Crime & Safety news in Batam Kepulauan Riau Indonesia
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Fire at Kovan house forces evacuation of 30, one person taken to hospital
A fire broke out at a two-storey house on Simon Lane in Kovan on Sept 5, prompting the evacuation of about 30 people from neighbouring units. The Singapore Civil Defence Force extinguished the blaze, which partially damaged a neighbouring house. One person was assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to Singapore General Hospital.
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Johor waters: Over 600 vape cartridges suspected to contain drugs seized
Malaysian maritime authorities seized more than 600 vape cartridges suspected to contain drugs near Sungai Rengit, Johor. The contraband, valued at over RM160,000, was found in a black bag left in a rocky coastal area during a patrol on Friday. The items were taken to the Batu Pahat maritime headquarters for investigation.
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Maritime agency seizes 600 vape pods suspected of containing 'piu-piu' drug worth RM160,000 off Batu Pahat
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized 600 vape pods suspected of containing 'piu-piu' liquid drug worth RM160,000 in the waters off Senggarang, near Batu Pahat. The suspect fled, but a bag containing the drugs was found on a rocky area by a beach. The seized items were taken to the Batu Pahat Zone Maritime Headquarters for further investigation.
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85-year-old retiree in Singapore nearly loses S$110,000 to tech support scam; bank staff intervene
An 85-year-old retired businessman in Singapore nearly lost S$110,000, the bulk of his life savings, to a tech support scam. He was convinced by scammers impersonating police and bank officials to transfer money from his joint OCBC Bank account. Bank staff at the Marine Parade branch raised the alarm, preventing the loss.
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TikTok video shows Lalamove deliverymen tossing parcels at HDB void deck
A TikTok video posted on Aug 30 shows Lalamove delivery workers in Singapore throwing parcels from their van to an HDB void deck, with some packages falling to the ground. The video has drawn criticism from Singaporeans, with some calling for the company to take action.
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68-year-old man injured after bus brakes suddenly along Woodlands Avenue 7
A 68-year-old man was injured on Sep. 1 when Bus 858 braked suddenly along Woodlands Avenue 7, throwing him from his seat. He suffered a head injury, a fractured rib, and a displaced cataract, and was hospitalised again on Sep. 3. His family expressed disappointment with bus operator Tower Transit's handling of the incident.
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Man, 77, allegedly steals S$200 from donation bowl at Changi temple
A 77-year-old man allegedly stole about S$200 from a donation bowl at Hoon Sian Keng Temple on Changi Road on Aug. 28. CCTV footage shows him taking the money and bowing to the statue before leaving. The police are investigating.
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Audi and lorry drivers in Thomson Road road rage face police investigations
A road rage incident on Thomson Road, Singapore, on Sep. 1 has led to police investigations. Two drivers, aged 35 and 52, are assisting with investigations into alleged offences under the Protection from Harassment Act, with the younger driver also investigated for voluntarily causing hurt. Videos of the altercation, which included an exchange of vulgarities and a scuffle, were uploaded online.
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Man fined S$560,000 for evading duty on nearly 30,000 bottles of beer
A 47-year-old Chinese national, Han Xiaoyang, was fined S$560,000 in Singapore for masterminding a scheme to evade duty and GST on imported beer. He pleaded guilty to seven charges involving the evasion of about S$60,127 in duty on 28,236 bottles of beer. As he did not pay the fine, he will serve 164 days in jail.
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Man jailed 39 months, caned for driving on etomidate while delivering Kpods
A 32-year-old Singaporean man, Chua Beng Kai Jeremy, was sentenced to three years and three months' jail and two strokes of the cane for trafficking and consuming Kpods, and for driving under the influence of etomidate. He was caught twice, the second time while on bail, driving from Jurong to Punggol to make deliveries for his supplier. He was also disqualified from driving for five years.
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Vegetation fire at Seletar West Road extinguished by SCDF
A fire broke out at an open grass patch near a heavy vehicle park on Seletar West Road 1 on Sept 4. The Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted at about 9.50am and extinguished the blaze, which involved vegetation measuring about 150m by 50m, using three water jets. No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.
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Man who stopped voyeur at Sengkang MRT among five honoured for catching offenders
Kwok Yen Ming, 36, was at Sengkang MRT station on July 8 when he noticed a man filming a female commuter on an escalator. He confronted the man and, with the station manager, detained him until police arrived. On Sept 4, Kwok and four others were recognised at the Public Transport Security Command Community Roadshow at Punggol Coast MRT station.
