https://dam.mediacorp.sg/image/upload/s--8SMU7ETi--/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mediacorp/cna/image/2025/05/13/vapes_found_.jpg       SINGAPORE: A 13-year-old girl is assisting with investigations after she was spotted using an e-vaporiser that was laced with an anaesthetic outside the State Courts, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Tuesday (May 13). HSA was alerted to the case on Apr 24 after the girl had "behaved erratically" while vaping in public outside the courts in Chinatown. "She was unsteady in gait and appeared to be oblivious of her surroundings; a sign of possible drug intoxication," said the authority. Officers from HSA identified the 13-year-old girl and raided her residence, seizing a vape that has been tested to contain etomidate. Etomidate is a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent. It should only be administered under medical supervision. Adverse effects of etomidate include nausea and vomiting, muscle spasms, changes to breathing and blood pressure, as well as seizures and psychosis. HSA said it identified and caught the person who sold the vape to the 13-year-old. One vape and three pods that were seized from the seller were also found to contain etomidate. The 25-year-old seller and his 26-year-old wife are also assisting in the investigation. Screenshot of a video on social media showing a man vaping on a train. (Image: HSA) In a separate incident, HSA identified a 36-year-old man who was filmed vaping on an MRT train. A video of it was posted on social media on Apr 18. HSA officers raided his residence and did not find any vapes, with the man claiming he had thrown his vape away. Investigations are ongoing. The agency said that those who witness people using vapes can "voluntarily assist" HSA in its enforcement actions by submitting "clear, full-frontal photographs or videos" of offenders to [email protected].  Buying, possessing and using vapes are prohibited in Singapore. This includes purchases made online and from overseas.  Offenders can be fined up to S$2,000 (US$1,530). If convicted, those possessing or using vape pods containing etomidate can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$10,000, or both. People who have information on the illegal import, distribution or sale of vapes can contact the Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours.  

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SINGAPORE – A man who billed Tampines Town Council for more expensive products instead of the actual items he had provided, tricking it into paying an extra $233,000 for water pumps, was sentenced to three weeks’ jail on May 13. Zhang Shuyan, 59, who was the managing director of electrical and mechanical maintenance and installation firm FYH Integrated at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty in April to one count of falsifying accounts to the town council. Before handing down the sentence on May 13, District Judge Kenneth Chin noted that the Singaporean had made full restitution and paid the bulk of it before he was charged. However, the judge stressed that Zhang’s case involved public funds and that he committed the offence over a sustained period of a year. Deputy public prosecutors David Koh and Yeow Xuan stated in court documents that the offender and his wife incorporated the firm in 2009 with $500,000. It later entered into a three-year contract with Tampines Town Council in February 2016 for jobs related to pumps and refuse chute flushing systems. FYH was responsible for the maintenance, servicing and repair of pumps in the Housing Board blocks within the town council’s purview. It was also contracted to replace defective pumps in the HDB blocks. The contract included a schedule of rates, with a list of items and their corresponding prices, that FYH would bill the town council for. Between April 2016 and July 2017, Zhang’s firm replaced 267 single-stage water pumps in the Tampines estate. Zhang, however, billed the products as multi-stage water pumps that cost more than $1,400 each, compared with a single-stage pump that cost around $550. The town council received 203 invoices for the replacement of the pumps and paid more than $380,000 to FYH. Zhang’s scheme came to light in 2017, after the town council’s managing agent realised FYH had been charging it for multi-stage pumps even though only single-stage pumps were used. After he was found out, Zhang agreed to refund the extra amount that the town council had paid out to his company, which was more than $233,000. He was later charged in 2024. Offenders found guilty of falsifying accounts can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.

SINGAPORE – Every Singaporean household can claim $500 worth of CDC vouchers from May 13 to help with daily expenses. Half – or $250 worth – of the vouchers can be used at participating supermarkets, and the other half at participating hawker stalls and heartland merchants. The vouchers, which can be claimed online at go.gov.sg/cdcv, will be valid till Dec 31, 2025.   This latest and seventh tranche of vouchers comes on the heels of the $300 worth of CDC vouchers disbursed in January, which are also valid till Dec 31, 2025. CDC vouchers were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to show appreciation to Singaporeans for their solidarity during those difficult times, and to support businesses. The scheme was continued post-pandemic to help cushion the impact of rising prices on Singaporeans.   Overall, some $1.92 billion has been spent since the digital CDC vouchers were launched in December 2021.   Catch up on the news that everyone’s talking about  Sign up By signing up, I accept SPH Media's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy as amended from time to time. Yes, I would also like to receive SPH Media Group's  SPH Media Limited, its related corporations and affiliates as well as their agents and authorised service providers.  marketing and promotions. A total of $1.06 billion has been spent at hawker stalls and heartland merchants, while more than $857 million has been spent at supermarkets. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong announced during his Budget 2025 statement on Feb 18 that all Singaporean households would receive an additional $800 in CDC vouchers in two tranches: $500 in May 2025 and $300 in January 2026. Launching the latest round of vouchers at Nee Soon South Community Club on May 13, PM Wong said the vouchers are part of a comprehensive package of support measures in the Budget. Besides the vouchers, help is available in the form of LifeSG credits and Edusave top-ups for children, and U-Save rebates.   