Source : TODAY, Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Letter from KELLY WEE,Director, Communications Department, JTC Corporation
WE WOULD like to thank Ms Trina Foo for the feedback in her letter, “The rush, the crush ... nobody seems to care” (July 27).
We share her concerns for the safety of the commuters and are reviewing the traffic congestion issue at the Jurong East MRT station pick-up point together with the relevant authorities to look into ways to improve the situation.
As Ms Foo has rightly pointed out, the peak morning hour traffic congestion in the area has been exacerbated of late especially by heavy showers in the morning. JTC has worked with its private bus operator to increase its fleet of buses from four to five during the morning peak hours between 7.30am and 9.30am recently.
While the arrangement with the bus operator is to get the bus to arrive at the pick-up point at three-minute intervals, we hope to seek Ms Foo’s understanding that due to unforeseen traffic build-up in the area, especially during wet weather conditions, it can be quite challenging for the bus drivers to do so.
We would like to assure Ms Foo that JTC is committed to providing a good service to its tenants and invite her to contact us either at our JTC Contact Centre Hotline (1800-568-7000) or via email at askjtc@jtc.gov.sg to further discuss her feedback.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Bukit Merah Blast - ‘We Won’t Move Back’
Source : TODAY, Tuesday, August 7, 2007
APPROACHING the place he once called home with trepidation, Mr Suherwan Jasmani (picture) stooped as dangling wires obstructed his way into the flat.
The safety supervisor, 27, was rendered homeless when a blast ripped through his 73-year-old neighbour’s one-room rental flat at Jalan Bukit Merah last Friday, damaging
everything within a 20-m radius.
The unit’s occupant, Mr Chan Fook Seng, died in hospital on Saturday night. Another victim, Madam Chan Soo Ngan, 79, is still in intensive care.
Eight of the affected households have been relocated to units in the same area.
Residents have been given a choice to stay in their new homes permanently, or move back to their old flats once repairs are done. Most have opted for their new units.
Said Mr Suherwan, who is staying at his parents’ place with his wife: “She is still traumatised by the incident. I don’t think we’d want to move back here because I don’t want my wife to be reminded of the experience.”
According to Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee, the area’s MP, two more families not directly affected have also asked to be relocated, and their appeal is under consideration.
Said Prof Koo, after paying his respects at Mr Chan’s wake: “The residents have been provided with $200 in cash and vouchers so far. We will follow up with more. The important thing is to give them enough help to start their new lives.”
Residents will also be given $30 worth of food rations, furniture and clothing, and food vouchers by charitable organisations.
GAS CANISTER NOT FAULTY:
SCDF The blast was not caused by a faulty gas canister, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), because the cylinder was intact when officers found it.
Although the cause is still under investigation, early evidence indicates a leakage in one of the connection points linking the canister to the stove.
The SCDF said owners could prevent gas leaks by conducting regular checks on their gas canisters. One way is to apply soapy water to connections such as gas tubings. If bubbles start to form, it is time to change the connections.
APPROACHING the place he once called home with trepidation, Mr Suherwan Jasmani (picture) stooped as dangling wires obstructed his way into the flat.
The safety supervisor, 27, was rendered homeless when a blast ripped through his 73-year-old neighbour’s one-room rental flat at Jalan Bukit Merah last Friday, damagingeverything within a 20-m radius.
The unit’s occupant, Mr Chan Fook Seng, died in hospital on Saturday night. Another victim, Madam Chan Soo Ngan, 79, is still in intensive care.
Eight of the affected households have been relocated to units in the same area.
Residents have been given a choice to stay in their new homes permanently, or move back to their old flats once repairs are done. Most have opted for their new units.
Said Mr Suherwan, who is staying at his parents’ place with his wife: “She is still traumatised by the incident. I don’t think we’d want to move back here because I don’t want my wife to be reminded of the experience.”
According to Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee, the area’s MP, two more families not directly affected have also asked to be relocated, and their appeal is under consideration.
Said Prof Koo, after paying his respects at Mr Chan’s wake: “The residents have been provided with $200 in cash and vouchers so far. We will follow up with more. The important thing is to give them enough help to start their new lives.”
Residents will also be given $30 worth of food rations, furniture and clothing, and food vouchers by charitable organisations.
GAS CANISTER NOT FAULTY:
SCDF The blast was not caused by a faulty gas canister, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), because the cylinder was intact when officers found it.
Although the cause is still under investigation, early evidence indicates a leakage in one of the connection points linking the canister to the stove.
