After True Fitness and True Yoga ceased operations across their outlets on Sep. 10, customers have reported losses of more than S$63,000 in unutilised memberships, packages, and services to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

This is the figure as of Sep. 11, CASE President Melvin Yong shared in a Facebook post.

CASE has received 28 complaints from consumers affected by the closure to date.

The True Singapore Group operates 10 fitness and yoga outlets in Singapore under three brands: True Fitness, TFX and Yoga Edition.

Images of a notice of closure put up at their outlets have circulated online.

It stated that the company has been placed under provisional liquidation effective Sep. 10, and all clubs have ceased operations with immediate effect.

A Mothership reader, who has been a member for over 20 years, said she received a notification regarding the liquidation on her app on the night of Sep. 10.

She has over S$1,000 in a two-year package with the gym, where she originally pre-paid over S$2,000 and has since used half of it.

Yong said that CASE has reached out to the provisional liquidator and will continue to seek clarification on the arrangements for affected consumers.

This includes obtaining information required for consumers to lodge their claims.

Consumers who have unutilised memberships or prepaid packages with True Fitness or True Yoga can approach CASE for assistance at 6277 5100 or at their website.

CASE encourages consumers to exercise caution when making large upfront payments for services. Where possible, consumers should consider shorter-term payment arrangements before signing up for a package.

Nine-year-old Gregory Imran Zahin has picked up a new hobby: collecting empty cans and plastic bottles and recycling them at designated Return Right machines under Singapore's latest Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS).

Learnt about recycling in school

Speaking to Mothership, Gregory's father, 29-year-old Muhammad Zahin Bin Zainal, said his son first learnt about recycling and the BCRS at school.

He said Gregory became particularly interested after spotting the BCRS logo on a bottle for the first time, and then began encouraging his family to collect their used bottles and cans so they could be recycled properly.

Earned S$20

The family recently accompanied Gregory to a Return Right machine to recycle the containers, an experience Zahin documented in a TikTok video posted on Sep. 8.

According to Zahin, Gregory started collecting the containers about two months ago and had accumulated around 60 plastic bottles and 140 cans.

Most of them come from the family’s home or from meals they had outside, said Zahin.

"If we come across bottles or cans left on the ground, we’ll pick them up and recycle them properly. However, we don’t actively go out of our way to look for them," he added.

In the video, Gregory can be seen carrying four large bags filled with empty plastic bottles, while one of his younger siblings carries a cardboard box containing cans.

Unfortunately, the family’s first attempt was unsuccessful as the BCRS machine was full and could not accept the bottles and cans.

Zahin said they subsequently returned to the machine a few days later and were eventually able to recycle their collection.

In total, Gregory earned about S$20 from the bottles and cans he returned.

Zahin said Gregory was "very happy and excited" throughout the experience, particularly because he was able to contribute to recycling efforts in Singapore while adding the money to his savings.

When asked how him and his wife felt about it, Zahin said:

"As parents, we are very proud of him. Recycling wasn’t something we actively practiced before, but he has influenced the whole family, including his siblings and cousins about recycling."

For now, Gregory's goal is to continue recycling regularly and make it a habit.

He also has plans to combine his interest in recycling with another hobby.

During the family’s next shore fishing trip, Gregory hopes to bring rubbish bags with him so he can help clean up the beach while enjoying fishing.

His goal, Zahin said, is to "help clean up the beach and keep the environment clean for others".

@thezackjourney Road to +$1000 for my son, Road to -$10000 for me… Importantly, He Save the Earth #fyp #recycle #10cent #singapore #money ♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono - moshimo sound design

A Thai abbot from Ayutthaya in central Thailand was arrested on Sep. 10, 2026, alongside a female aide who was caught on CCTV footage having sex with the monk in his quarters.

According to Bangkok Post, the abbot and his female aide were accused of embezzling 100 million baht (S$3.8 million) from Wat Phutthaisawan, an ancient royal monastery in Ayutthaya's Muang district.

Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Natthasak Chaowanasai said that police raided the residence of 66-year-old Phra Vajirayan, also known as Luang Por Chot, after complaints were filed.

At the time of the arrest, police examined surveillance footage from inside the abbot's quarters and found a video of him engaging in intercourse on a table.

