Two Malaysian men, aged 38 and 44, were brought back to Singapore from Malaysia by officers from the Singapore police's new Cyber Command, for their suspected involvement in government official impersonation scams targeting Singapore residents.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release on Jul. 9 that the Cyber Command of the Singapore Police Force has arrested the two men following Warrants to Arrest (WTAs) issued by the State Courts of Singapore.

Raid in Kuala Lumpur

On Jan. 13, 2025, officers from Bukit Aman, Commercial Crime Investigation Department of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), conducted a raid at an office complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, SPF said.

They arrested 16 Malaysian nationals for their suspected involvement in government official impersonation scams targeting Singapore residents.

The syndicate is believed to be linked to more than 50 reported cases, with total losses exceeding S$1.4 million, SPF said.

Pursuant to the WTAs, the two Malaysian men were arrested by Malaysian authorities between Jul. 6 and 7 and were brought back to Singapore by officers from the Cyber Command on Jul. 8, 2026.

They will be charged in court on Jul. 9, 2026 with the offence of being a member of a criminal conspiracy to cheat.

The offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term which may extend to 10 years and a fine.

Commander of Cyber Command, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Wong said:

"The arrest of these two men demonstrates our strong partnership with the RMP in the fight against scams.

No single country can deal with this scourge alone and I thank the RMP for working together with the SPF to bring scammers to justice.

The Cyber Command will continue to work with our law enforcement counterparts to act against scammers targeting Singapore, wherever they may be based.”

A 63-year-old man was found dead in a flat in Yishun on Jul. 7 after neighbours complained of a foul stench and an increase in flies in their home for several days.

In response to Mothership's queries, police confirmed they were alerted to a case of unnatural death at Block 285 Yishun Avenue 6 at around 12:35pm that Tuesday.

The man was found motionless in a residential unit and pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play.

Investigations are ongoing.

Bad stench

Separately, in an anonymous post in the Facebook group Complaint Singapore, a user claimed that he had noticed an unusual increase in the number of flies around his home since the previous week.

The presence of the flies puzzled him as there was no unattended rubbish, he added.

It was only after seeing several police vehicles at the block on Tuesday that he learnt that a man had died in a unit two floors below his.

The user also claimed that his next-door neighbour had lodged a complaint with the town council after noticing a foul smell that had persisted for several days.

A 32-year-old woman, who allegedly murdered her four-year-old son, is being investigated to determine if cannibalism had a role to play in his death in Wyong, New South Wales, Australia.

The 32-year-old woman was charged with domestic violence murder and refused bail, ABC News and 9News reported.

Claims

This comes after the woman voluntarily went to the Wyong police station at about 4:40pm on Jul. 4.

According to local police, she allegedly made claims that “formed genuine concerns”, triggering a welfare check by local police.

Officers subsequently found the four-year-old’s remains in a home in Wyong.

The body was found alone with significant arm injuries.

Responding emergency personnel were reportedly heavily impacted by what they witnessed at the scene.

Support was being offered to the responders.

Cannibalism

Part of the investigation is to look at alleged references to cannibalism made by the woman when she went down to the police station.

Local police obtained a court order to forensically examine her mouth to get samples of the woman's internal mouth contents and forensic material, as well as a buccal swab.

Samples of the woman's nails and material from under her nails were also obtained.

The woman’s vehicle and a “number of exhibits” were seized.

According to Kate Washington, New South Wales Families Minister, the Department of Communities and Justice had also dealt with reports regarding the boy.

The last contact that staff had with the family was about 18 months ago.

Investigations are ongoing.

Community

According to local police, the mother and son lived together in the home. The boy had reportedly just started kindergarten.

About 40 people turned up for a vigil held for the boy on the afternoon of Jul. 6. They prayed and left floral tributes and toys.

The vigil's organiser said she apparently grew up on the street next to where the boy and his mother had lived.

She organised the event to bring the community together.

Locals were encouraged to bring flowers and teddy bears for a makeshift memorial.

"As a mother and as speaking for every other member in the community, I know for a fact that this has absolutely shattered a lot of people," she said.

"Rest in peace, beautiful boy. You've left a mark on every single member of this community."

A foodpanda delivery rider in Singapore was left puzzled after he was unable to contact a customer who had supposedly ordered nearly S$50 worth of food.

He later realised the order may have been part of a loan shark harassment tactic.

Klinsmann Tay, 21, told Mothership that he received a food delivery order to a condominium in the west on Jul. 6.

The customer had chosen the cash-on-delivery option, but was nowhere to be found when Tay arrived.

Suspected loan shark harassment

Tay said a total of three foodpanda riders, including himself, turned up at the same unit.

He did not rule out the possibility that more riders had also been affected.

He also shared a three-part video series of the incident on social media.

In the videos, Tay is heard speaking to the owner of the apartment, who said her tenant appeared to be the customer but was not at home.