The SCDF said owners could prevent gas leaks by conducting regular checks on their gas canisters. One way is to apply soapy water to connections such as gas tubings. If bubbles start to form, it is time to change the connections.
Where Has The $4.77m Gone?
Source : TODAY, Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Arcade manager missing after allegedly producing false invoices, vouchers
HE was tasked to render building management services to the 19-storey Arcade complex at Raffles Place.
But for 11 years, former complex manager Wilson Loh Wan Wah allegedly produced false invoices and payment vouchers — inducing the building’s management corporation to make out 102 cheques, amounting to $4.77 million, to his business.
Now, Mr Loh is missing, along with the sum which he allegedly pocketed, according to court documents.
The Arcade (picture) management corporation has filed a civil suit against Mr Loh’s former employers — DTZ Debenham Tie Leung South-East Asia and DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Property Management Services — arguing that they had failed to fulfil their duties in managing the building’s monies and accounts. The Arcade’s management is represented by lawyers Latiff Ibrahim and Lynette Chew of Harry Elias Partnership in the suit.
The Arcade management said in the court documents engaging DTZ’s managing agent had implied that the company would “exercise reasonable skill and care expected of a reasonably competent managing agent”. This agent would also “act in good faith and in the interest” of The Arcade.
But Mr Loh — in his late 30s — apparently did not. A statement of claim filed by The Arcade in the High Court on June 15 this year showed that on Oct 4, 2005, DTZ convened an urgent meeting with The Arcade after a cheque for the sum of $524,000 paid to a sub-contractor was not honoured by a bank. DTZ could not contact Mr Loh and files, documents and a computer hard disk from his workstation at The Arcade were also found to be missing.
Irregularities in The Arcade’s accounts were discovered. Mr Loh had shown a set of 2003 accounts that showed a balance of $2.7 million in the management fund, while an audited version showed a balance of just $45,000.
Further investigations later revealed Mr Loh had produced false invoices and payment vouchers purporting to various sums due to Wilkins Enterprise, a business he had set up. Mr Loh would allegedly present these invoices to The Arcade’s management council members and “induce” them to sign cheques for payments to Wilkins, according to the court documents.
The largest cheque issued was in July 17, 1995, when a sum of $163,838 was paid to Wilkins. To allegedly cover up the fraud, in some cases, Mr Loh would name other parties who had business dealings with The Arcade as the cheques’ payees. He had also apparently produced eight sets of fraudulent accounts from 1997 to 2004 and presented them to The Arcade.
Mr Loh was engaged by DTZ Leung from April 1991 to Feb 6, 2005. In a statement to TODAY, DTZ said it had no further comments on the suit — adding that DTZ is also an aggrieved party and the matter was the subject of legal proceedings.
But DTZ said it had “acted promptly” when the matter was discovered on Oct 3, 2005. Besides explaining the situation to all proprietors at The Arcade, DTZ also made available an emergency fund of $100,000 to ensure The Arcade remained operational.
DTZ said it reported the disappearance of Mr Loh to the police in October 2005. Mr Loh was declared a bankrupt on Feb 23.
The Arcade is seeking the $4.77 million, interest on the sum and costs.
Arcade manager missing after allegedly producing false invoices, vouchers
HE was tasked to render building management services to the 19-storey Arcade complex at Raffles Place.
But for 11 years, former complex manager Wilson Loh Wan Wah allegedly produced false invoices and payment vouchers — inducing the building’s management corporation to make out 102 cheques, amounting to $4.77 million, to his business.
Now, Mr Loh is missing, along with the sum which he allegedly pocketed, according to court documents.
The Arcade (picture) management corporation has filed a civil suit against Mr Loh’s former employers — DTZ Debenham Tie Leung South-East Asia and DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Property Management Services — arguing that they had failed to fulfil their duties in managing the building’s monies and accounts. The Arcade’s management is represented by lawyers Latiff Ibrahim and Lynette Chew of Harry Elias Partnership in the suit.The Arcade management said in the court documents engaging DTZ’s managing agent had implied that the company would “exercise reasonable skill and care expected of a reasonably competent managing agent”. This agent would also “act in good faith and in the interest” of The Arcade.
But Mr Loh — in his late 30s — apparently did not. A statement of claim filed by The Arcade in the High Court on June 15 this year showed that on Oct 4, 2005, DTZ convened an urgent meeting with The Arcade after a cheque for the sum of $524,000 paid to a sub-contractor was not honoured by a bank. DTZ could not contact Mr Loh and files, documents and a computer hard disk from his workstation at The Arcade were also found to be missing.