Misappropriated temple funds

The Bangkok Post reported that the complaints alleged that the abbot had misappropriated temple funds and passed the money to his female aide to disguise the ill-gotten gains under other people's names.

The female aide, Punyavee Rungrueang, 47, was also arrested on charges of abetting a state official in illegal activities.

A covert investigation was conducted, and authorities found evidence supporting the claims, Nathasak stated.

The monk purportedly issued over 20 unauthorised donation receipts in the temple's name over a period of more than two years.

This amounted to losses of around 100 million baht (S$3.8 million).

The female aide had tens of millions of baht circulating through her bank accounts each year,  police added.

Used meal table for sexual acts

The police noted that the table used in the compromising video was also used for meals.

Bangkok Post wrote that the sex videos were provided by the abbot's former followers who said they could no longer tolerate his behaviour.

Many monks in Thailand receive monthly stipends from the government and are hence considered state officials, reported The Bangkok Post.

In 2022, Phra Vajirayan was appointed as the temple's abbot.

He gained fame from creating highly sought-after Buddhist amulets, including the "Nuea Duang" coin.

Raided female aide's home

Police searched Punyavee's home in Pathum Thani, a province between Bangkok and Ayutthaya.

They found and seized 35 gold amulets and other gold bars and jewellery that weighed a combined 1.36kg and were estimated to be worth 6.04 million baht (S$231,000).

Authorities also seized 3.6 million baht (S$137,700) in cash, and other items including three mobile phones, 10 sets of land and bank documents, 18 sets of investment documents and other sale receipts.

Investigators noted that two or three other individuals and more than one woman may have been involved in the case, according to the Bangkok Post.

Defrocking ceremony

Bangkok Post reported that Phra Vajirayan was escorted to the temple's ordination hall for a defrocking ceremony after his arrest, changing into white robes and reverting to his former name, Atichote Thammavaro.

He was then taken into police custody before being taken to Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau for further questioning.

A lay administrator for the temple was also brought in for questioning and declined to comment.

A woman has sued Sheng Siong and its employee for negligence after she was allegedly hit from behind by a trolley carrying sacks of rice.

CNA reported that one Dong Lihua is taking Sheng Siong to court after the incident happened at the supermarket's Clementi West Street 2 outlet in March 2021. 

Dong claimed that she suffered injuries to her foot and back as a result of the incident.

According to CNA, she is seeking about S$11,000 in medical and transport expenses as well as further damages for pain, suffering, loss of amenity, and future expenses.

Sheng Siong has denied any negligence on its part.

How she was hit

The incident allegedly took place around 10am on Mar. 11, 2021, according to a statement of claim CNA saw.

While Dong was walking around the supermarket, a trolley containing bags of rice hit her from behind, hitting the back of her left foot and her back. An employee was pushing the trolley at the time.

A Sheng Siong branch manager accompanied her to a clinic, and she went to Clementi Polyclinic and the National University Hospital for further treatment.

According to Dong, she suffered bruising, swelling, and an abrasion to her left foot, a bruised left heel, and a restricted range of motion for her left ankle.

She further claimed that she suffered from degenerative disc disease in her lower back, which was worsened by the incident.

She also cited that she had chronic pain syndrome and depression.

Dong asserted that the negligence in the case arose from the employee going excessively fast, failing to be keep a lookout, and failing to manoeuvre the trolley to avoid colliding with her.

Subsequently, she also argued that Sheng Siong did not provide enough space in the aisles, and train the employee to ensure that he was moving the trolley safely.

Sheng Siong's version of the story

The supermarket chain challenged Dong's telling of the incident, reported CNA.

It is represented by lawyers from LVM Law Chambers.

Sheng Siong stated that the rice was placed on a trolley which was around 155cm tall and 122cm long.

The supermarket chain claimed that Dong had "suddenly emerged" from the aisles, into the trolley's path and failed to notice the approaching trolley.

Sheng Siong said that the accident and Dong's injury was "solely caused or contributed by" her negligence, and Dong did not take steps to avoid the trolley.

As such, her injuries were not caused by negligence on the part of the employee or the supermarket chain, it asserted.

It also disputed that Dong suffered the injuries, disabilities, losses or expenses she claimed, further claiming that they were "unreasonably incurred". 

The case is still pending.

Mothership has reached out to LVM Law Chambers for more information.

