported to be seven years old, but her family has confirmed that she was only six on March 26.

She was the youngest casualty of the continuing crackdown on dissent orchestrated by coup leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing who grabbed power following a democratic win from Aung San Suu Kyi in the country’s latest elections. A report from CNN also mentioned that 20 other children had been killed in the hostilities towards protesters.

Who is Khin Myo Chit?

The same report from CNN said that Khin Myo Chit died from a gunshot would that hit her as she ran in fear towards her father. Security forces arrived at their home and kicked down their door in the city of Mandalay in Myanmar. The incident happened on March 23.

“They shot her as she leaned towards my chest. I ran and was carrying her and could not even take a look at them (security forces) after she was shot,” her father told Reuters.

Her family rushed her to a clinic typically set up by doctors and nurses for victims of protest violence. USually, these injured people were not allowed to receive care from hospitals. The military had occupied hospitals.

Khin Myo Chit was already dead upon arrival at the clinic, said the doctor who attended to her. There was nothing they could do to save her.

Family in hiding

Following the death of Khin Myo Chit, her family has since gone into hiding, especially with the worldwide media exposure. They felt that the government security forces would return to further harass or inflict more violence on them.

“Why did they (soldiers) shoot her to death, for what crime? And what sin have we committed?” the girl’s sister said from an undisclosed location. “What have we done? And what has the child done?”

The names of the child’s relatives have been concealed for their safety.

Aside from killing the child, the same security forces took away her brother, and the family has not seen him since.

“He was arrested by the military and (we’re) not sure whether he is alive or not. We have no information from him yet,” she said. “We dare not go home till now and are still in hiding,” she said. “There are still soldiers and police in our house.”

Military may seize child’s body

Just like what happened to slain teen Myanmar activist Angel, who died a month ago and was subjected to desecration by Burmese forces, Khin Myo Chit’s family was afraid that her tiny body would also be exhumed by state forces against the family’s wishes.

“We have to bury her without letting everyone know (and) we couldn’t go with funeral cars as we worried they might steal her body, we could only use the house cars for her funeral,” she said.

“When we got to the cemetery, a few people were there so we had to hide her body, we had to wait until they were gone and only when no one was around could we bury her.”

They were unable to grieve properly and give their daughter a proper Muslim funeral.

Photos and video clips of women and schoolgirls have been circulating online in Telegram chat groups, grabbed from social media platforms such as Tiktok and Facebook.

Some of the images and video clips involved minors, and all the usernames of the women in the videos were clearly seen, bringing back memories of the 2019 downfall of the SG Nasi Lemak chat group, said a report from Asia One.

Remember Joal Ong and vlogger Bellywellyjelly?

What is the SG Nasi Lemak chat?

Harkening back to 2018, the original SG Nasi Lemak chat group circulated photos and videos of Singaporean women online against their will. The heart of the chat group was a crowdsourced collection of photos and videos of women the 44,000 member-strong group shared among themselves, which featured both pornographic and non-pornographic content. Members were encouraged to upload their “finds”, without a care for the subject’s consent.

What made the chat group so dangerous was that even when some of the women’s names were concealed, online perverts were able to trace the images and videos (some sent in confidence due to the private nature of the photos) to their owners–and uploaded these as well.

Some of the content was incredibly popular that sticker packs appeared on the app that featured some of the Malaysian women in the collection of racy photos.

Aside from the naked photos, photos taken of women in public transport, sexual enhancement drugs, vaping paraphernalia, and even sexual services were advertised in the group.

Since its creation on 2018 until its fall the next year, the group had 29 administrators. Police arrested five individuals connected to the chat group in October 2019.

An administrator for the chat group, Liong Tianwei, 39, was jailed for nine weeks and fined $26,000 on Tuesday, March 9. He was found to have over 11,000 obscene photos and videos on his five phones and laptop. Initially very combative and uncooperative, he eventually capitulated to providing his passwords to the police.

The Straits Times said, “He pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing obscene material, two counts of facilitating the provision of sexual services, and one count of possession of obscene films.”

Tianwei was an unemployed father of two at the time the crimes were committed.

Is SG Nasi Lemak back?

A National University of Singapore student named Nisha Rai, 21, stumbled upon the groups via Twitter, and found that the content was similar to the now-defunct SG Nasi Lemak Telegram chat. The political science undergraduate then filed a police report.

The chat was mentioned in online forums such as Hardware Zone, but the topic was immediately taken down.

Acting along with other private individuals allied with a college anti-sexual harassment organization, Rai was able to uncover 60 more chat groups, with considerably lesser members than the original SG Nasi Lemak group. Students for a Safer NUS, which Rai is a member of, posted a statement on their social media on March 24 to notify students that dangerous chat groups were on the rise.

Read about how June Oh dealt with the leak of her own nude photos.

They also contacted 30 victims of the illegally collected and distributed content.

She said, “It’s so disgusting. The pictures sent are of adults and minors. It was very hurtful to see such content circulating, and the worst part was the victims were not aware or were afraid to reach out.”

Grocery store giant NTUC FairPrice has pulled the bargain price Taiwanese pineapples from their shelves after complaints dating from the last week of March showed photos of a brown rotten core found in many of the fruit.

Customers had been posting photos of their pineapple purchases, which featured a discoloration of the center and the pulp radiating outward. Some photos just showed spots, but other images showed advanced signs of the rot.

What do the NTUC FairPrice bargain Taiwan pineapples look like?

Several netizens have posted what their purchased pineapples look like, with some photos taken as far back as March 23.

The photo above showed a brown color radiating from the pineapple core that could only be seen when the customer had actually sliced the fruit down its center. Removing the skin and eyes would not have shown any of the discoloration.

Here are more photos of the pineapples.

The company had responded to this customer’s photo, which they shared on NTUC FairPrice’s Facebook wall.

Their comment said, “Dear Jeremiah Hee, good morning to you. Our sincere apologies for the experience you have shared. We appreciate if you can private message us your contact number, email address along with your receipt so that our customer relations team can get in touch with you. Thank you.”

This customer mentioned that she found it difficult to prepare the pineapple for consumption only to find that the fruit was rotten on the inside. NTUC FairPrice did not answer her post.

Taiwan pineapples available in mid-March

Other photos also showed the bargain price of the pineapples. This post showed that the fruit was available as early as March 18, and was sold at $3.25.

On the same day, the Taiwan Trade Center in Singapore promoted the pineapples too, with an even lower price than the one mentioned above, at $2.95.

Their caption read, “From today, March 18, Taiwan’s pineapple is available in NTUC FairPrice islandwide with an unbeatable price at S$2.95 each.

“Taiwan’s pineapple is famous for the high natural sweetness, aromatic, delicate, and juicy texture. The core is relatively large but tender and edible and not tough-cutting.”

NTUC FAirPrice removed the pineapples from shelves

Lianhe Zaobao mentioned that the grocery chain has removed the pineapples from their shelves and working closely with the supplier to see what had gone wrong with the product.

Taiwanese celebrity Huang Weihan had featured the fruits on his Facebook account during a livestream, as his followers had also sent him photos of the pineapples they bought.

Local Facebook food groups were also inundated with photos of the discolored fruit, where members advised the customers to throw the fruit away.

On the topic of refunds, FairPrice’s page has this answer to questions on whether fresh items may be refunded. “If you are not satisfied with your item, please send us photos of the defect within 7 days of delivery via the web form. We will refund the value of the item back to your credit card or request that you return the item to the nearest store for a refund.”