She eventually messaged her tenant, who said she had not ordered anything.

Tay did not receive payment for this order.

Third experience

Tay told Mothership this was the third time he had encountered a similar situation.

He said riders are "never compensated" for the time lost when such incidents occur.

"Not even the distance travelled from the restaurant to the delivery location," he said.

Tay eventually contacted foodpanda's rider support team, and the matter was resolved after about 20 minutes.

He said the time spent dealing with the issue could otherwise have been used to complete other deliveries and earn an additional S$10 to S$20.

foodpanda's statement

A foodpanda spokesperson told Mothership that they were aware of the incident and confirmed that “all affected delivery partners have been fully supported”.

"We have ensured that these partners will not incur any financial losses or performance penalties resulting from these orders, as we have a clear policy in place to protect our delivery partners from bearing the costs of fraudulent activities," the spokesperson said.

They added:

"foodpanda takes the misuse of its platform for unlawful activities seriously and has implemented account verification processes, fraud prevention algorithms, and ongoing monitoring of order patterns to detect and mitigate such cases.

We also disseminate advisories from the Singapore Police Force to our delivery partners to remind them to remain vigilant and exercise caution against suspicious activities."

The spokesperson stressed foodpanda has “zero tolerance” for the exploitation of its cash-on-delivery option.

"We will continue strengthening our processes to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for everyone who uses our services," they added.

Police report lodged

In a follow-up video, Tay is heard speaking with a foodpanda staff member, who said the customer had lodged a police report and that the police wanted him to take down the videos.

When Tay pointed out that the videos did not reveal any identifying information, the staff member responded that they would ask the police to contact him directly.

The police confirmed with Mothership that a report was lodged and they are looking into the matter.

About 1.5 million Singaporeans will receive up to S$850 in cash in August 2026 as part of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Voucher scheme.

To be eligible, they need to be aged 21 and above in 2026, have an assessable income not exceeding S$39,000 in 2025, and own not more than one property.

The amount of cash payout they receive will depend on their 2025 assessable income and the annual value of their place of residence, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a Jul. 9 press release.

MediSave top-up

Also in August, about 710,000 eligible Singaporean seniors will receive up to S$450 in MediSave top-ups, automatically credited to their CPF MediSave accounts.

The amount they receive ranges between S$150 and S$450, depending on their age and the annual value of their place of residence.

This top-up also falls under the GST Voucher scheme, which aims to help lower- to middle-income Singaporeans and households defray their GST and daily expenses.

A total of about S$1.4 billion will be disbursed for this cash payout and MediSave top-up, MOF said, adding that there will be further support for Singaporeans in the 2026 financial year.

Receiving payment

Singaporeans can check their eligibility for these benefits at the govbenefits website by logging in with their Singpass.

Eligible recipients will automatically receive their respective payments from Aug. 7 if they have signed up for these schemes previously.

They will be notified via SMS by "gov.sg" before and after the benefit(s) have been credited.

Recipients without a Singpass-registered mobile number will be informed through a letter to their address.

Those who have not signed up for the schemes may do so by Jul. 14 to receive their payments in August.

MOF encourages citizens to link their NRIC to their PayNow by Jul. 28 to receive the GST Voucher cash payout earlier, by Aug. 7.

Peninsula Malaysia's retail prices of unsubsidised RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged from Jul. 5 to 15.

In a Facebook post, the Malaysian Finance Ministry said the retail price of RON97 will stay at RM4 (S$1.27) per litre, and unsubsidised RON95 will remain at RM3.37 per litre (S$1.07).

Diesel prices in Peninsula Malaysia will still be set at RM3.97 per litre (S$1.26).

Under the Budi95 programme, subsidised RON95 petroleum remains at RM1.99 (S$0.63) per litre for over 14 million eligible Malaysian recipients.

The price of diesel in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan will stay at RM2.15 (S$0.68) per litre.

Malaysia's subsidised petrol and diesel system to stay steady

Under Malaysia's Subsidised Petrol Control System (SKPS) and Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS), petrol and diesel remained at RM2.05 (S$0.65) per litre and RM2.15 (S$0.68) per litre respectively.

The price of diesel under the Budi Madani Diesel (Budi Diesel) scheme will also be maintained at RM2.10 (S$0.67) per litre for eligible private diesel vehicle owners.

In a statement also posted to Facebook on Jul. 8, the Malaysian Finance Ministry said: "Global crude oil prices continued to moderate over the past week."

The Malaysian Finance Ministry added that the trend was driven by reduced geopolitical risk premiums, supply flow recovery and increased price competition among major producers.

However, the Malaysian Finance Ministry also noted recent developments in the Middle East, including U.S. strikes on Iran on Jul. 7, which indicate risks of price and supply disruptions remain so long as conflict resolution remains elusive.