A police officer in Chonburi, Thailand was arrested on Sep. 10 morning, a day after he allegedly shot his wife, a teacher, at a kindergarten school.

Thatsaphong, a deputy investigation officer at Bang Lamung Police Station, had refused to leave his home following the shooting on Sep. 9, Khaosod English reported.

Son turned back

Thatsaphong's son, Rachata, a police sergeant, was travelling to his posting in southern Thailand when he heard the news.

He never made it there.

He turned back and headed to his father's house instead, staying through the night.

From about 5am, Rachata spoke to his father by phone and through a loudspeaker for more than an hour.

He urged him to come out, told him nobody would harm him, and asked him to trust the police.

He also reminded his father that they had parted just the morning before, hours before the shooting.

30 minutes, face to face

Thatsaphong took his son's calls and spoke to him, but would not leave the house.

So Rachata asked to see him in person.

Under police supervision, both men agreed to step out and meet halfway.

What followed was a half-hour conversation, and at the end of it Thatsaphong gave himself up.

He emerged at about 6:20am, visibly exhausted.

Nobody else was hurt.

Where the weapon was

Bang Lamung police chief Sarawut Nuchanart said the officer had come out unarmed, and told police where to locate the weapon so it could be retrieved as evidence.

Nuchanart described him as worn out and still under a great deal of stress.

Police would carry out investigations in line with the usual legal process, he said.

Thatsaphong was taken to Bang Lamung Police Station for questioning.

True Fitness and True Yoga are undergoing liquidation and are set to cease operations.

Closure notice

A Reddit thread showed a notice on one of their outlets stating that this was effective as of Sep. 10.

The notice read:

"Dear valued members, we write to inform you that True Fitness Pte. Ltd and True Yoga Pte Ltd have been placed under provisional liquidation effective Sep. 10, 2026.

"In view of the provisional liquidation, all clubs have ceased operations with immediate effect."

One Reddit user who had a membership valid until April 2027 had supposedly just visited an outlet and claimed it was "business as usual" and there were even "some new staff recently".

Another Reddit thread also noted that the Novena branch was closed as well.

As of Sep. 11, Google Maps states that it is "temporarily closed".

Employees informed of closure

According to a screenshot by a Mothership reader, staff were informed on the night of Sep. 10 regarding the liquidation.

Provisional liquidators are expected to explain the next steps to them during a meeting today.

Members affected

Among the members affected was a Mothership reader who has been a member for over 20 years. She received a notification regarding the liquidation on her app on the night of Sep. 10.

She has over S$1,000 in a two-year package with the gym, where she originally pre-paid over S$2,000 and has since used half of it.

Reasons for liquidation

According to their Hong Kong-based parent company, Kontafarma China Holdings, it was "extremely difficult" to continue "amid the fiercely challenging market" in Singapore.

It added that this was due to factors resulting in obstacles to attract customers, high operating costs and stringent cashflow.

They also cited an increasing popularity of boutique gyms, as well as more condominiums and residential developments providing gyms for their residents or guests.

This reportedly reduced the need for an external gym membership.

The document also noted that online training, mobile applications, video platforms and virtual coaching allow consumers to exercise at home or outdoors, resulting in competition with digital alternatives.

Liabilities

According to CNA, Kontafarma China Holdings, said in a Sep. 10 bourse listing that the directors of True Fitness and True Yoga had resolved that the businesses could no longer operate due to their liabilities.

Despite bringing in significant revenue, it added that the True Singapore Group recorded substantial losses and net liabilities surpassing S$64 million, The Straits Times reported.

Extraordinary general meetings will be held on Oct. 7 to propose a voluntary winding-up, followed by meetings with creditors, CNA reported.

The True Singapore Group operates 10 fitness and yoga outlets in Singapore under three brands: True Fitness, TFX and Yoga Edition.

A Penang-born woman in Australia reportedly passed away after being assaulted by her partner.

Tan Kah Ming, 28, was found unresponsive in a residence in Perth on Aug. 26, reported 7News.

She was taken to the hospital but later passed away.

Local police believe her partner, 38-year-old Younis Qambari, caused “extensive injuries which resulted in her death” during an assault in the days before she was found.

Qambari has been charged with murder.

GoFundMe for family

Tan's sister, Tan Kah Hooi, is now looking after her three young children, aged seven, five and three.

