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SINGAPORE - A man was handed a jail sentence on March 10 after he acquired cryptocurrency worth US$772,500 – nearly S$990,000, according to court documents – for helping three foreign hackers who were members of a crime syndicate. Sun Jiao, 43, was sentenced to two years and eight months’ jail after pleading guilty to 10 charges, including multiple counts of misusing a computer system and one count of dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct. He had also operated a gambling website that targeted South Koreans and illegally gained access to customer accounts on a South Korea-based portal.   In September 2024, Sun and the three hackers were part of a group of men who were arrested after Singapore authorities conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations islandwide. Sun, a Chinese national who is also a permanent resident of Greece, had helped the hackers when they encountered technical issues they could not resolve. The three hackers, who are also Chinese nationals, were earlier engaged by Vanuatu citizen Xu Liangbiao, 38, who had left Singapore a day before local authorities arrested other offenders involved in a $3 billion money laundering case.   Liu Yuqi, Huang Qinzheng and Yan Peijian were each handed a jail sentence in November 2025. They were between 33 and 39 years old at the time. Xu’s whereabouts are unknown after he left Singapore on Aug 14, 2023. Court documents, however, did not say if he was allegedly involved in the $3 billion money laundering case – Singapore’s biggest money laundering case – in which 10 other foreigners were arrested. They were later convicted and deported after serving their sentences. For the current case, Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheah Wenjie said Sun knew the three hackers when they were still in China. Between May 2023 and September 2024, Yan, Huang, Liu, and Xu were members of an organised criminal group based in Singapore linked to hacking-related activities. While working for the syndicate, the three hackers regularly consulted Sun and sought his help, the court heard. On Sept 5, 2024, Xu transferred three million USDT cryptocurrency to Liu as payment for their work in the syndicate. The three hackers then agreed to split the bulk of the cryptocurrency among themselves, and give Sun an equal fourth share to recognise the help that he had given them. Separately, the court heard that Sun had registered a company in Singapore called Xunshan, and was its sole shareholder and director. However, the company did not operate any business, and had no revenue. Around February to May 2024, Sun and other unnamed individuals based overseas began operating a gambling website that targeted South Koreans. Sun earned about US$30,000 to US$70,000 worth of cryptocurrency a month from operating this gambling website. In July that year, he engaged an overseas friend, identified as Li Fengchu, 41, to hack other websites and obtain their users’ personal information. Sun later told investigations that he had paid Li at least 10,000 USDT in total. In August 2024, Sun sent Li a message, asking him about a matter involving a move to gain unauthorised access into a South Korea-based website. The portal was the official website for an internet data centre (IDC) that was a server-hosting provider in Asia. Sun and Li later gained access to 3,000 customer accounts of the IDC. When Sun was arrested in 2024, the police seized from him cryptocurrency worth around US$850,000, and multiple electronic devices including an iPhone, DPP Cheah said.

TikTok user asks married men in Singapore if system has failed them, many complain about cost of living A TikTok account has asked married men living in Singapore whether they felt like the country’s system had failed them. Many people in the comments felt like it had, complaining about issues such as high cost of living. Image by MS News Married man claims to struggle despite S$6,000 salary Singapore’s troubles with marriage and parenthood can be seen through the country’s low Total Fertility Rate (TFR). Last month, the issue rose in prominence when Singapore’s TFR dropped to 0.87, the lowest to date. Recently, the TikTok account @menshubsg made a post directed at married men living in Singapore. Source: @menshubsg on TikTok “Do you think the Singapore system has failed you?” the post asked, followed by: “Was marriage a big regret?” The post garnered over 400 comments, with netizens sharing a range of responses. One person claimed to be a man nearly five years into their marriage, with two children. “Yes, the Singapore system has failed us. Earning almost 6k/month but still struggling,” he alleged. Another user then noticed that the man had bought a Mercedes car despite “struggling”.     Source: TikTok The alleged father of two promptly set his account to private. Singapore father faces financial difficulties despite 12-hour workday Another frustrated netizen shared how working 12-hour days only gave him “two to three hours” with his family. Source: Yan Krukau on Pexels, for illustration purposes only The cycle would repeat when they go back to work the next day. Despite the long work hours, they also claimed to still have occasional financial difficulties. Source: TikTok Some commenters who did not seem to be married also shared their views. One such user said starting a family in Singapore is “too expensive”. Source: TikTok “The best kind of man is 40, not married, gyms regularly, 10k income,” another netizen joked. Source: TikTok Netizen says blaming system prevents personal growth While many agreed that the system was flawed, others pushed back against the notion of blaming external factors. One user accused others of externalising blame rather than growing. “They lack [the] motivation to change themselves but still expect others around to change for them.” Source: TikTok Another person felt that the system wasn’t broken, though it could be improved. However, they acknowledged that “the game” is harder now than during their parents’ generation. Source: TikTok High cost of living and work-life balance cited as major issues Many Singaporeans, including Progress Singapore Party member Stephanie Tan, cited numerous structural issues that contributed to the low TFR problem. These include the high cost of living and struggles with work-life balance. Source: charliepix on Canva, for illustration purposes only “How many young women are willing and able to constantly balance their careers with the relentless demands of parenting?” Ms Tan asked. Additionally, a poll in 2025 found that 91% of respondents felt it was too expensive to be a young parent in Singapore.