There will also be SG60 vouchers in July, which amount to $600 for every adult Singaporean, and $800 for those aged 60 and above. These expire on Dec 31, 2026. A typical family of four with two young children can receive around $5,000 in support this financial year, said PM Wong. “But we understand and we hear the concerns that Singaporeans have and continue to have about cost-of-living pressures,” he said. “It’s not unique to Singapore, because a similar situation is seen and felt in countries everywhere around the world.” He added: “In Singapore, inflation has already started coming down. In fact, it has come down faster than most other places. But prices remain high, and people do feel the impac The overall economic situation may worsen with rising trade barriers and a global slowdown, he said, adding that the Government is committed to helping Singaporeans tackle these challenges. PM Wong noted that with each round of vouchers, the scheme has become better with more partners on board. He is glad to see that as more heartland merchants come on board the digital voucher scheme, they are also adopting e-payment systems. Participating hawkers, heartland merchants and supermarkets may benefit from a total possible spending of about $665 million by households for this May tranche of vouchers. There are eight participating supermarkets, with about 400 outlets islandwide. They are Ang Mo Supermarket, Cold Storage, Giant Singapore, Hao Mart, FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong and U Stars Supermarket. Residents can locate nearby participating heartland merchants, hawker stalls and supermarkets by visiting go.gov.sg/cdcvouchers Participating hawker stalls and heartland merchants can be identified by the teal CDC voucher decal, while participating supermarkets will have the yellow CDC voucher decal. The launch was hosted by the five mayors – Ms Low Yen Ling, who is also chairman of the mayors’ committee, Ms Denise Phua, Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman. As at May 12, about 97.3 per cent of 1.33 million Singaporean households have claimed the previous tranche of CDC vouchers disbursed in January 2025. About $324 million, or 83.4 per cent of the vouchers, has been spent at participating hawker stalls, heartland merchants and supermarkets. Most of it – 92 per cent – was spent on food and grocery items. Giving an update on the usage of the sixth tranche of the scheme, Ms Low said about $166 million, or 51.9 per cent of the claimed vouchers, was spent at supermarkets. The remaining sum of about $154 million, or 48.1 per cent, was spent at heartland shops and hawker stalls.  Of the amount spent in heartland shops and hawker stalls, more than $108 million – or 70 per cent – was spent at food and beverage outlets and hawker stalls or on food items. Another $21 million went to minimarts in the heartland, and $25 million was spent on other trades. Speaking to the media at the event, Ms Low said: “The CDC voucher scheme has really become the key pillar of immediate support for Singaporean families to defray their daily expenses. “And it’s also something that our heartland shops and hawkers really look forward to because it really catalyses the demand for their products and services.” She added that more than 23,000 heartland shops and hawkers are on the scheme now, with new merchants for upcoming voucher launches. She said 10 coffee shop chain operators have introduced community budget meals to stretch Singapore’s food budget. Over the last 18 months, more heartland shops and hawkers have also initiated CDC voucher discounts and promotion deals to help Singaporeans. Major supermarkets are introducing promotions for the use of CDC vouchers too. FairPrice Group (FPG) will give a $6 return voucher for every $60 worth of CDC supermarket vouchers spent in a single transaction at any FairPrice store from May 13 to 19.  Customers are not required to spend a minimum amount when using their $6 return vouchers, and can use multiple return vouchers in a single transaction. The return vouchers will be valid for use from the day after they are issued, until June 15.  FPG chief executive Vipul Chawla said: “Singaporeans have shown incredible strength and spirit in the last few months of global uncertainty, and as the nation’s largest retailer, we want to recognise the hard work they put in every day to lead more fulfilling lives. “This third wave of FairPrice return vouchers is our way of helping to make every day a little better for all in Singapore, by keeping daily essentials within reach.” Customers at Giant, Cold Storage, CS Fresh and Jasons Deli will also get a $6 return voucher when they spend a minimum of $60 with their CDC vouchers in a single receipt from May 13 to 19. The return voucher may be redeemed a day after the date of issue till May 27, with no minimum spend. Sheng Siong will give out special discounts of up to 50 per cent on selected products, including eggs and rice, when customers spend $50 in a single receipt using CDC vouchers, from May 13 till June 11. How to claim your CDC vouchers Singaporean households can visit go.gov.sg/cdcv and log in with Singpass to claim the digital vouchers. Notification letters will not be issued for this latest tranche of vouchers, in line with sustainability efforts. Once claimed, an SMS from “gov.sg” will be sent to the registered mobile number, containing a unique voucher link. This link can be shared among household members. The SMS links for the CDC vouchers for May 2025 is different from the links for the CDC vouchers issued in January 2025. For those who may face difficulties with the digital process, help will be available at community centres or community clubs (CCs) and SG Digital Community Hubs. Priority queues will be in place at CCs for seniors and people with disabilities. More support will also be provided for residents without smartphones or those who need help setting up Singpass accounts or resetting passwords. In the first week of the launch, more than 200 volunteers from institutions such as ITE College Central, Nanyang Polytechnic and Hwa Chong Institution will be deployed at selected CCs, assisting residents alongside CDC ambassadors. For the first time, staff volunteers from public agencies will be lending support. SG Digital Office (SDO) digital ambassadors and Silver Infocomm wellness ambassadors will also be at CCs from May 13 to 26 to help residents claim their digital vouchers. SDO will conduct learning journeys at these locations to equip residents with knowledge on how to use their vouchers. Beyond this period, Singaporeans can continue to pick up digital skills for daily living, including redeeming CDC vouchers, from SDO’s digital ambassadors at 36 SG Digital Community Hubs and more than 200 roving counters islandwide. To claim CDC vouchers, individuals do not need to disclose their bank login details, transfer money or install mobile applications from unofficial app stores. Those who receive suspicious messages related to gov.sg or CDC vouchers can contact People’s Association on 6225-5322. To check if something is a scam, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799. More details on the CDC voucher scheme for May 2025 can be found at https://vouchers.cdc.gov.sg/