"In the medium term, an anticipated global supply surplus, following a recovery in production and a moderation in demand, is expected to limit price increases."

The Malaysian Finance Ministry warned that fresh disruptions to major trade routes could cause significant price volatility.

According to The Star, the Malaysian Finance Ministry also assured Malaysians that their fuel supply remained sufficient.

The Malaysian Finance Ministry also called on Malaysians to continue using fuel prudently to help safeguard Malaysia's supply stability.

The ministry added that efficient journey planning and reductions in unnecessary travel would help extend Malaysia's supply and ease pressure on subsidy expenditure.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has issued a reminder to some nightclub operators of their tax obligations relating to the sale of flower garlands.

Supply of service

At some nightclubs, customers purchase flower garlands, to present to performing artistes.

These can cost S$500 or more.

According to IRAS, these transactions are generally considered taxable supplies under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act.

When customers purchase flower garlands, they are not simply buying flowers or giving a voluntary tip.

Instead, they are paying for the right to publicly honour a performing artiste and participate in the entertainment experience offered by the night club.

As such, the transaction constitutes a supply of services and is subject to GST.

Amount subject to GST

IRAS also clarified a common misconception that GST applies only to the portion of the payment retained by the nightclub.

This is incorrect, it said.

For example, if a customer pays S$500 for a flower garland, the entire amount is subject to GST, as it represents the full value of the service supplied by the nightclub acting as the principal.

The authority added that all revenue from flower garland sales must be recorded as part of the nightclub's gross income for tax purposes.

Payments made to performing artistes, whether in the form of salaries or a share of flower garland sales, may qualify as deductible business expenses.

However, IRAS warned that some establishments have attempted to artificially split income across multiple entities operating from the same premises.

For instance, flower garland revenue may be attributed to a separate entity while the nightclub continues to manage the operations behind the scenes.

IRAS stated that it may regard such arrangements as tax evasion if they lack a genuine commercial purpose and are intended solely to reduce taxable income or avoid GST registration.

Withholding tax considerations

The authority also highlighted withholding tax obligations, noting that many nightclub performing artistes are non-residents.

According to IRAS, the income of non-resident performing artistes, including salaries and their share of flower garland sales, is subject to a 15 per cent withholding tax under Section 45GA of the Income Tax Act.

This is because they are classified as public entertainers.

Nightclub operators are required to file and pay the withholding tax to IRAS by the 15th day of the second month from the date of payment to non-resident performing artistes.

"The tax treatment of flower garland sales in nightclub establishments hinges on three key factors: the nature of transaction, the contractual relationships involved and the specific facts of each case," IRAS said.

"To avoid inconsistencies and potential disputes, establishments must maintain proper record keeping and ensure compliance with IRAS guidelines."

A 24-year-old housewife in Sarawak has been arrested after she allegedly attacked her husband with scissors and threatened to kill him and their child over his refusal to divorce her.

The incident was reported on Jul. 7 in Kabong, according to The Borneo Post.

What happened

Saratok police chief Mathew Manggie said in a statement that the suspect went to her 28-year-old husband's house, damaged household items and demanded he divorce her immediately.

When the victim said that any divorce proceedings should be conducted through the courts, the woman allegedly armed herself with a pair of clothing scissors and lunged at him.

The victim, an oil palm plantation worker, dodged the attack but was left with scratches on his left abdomen.

He suffered four abrasions on his left flank, with no active bleeding.

Before the attack, the woman had allegedly sent her husband WhatsApp messages threatening to kill him and their child if he did not agree to the divorce, according to The Borneo Post.

Scissors seized

Police seized an 18cm pair of scissors believed to have been used in the attack.

The woman also tested negative for drugs in a urine test.

She remains in police custody and is currently being investigated for voluntarily causing hurt with a weapon and criminal intimidation.

The Singapore police are looking for a man to assist with the investigation into a case of bicycle theft at New Punggol Road on May 29, 2026.

The appeal was put up by the Punggol Neighbourhood Police Centre.

Anyone with information is requested to call the police hotline at 1800-255 0000 or submit information online.

All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Charging stations at 13 public libraries across Singapore will be closed from Jul. 27 due to safety concerns.

The National Library Board (NLB) announced on social media on Jul. 8, explaining that this was due to an increase in incidents involving unattended devices.

According to the posts, there have been cases of electrical overloading caused by faulty devices and multi-adaptors.

To replace the charging stations, ChargeSPOT rental kiosks will be made available at these libraries starting Jul. 27, allowing patrons to rent power banks.

This will provide available charging points at more than 1,800 seats, accessible through the libraries' seat booking system.

According to the ChargeSPOT website, renting a power bank will cost $1.50 for the first hour, with the maximum rate capped at $10 per day.

More information about power bank rentals can be found on the ChargeSPOT app.

Patrons can also contact ChargeSPOT’s help centre via the app for further support regarding the rental service.