SINGAPORE: The lifts at Mandarin Gardens condominium along Siglap Road last underwent a major modernisation about two decades ago.    Since then, ageing equipment has led to recurring issues.    Residents at the 40-year-old estate say they face lift breakdowns every few months despite regular maintenance checks.    “Occasionally, we receive feedback from residents about their concerns over the reliability of the old lifts,” said Mr Ong Beng Guan, chairman of Mandarin Gardens’ management corporation strata titles (MCST).   “Common issues include intermittent breakdowns, slow door operations, faulty door sensors and doors that fail to close properly.”    While he stressed that the elevators are still generally operational, residents want them to be safer and more reliable.    The condo is now considering whether to refurbish or fully replace them within the next five years.    A full replacement could cost millions of dollars. Each new lift costs between S$200,000 (US$156,900) and S$300,000, drawing heavily on the condominium’s sinking fund, which is also used for other projects that keep the condo in good working order.    “I think a replacement is a better option … (but) that will be a major cause of financial burden on the (condo unit) owners,” Mr Ong, noting that the final decision will depend on the mandate given at the estate’s annual general meeting.     He added that some residents may be reluctant to commit to major upgrades as they are holding out hope for a successful en bloc sale, following three unsuccessful attempts in the past.    Mr Ong said proposed government measures to co-fund selected essential safety features in private developments could help encourage more residents to support lift upgrades.    PUSH FOR GOVERNMENT CO-FUND   Some condominiums are hoping such co-funding will extend beyond repairs to cover full lift replacements.    The government announced last week it is studying whether to partially fund selected lift and escalator upgrades in private developments to keep pace with modern safety standards.        The proposal is part of a broader review of the Building (Strata Management) Act, which governs how MCSTs manage their estates.    The review includes measures to help MCSTs build up sufficient sinking funds, lower consent thresholds for essential works and strengthen self-governance frameworks.    According to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), more than 1,000 of Singapore’s 3,750 strata developments are at least 30 years old.    As estates age, having adequate sinking funds for maintenance and improvement works becomes increasingly critical, the statutory board said.    Second Minister for National Development and Finance Indranee Rajah announced the proposed measures in Parliament on Mar 4.    She urged MCSTs to build up funds early to ensure the proper upkeep of essential facilities, instead of waiting until lifts deteriorate and parts become obsolete – a situation that often forces estates to impose substantial special levies on unprepared unit owners.    Industry experts say such timely lift replacements should also be mandated.    The MCST Association of Singapore said co-funding could be particularly helpful for estates with residents who are asset-rich but cash-constrained. However, it cautioned against delaying urgent works while waiting for potential government support.    “Safety should always come first for residents,” Dr Rex Yeap, vice president of the association and vice chairman of The Interlace condominium.    “If the management fund, maintenance fund and sinking fund are healthy, we should go ahead and do (replace or upgrade our lifts) without waiting for the co-funding.”    He added that the association is considering conducting lift audits – independent, more detailed evaluations of lift safety, performance and regulatory compliance – to help condos make informed decisions.    AGEING LIFTS & SAFETY RISKS    Industry experts say warning signs of ageing lifts include increased vibration, jerking movements and less accurate leveling when the lift stops.    Mr James Lee, president of the Singapore Lift & Escalator Contractors & Manufacturers Association, said older systems may suffer from poorer leveling accuracy and outdated door sensors, increasing the risk of trips, falls or doors closing on passengers.    “As these components age, their performance deteriorates. Mechanical parts experience wear and tear, and beyond a certain point, you can no longer maintain them in good working condition – you really have to replace the lift,” he said.    He added that modern lifts are equipped with computerised controls, gearless motors and enhanced braking systems, providing smoother rides, more precise stopping and higher safety standards.

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