Irregularities in The Arcade’s accounts were discovered. Mr Loh had shown a set of 2003 accounts that showed a balance of $2.7 million in the management fund, while an audited version showed a balance of just $45,000.
Further investigations later revealed Mr Loh had produced false invoices and payment vouchers purporting to various sums due to Wilkins Enterprise, a business he had set up. Mr Loh would allegedly present these invoices to The Arcade’s management council members and “induce” them to sign cheques for payments to Wilkins, according to the court documents.
The largest cheque issued was in July 17, 1995, when a sum of $163,838 was paid to Wilkins. To allegedly cover up the fraud, in some cases, Mr Loh would name other parties who had business dealings with The Arcade as the cheques’ payees. He had also apparently produced eight sets of fraudulent accounts from 1997 to 2004 and presented them to The Arcade.
Mr Loh was engaged by DTZ Leung from April 1991 to Feb 6, 2005. In a statement to TODAY, DTZ said it had no further comments on the suit — adding that DTZ is also an aggrieved party and the matter was the subject of legal proceedings.
But DTZ said it had “acted promptly” when the matter was discovered on Oct 3, 2005. Besides explaining the situation to all proprietors at The Arcade, DTZ also made available an emergency fund of $100,000 to ensure The Arcade remained operational.
DTZ said it reported the disappearance of Mr Loh to the police in October 2005. Mr Loh was declared a bankrupt on Feb 23.
The Arcade is seeking the $4.77 million, interest on the sum and costs.
Wet Markets Are Here To Stay
Source : The Stratits Times, August 7, 2007 Tuesday
Wet markets are remembered as social hubs for many older Singaporeans living in HDB heartlands.
As shoppers picked up their daily necessities, they mingled with their neighbours and shared the latest gossip. Wet markets were a place where community was established.
On the other hand, young Singaporeans prefer shopping at supermarkets where they can find everything under one roof, in a clean, comfortable environment.
Looking ahead, HDB plans to build more wet markets in the future to enrich community life.
Related Video Link - http://tinyurl.com/2ardpp [The Straits Times Video News]
Wet markets are remembered as social hubs for many older Singaporeans living in HDB heartlands.
As shoppers picked up their daily necessities, they mingled with their neighbours and shared the latest gossip. Wet markets were a place where community was established.
On the other hand, young Singaporeans prefer shopping at supermarkets where they can find everything under one roof, in a clean, comfortable environment.
Looking ahead, HDB plans to build more wet markets in the future to enrich community life.
Related Video Link - http://tinyurl.com/2ardpp [The Straits Times Video News]
The Arcade Goes To Court To Recover Missing $4.8m
Source : The Straits Times, Aug 7, 2007
Building's manager has vanished and is said to have pocketed the money By K.C. Vijayan, Law Correspondent.
FOR more than 11 years, the manager of The Arcade received cheques to the tune of nearly $5 million. That sum, said to have gone to his own company, is now missing.
Missing too, since October 2005, is Mr Wilson Loh, building services manager of the 20-storey office-cum-commercial complex in Raffles Place.
It is believed $4.76 million disappeared as a result of 102 cheques made out to Mr Loh's own private firm, Wilkins Enterprise, for goods and services that were not delivered.
The alleged fraud was spread over 11 years, from 1994 to 2005.
Now, The Arcade's management corporation is taking the present managing agent - DTZ Debenham Tie Leung (SEA), and its subsidiary - to court to recover its missing $4.76 million. A High Court pre-trial conference on the civil suit is due to be held next week.
Mr Loh became building supervisor in 1991, when DTZ Leung Pte Ltd was The Arcade's managing agent until March 1997. He kept his job when in April 1997, a subsidiary - DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Property Management Services - took over as managing agent.
It was DTZ that discovered Mr Loh's alleged misdeeds on Oct 3, 2005, after a cheque bounced.
By then, Mr Loh had gone missing.
DTZ contacted the police. It also sent a notice to all subsidiary proprietors explaining the situation and assuring them The Arcade would continue to run as before.
In a statement yesterday, it said it had then provided an emergency float of $100,000 to ensure services could continue.
As building supervisor, Mr Loh handled all administration work involving building maintenance. He dealt with contractors and made recommendations for payment.
He also produced monthly account statements for The Arcade's managing council and annual audits.
The warning bells first sounded in September 2005, when a cheque for some $524,000 from The Arcade to its engineering sub-contractor bounced. A computer hard disk from Mr Loh's Arcade office was later found to be missing. So were some files.