According to 7News, the sister is "distraught" and trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

A GoFundMe has been set up to support the sister as she cares for the kids.

According to the GoFundMe, the late Tan was a "caring, hardworking, and valued member of [the] community who touched many lives through her kindness, dedication, and warmth".

The funds will help cover essential living expenses, childcare, education, and daily necessities, providing financial stability during this uncertain time.

A total of AUD$74,716 (S$69,030) out of the AUD$100,000 (S$90,733) target has been raised to date.

A CEO sued his ex-girlfriend for the money he lavished on her while they were a couple.

Chander Agarwal, the CEO and managing director of a logistics company, sued his ex, Felicia Lee.

He claimed Lee owed him S$468,090, which he said he had spent on her as loans he expected her to repay. 

The money covered a wide range of items, including first-class plane tickets, feng shui services, and a Stanford-NUS management course.

The Straits Times (ST) reported that on Sep. 9, the judge dismissed Agarwal's claim, ruling that they were gifts that he willingly gave her.

Agarwal has been ordered to pay Lee's legal costs.

Who are they?

Lee was formerly a flight attendant, and subsequently worked as an insurance agent and medical sales officer, according to court documents seen by Mothership.

Agarwal and Lee met on a flight in 2019. He added her on Facebook afterwards.

The pair began to meet up, at which point he had already gave her "lavish gifts".

In September 2022, they began their romantic relationship. It lasted up till December 2023, when he broke up with her for suspected infidelity.

He then began legal action towards Lee in March 2024.

What'd he pay for?

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Lee allegedly requested several interest-free loans from Agarwal over the course of the relationship.

These included the following:

• About S$206,000 in credit card charges
• Approximately S$50,000 and S$64,500 for First Class plane tickets to the U.S. and shopping expenses
• S$17,000 for a feng shui master's services
• S$30,000 for a Stanford-NUS programme in international management
• S$50,000 to Lee's former employer, after she quit her job as an insurance agent without hitting the target
• S$15,000 for Lee's fashion business

Judgement

The judge concluded that the evidence shows that Agarwal had intended the disputed sums as gifts to Lee.

The judge said:

"It is incredible that for a relationship that lasted for more than a year with so many WhatsApp messages exchanged between them, the Claimant could not point to any written evidence to support his case. It is also inherently incredible that the Defendant, with her relatively modest salary, would repeatedly borrow such significant sums to spend on luxury items. In light of the foregoing, I find that the Disputed Sums were given to the Defendant as gifts."

The judge then listed examples where Agarwal had given or offered the gifts to Lee.

In May 2021, Agarwal said, "Soon soon can fly. I have a first class/suite ticket booked for you already wherever you want to go when it opens. If not take the private jet then." This was in response to Lee telling him that it had been years since she last took a plane.

In August 2022, when Lee asked how she could repay him for the amount he spent, he said: "No need. I am not a moneylender".

Despite this, he also gave other reasons why some of the expenses should be treated as loans.

For instance, he claimed that the money given for feng shui services had to be a loan as he was Indian and did not believe in feng shui.

When he gave her money to take the Stanford-NUS management course, he supposedly told her that he was giving her a "grant", and that in India the word "grant" means a loan.

The judge dismissed these contentions.

When cross-examined, Agarwal said the gifts became loans when they entered into a relationship: "Only till the fact that when we started dating is when everything became a loan, everything was transactional. Before that, it wasn’t."

He also claimed that once she accepted his offers, the money spent would become loans.

The judge dubbed this "counterintuitive".

The "contract"

The only piece of documentary evidence that Agarwal could produce to support his claim was a handwritten agreement that read:

"To whomsoever it concerns.

I, felicia lee, taking deposit from Chander Agarwal every month 10-25k sgd belongs to Chander (sic) as he is saving for a rainy day.

I will not take it for my use and give it to him whenever he needs it."

Both individuals' signatures followed.

Agarwal claimed that "deposit" in this case meant a loan, while Lee denied ever "having signed or even seen" the agreement.

The judge dismissed the significance of this note, saying that its contents were "plainly contradicted by the facts" that Lee did spend the money for her own use.

He also noted that the defendant had produced another subsequent note, signed again by both parties, that stated that Agarwal would "never attempt to ask Felicia Lee to return back her car or any items given to her out of my own goodwill".