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NEA expands robot sweeper trial to Esplanade and East Coast parks
Singapore's National Environment Agency has been trialling autonomous pavement sweepers at Esplanade Park and East Coast Park since April, and plans to expand their use. The agency also released survey results showing a dip in public satisfaction with cleanliness, and detailed enforcement actions against coffee shop owners.
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Man gets 2 years' jail, caning for selling Kpods and illicit drugs
A 24-year-old man, Basil Wang Zhuang Zhen, was sentenced on Sept 4 to two years' jail and two strokes of the cane for trafficking Kpods and other drugs. He was caught after ICA officers found a vape in his car at Woodlands Checkpoint, leading to a search of his home where authorities found thousands of tablets and other illicit items. He is the first person convicted for Kpod trafficking under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
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Private-hire driver, 38, dies after crash on Joo Chiat Road; suspected heart attack
A 38-year-old private-hire car driver died after his vehicle rear-ended another car along Joo Chiat Road towards Marine Parade Central on Sep. 2. He was found unconscious and taken to Changi General Hospital, where he subsequently died. Police investigations are ongoing.
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PHV driver fined S$650 for touting at HarbourFront Centre taxi stand
A private-hire vehicle driver was fined S$650 for loitering and soliciting passengers at the HarbourFront Centre taxi point. Steven Gan Teck Guan was found guilty after a judge ruled he had touted for a S$65 fare in March 2024. He is out on bail pending an appeal.
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Man jailed 21 months for S$1,000 paid assault that broke victim's ankle in Toa Payoh lift
A 30-year-old Singaporean man, Lu Zhong Cheng, was jailed about 21 months for assaulting a stranger in a Toa Payoh lift for S$1,000. The assault, which occurred on Sep. 4, 2025, left the 51-year-old victim with a fractured ankle. Lu was also sentenced for allowing his bank account to be used for criminal proceeds and for driving offences.
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NEA fines for ground littering drop to 5,300 in first half of 2026
Singapore's National Environment Agency reported a drop in fines for ground littering and corrective work orders in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year. The agency credited targeted enforcement and surveillance, including a pilot with town councils that improved the catch rate for high-rise littering. One hotspot at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 saw a 54 per cent drop in litter count.
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Singapore runner charged with stealing shoes, cones from Kallang Decathlon
Singapore distance runner Ko Wen Qiang, Keane, 26, was charged with stealing a pair of running shoes and a set of training cones from a Decathlon outlet in Kallang. The alleged thefts occurred in July and September 2025. Ko represented Singapore at the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships.
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Tourist's Gucci bag with S$8,000 cash snatched in Singapore; passersby help catch suspect
A Chinese tourist in Singapore had her Gucci handbag containing S$8,000 cash snatched by a man she had met earlier that evening. The man, who had offered to help her exchange money, was chased down by the tourist and two passersby near Circular Road. Police confirmed they received a call for assistance and the suspect was subsequently arrested.
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14-year-old boy allegedly approached 9-year-old girl in Bukit Batok, police investigating
A 14-year-old boy allegedly approached a nine-year-old girl in Bukit Batok on Aug. 28 and displayed sexually inappropriate behaviour. The police have confirmed a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.
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Malaysian jailed 15 weeks for smuggling 1,050 etomidate-laced pods through Woodlands Checkpoint
A 42-year-old Malaysian man, Ji Saow Hua, was sentenced to 15 weeks' jail on Sept 3 for importing 1,050 etomidate-laced e-cigarette pods worth $73,500. He was caught at the Woodlands Checkpoint on July 4, 2025, after an auxiliary police officer found the pods in his motorcycle's rear carriage box. Ji had previously been fined for a similar offence in 2024.
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Man, 59, arrested for alleged loanshark harassment at Choa Chu Kang flat
A 59-year-old man was arrested on Sep. 1 for allegedly harassing a resident by scattering shoes and leaving a bicycle lock at a flat along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5. Police identified him through camera images. He will be charged in court on Sep. 3 under the Moneylenders Act.
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Tanker that drifted near Sungai Johor Bridge successfully moved
A tanker that drifted and ran aground near the Sungai Johor Bridge in Kota Tinggi was successfully moved to a designated anchorage. The bridge operator confirmed the structure is safe and traffic was unaffected. The Johor Port Authority is investigating the incident.