It is believed there were two sets of accounts, at least from 1997 to 2004. The second fraudulent set, purported audited, and shown to The Arcade's management in 2004, had a sum of $2.75 million. In fact, only $45,305 was left by then, according to court documents filed.
Police have also been investigating the alleged frauds. Police spokesman Mohamed Razif confirmed a report had been received but deemed it 'inappropriate to comment as investigations are ongoing'.
DTZ, through its lawyers from Allen & Gledhill, disputes The Arcade's claims. It is expected to argue that as Mr Loh reported to the chairman and council members of The Arcade's management council, they had full control and supervision over him.
The Arcade, through its lawyers from Harry Elias Partnership, is expected to argue that Mr Loh lied to The Arcade's management to induce it to make out cheques payable to his firm, Wilkins Enterprise.
The Arcade is also seeking damages for expenses incurred in redressing the loss, including legal costs, engaging forensic audit consultants to uncover the alleged frauds, and having to seek a loan to fund its operations after the $4.76 million loss.
Wilkins Enterprise, which operated from International Plaza in Anson Road, is now defunct. Mr Loh was made a bankrupt in February.
A DTZ statement said it could not comment further on the case as it is now the subject of legal proceedings.
It said: 'We understand that the loss arising from the case, if any, will be covered by insurance. Our operations will not be affected in any way.'
Building's manager has vanished and is said to have pocketed the money By K.C. Vijayan, Law Correspondent.
FOR more than 11 years, the manager of The Arcade received cheques to the tune of nearly $5 million. That sum, said to have gone to his own company, is now missing.
Missing too, since October 2005, is Mr Wilson Loh, building services manager of the 20-storey office-cum-commercial complex in Raffles Place.
It is believed $4.76 million disappeared as a result of 102 cheques made out to Mr Loh's own private firm, Wilkins Enterprise, for goods and services that were not delivered.
The alleged fraud was spread over 11 years, from 1994 to 2005.
Now, The Arcade's management corporation is taking the present managing agent - DTZ Debenham Tie Leung (SEA), and its subsidiary - to court to recover its missing $4.76 million. A High Court pre-trial conference on the civil suit is due to be held next week.
Mr Loh became building supervisor in 1991, when DTZ Leung Pte Ltd was The Arcade's managing agent until March 1997. He kept his job when in April 1997, a subsidiary - DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Property Management Services - took over as managing agent.
It was DTZ that discovered Mr Loh's alleged misdeeds on Oct 3, 2005, after a cheque bounced.
By then, Mr Loh had gone missing.
DTZ contacted the police. It also sent a notice to all subsidiary proprietors explaining the situation and assuring them The Arcade would continue to run as before.
In a statement yesterday, it said it had then provided an emergency float of $100,000 to ensure services could continue.
As building supervisor, Mr Loh handled all administration work involving building maintenance. He dealt with contractors and made recommendations for payment.
He also produced monthly account statements for The Arcade's managing council and annual audits.
The warning bells first sounded in September 2005, when a cheque for some $524,000 from The Arcade to its engineering sub-contractor bounced. A computer hard disk from Mr Loh's Arcade office was later found to be missing. So were some files.
It is believed there were two sets of accounts, at least from 1997 to 2004. The second fraudulent set, purported audited, and shown to The Arcade's management in 2004, had a sum of $2.75 million. In fact, only $45,305 was left by then, according to court documents filed.
Police have also been investigating the alleged frauds. Police spokesman Mohamed Razif confirmed a report had been received but deemed it 'inappropriate to comment as investigations are ongoing'.
DTZ, through its lawyers from Allen & Gledhill, disputes The Arcade's claims. It is expected to argue that as Mr Loh reported to the chairman and council members of The Arcade's management council, they had full control and supervision over him.
The Arcade, through its lawyers from Harry Elias Partnership, is expected to argue that Mr Loh lied to The Arcade's management to induce it to make out cheques payable to his firm, Wilkins Enterprise.
The Arcade is also seeking damages for expenses incurred in redressing the loss, including legal costs, engaging forensic audit consultants to uncover the alleged frauds, and having to seek a loan to fund its operations after the $4.76 million loss.
Wilkins Enterprise, which operated from International Plaza in Anson Road, is now defunct. Mr Loh was made a bankrupt in February.
A DTZ statement said it could not comment further on the case as it is now the subject of legal proceedings.
It said: 'We understand that the loss arising from the case, if any, will be covered by insurance. Our operations will not be affected in any way.'
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