The alleged cheating

Agarwal further accused Lee of misrepresenting their relationship to him, claiming that though he was under the impression that they were in "a genuine and exclusive romantic relationship".

This, according to Agarwal, "induced him into giving [her] the [money]".

However, he claimed that Lee had relations with other men and was unfaithful.

The judge ruled that the nature of the relationship had no bearing on the distinction whether Agarwal had given the money as a gift or as a loan.

He stated that if Agarwal "thought they were in a relationship, whether they were exclusive or not, such that he intended to give the Defendant moneys as gifts, then those moneys were gifts."

It was further noted that Agarwal himself had sexual relations with two other women during the relationship.

The judge concluded, "The evidence before me clearly show that the Claimant, smitten by the Defendant, had showered her with expensive gifts during their relationship."

He then quoted the English playwright William Congreve: "'Heav’n has no rage, like love to hatred turn’d, Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn’d'... This case shows that such emotion is not the sole province of one gender.”

Annoyed by how close reporters were gathering around her as she was escorted out of court, the female Chinese national accused of kidnapping a 72-year-old Singaporean in Malaysia scolded them, asking, "What are you photographing? Haven't seen a pretty woman before?"

The 24-year-old female, named Guan Si Qi (transliteration), is one of four individuals accused of kidnapping a 72-year-old Singaporean man from Penang International Airport in July.

All the accused are Chinese nationals, and they have pleaded not guilty in court on Sep. 10.

According to Sin Chew Daily, the four hung their heads low or covered their faces with clothing upon seeing reporters outside of court.

Guan did the same, but at one point lashed out at reporters with her comment.

She continued avoiding the gaze of the cameras afterwards.

All four were denied bail.

Background

The four accused allegedly worked together to abduct and wrongfully confine 72-year-old Singaporean Quek Aik Teng from Penang International Airport on Jul. 26.

Quek was travelling on his own at the time.

On Aug. 4, his family in Singapore received information indicating that Quek may have been abducted.

They reportedly received audio and video messages showing Quek blindfolded, handcuffed, and repeatedly beaten.

A S$1 million ransom had been demanded in exchange for his release.

They alerted the police.

Through coordination between the Singapore and Malaysian police, he was rescued on Aug. 7 in Kedah, Malaysia.

Malaysian police raided a Kedah residence as part of the rescue, during which an exchange of gunfire resulted in the deaths of two suspects.

Both were foreign nationals.

Six suspects were detained after the raid, but two are now at large.

Following preliminary investigations, the Malaysian police said the suspects allegedly used social media and online platforms to get to know potential victims.

They would then invite the victims to meet in person under various pretexts, including going on holiday, employment opportunities or socialising.

Ng Lye Poh, the mother of Sheng Siong founders, passed away at the age of 91 on Sep. 5.

Relatives, friends and business partners paid their respect at her wake at Woodlands Memorial.

Some of them arrived from overseas.

Streams of funeral wreath were also sent to the venue over the past few days.

Speaking to Mothership, Sheng Siong CEO Lim Hock Chee, 64, shared more about his mum and her influence on him and his brothers.

Hardworking and thrifty

Lim said that when they were farmers, both of his parents were very hardworking and thrifty.

These core values were passed down to their offspring.

Lim was also deeply grateful for his mum's help taking care of his children while he was busy expanding his business with his brothers.

He said his mother did not hold grudges and let go of things easily.

If she argued with his father, she would be fine with him by the next day.

After she was rescued from the kidnap, it was like nothing happened and she headed to the market the next day.

"Her personality was just like that," Lim said.

On filial piety

When his father passed on, he asked himself if he is a filial son, Lim shared with Mothership.

He also admitted that he has not spent enough time with his parents, if spending time with parents is what being filial entails.

Through reading books and reflecting, he said he has distilled what it is to be filial: Don't make your parents worry, don't bring shame to them, and do your parents proud, if you can.

The expansion of Sheng Siong supermarket chain baffled Lim brothers' mother, but it definitely made her proud.

Lim recalled with a smile: "She would always tell people, 'I don't know how they do it. In the past, I used to earn a bit from rearing pigs, but now their annual earnings are in the millions'."

Lim also shared that he and his brothers have decided to donate the bereavement money to a few charity organisations.