SINGAPORE: A man who molested his girlfriend’s nine-year-old daughter while his girlfriend was in the toilet was sentenced on Thursday (Jun 18) to 20 months’ jail and three strokes of the cane.

All parties involved cannot be named due to gag orders protecting the identity of the victim, who is now 10.

The 35-year-old man pleaded guilty to one charge of using criminal force to outrage the girl’s modesty.

The court heard that the man started dating the 33-year-old woman in 2013 and the couple began living together – with the woman’s daughter as well – in July 2018.

The man grew close to the victim, fetching her from school daily, playing with her and buying her gifts that her mother would not.

On Apr 5 last year, the couple and the girl went out to buy an electric bicycle and returned home at 9.30pm.

The girl removed her pants and placed them at the washing machine, before resting on a bed while her mother and the accused did household chores, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Chong Yong.

The man finished his chores at about 10pm and sat down next to the girl, who was lying on the bed.

He felt sexually aroused seeing her, and molested her three times. The girl sat up in shock, and the man molested her again. She told him to stop, but her pleas went unheeded, the court heard.

The man lay on the bed and exposed himself, grabbing the girl’s hand. The girl told him that she did not want to touch him, but he continued pulling her hand towards his genitals.

At this point, the girl’s mother came out from the toilet and saw her boyfriend and daughter. Shocked, she shouted at him and asked him what he was trying to do. The man immediately let go of the girl’s hand and pretended that nothing had happened.

He told his girlfriend that he had not done anything, but she saw that her daughter looked “lost and confused”, and immediately took her out of the house and to the void deck.

Although the girl was scared and hesitated to tell her mother what happened, she eventually recounted the incident after her mother comforted her.

The girl said that this was the first time the man had touched her in such a manner.

Her mother sent the girl to sleep at a neighbour’s house that night, as she wanted to keep her away from her boyfriend. Later that night, the accused asked where the victim was, but the victim’s mother did not tell him, as she feared for her daughter’s safety.

The next day, the woman lodged a police report saying that her daughter had been molested by her boyfriend.

For using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a minor, the man could have been jailed for up to five years, fined, caned, or given any combination of these punishments.

SINGAPORE: An 80-year-old Singaporean woman, who is a family member of a previously confirmed COVID-19 patient, was among four new cases in the community reported on Tuesday (Jun 2), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.

The elderly woman had already been placed on quarantine earlier, and experienced onset of symptoms on May 17.

The remaining three community cases are work pass or work permit holders.

One of them – a 33-year-old male Indian national – had been picked up as a result of the ministry’s proactive screening of migrant workers working in essential services. He was reported as being asymptomatic.

Another is a contact of a previously confirmed case and had already been placed on quarantine earlier.

MOH said that epidemiological investigations are ongoing for the remaining case.

The ministry reported a total of 544 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Tuesday, bringing the nation’s total to 35,836.

99 per cent of the new cases are linked to known clusters, while the rest are pending contact tracing, said MOH.

From dawn to dusk, Singapore as it exits its COVID-19 circuit breaker: In pictures

THREE NEW CLUSTERS

The ministry added that in the past week, it uncovered links for six previously unlinked cases.

Three new clusters have been found at the migrant worker dormitories at 6 Tuas View Square, 65 & 67 Tuas View Walk 2 and 18 Woodlands Industrial Park E1.

A total of 709 more patients have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 23,175.

There are currently 331 cases still in hospital, most of whom are stable or improving, MOH said. Six patients are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

There are 12,306 patients who have mild symptoms or are clinically well but are still testing positive for COVID-19. They are currently isolated and cared for at community care facilities.

The COVID-19 death toll in Singapore stands at 24.

READ: Transition to a ‘new normal’ after circuit breaker: How will measures be lifted beyond Phase 1?

READ: Singapore’s circuit breaker and beyond – Timeline of the COVID-19 reality

REOPENING PHASE 1

Full hairdressing services, motor vehicle servicing, aircon servicing, printing, basic pet services and school bookshops have also been allowed to resume as part of Phase 1 of reopening after the circuit breaker.

Pre-schools and early intervention centres reopened for children in Kindergarten 1 and 2 , with children in nursery level, infant care and playgroup to follow next week.

Some places of worship were also allowed to resume services such as marriage solemnisations and funerals, subject to a cap of 10 attendees.

READ: In-person Muslim marriage solemnisations with up to 10 people allowed from Jun 2

READ: Catholic churches will not reopen for private worship on Jun 2

Private worship at mosques will also be allowed in limited prayer spaces, which can accommodate up to five individuals, or up to five households with a maximum of five individuals per household.

Households may now visit parents or grandparents, subject to a limit of two people and one visit per day. Parents may also drop off children for childcare, subject to the same limit.

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SINGAPORE: A 26-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday (May 20) after several items of female underwear were reported stolen from outside a home in Pasir Ris, the police said in a news release on Thursday.

On May 10 at 9.25pm, the police received a report that female underwear hung outside a residential unit along Pasir Ris Street 12 had been taken.

The 26-year-old man was subsequently arrested following ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in other similar cases in the area, said the police.

“An assortment of more than 25 undergarments found in his possession were seized,” they added.

Police investigations are ongoing.

If found guilty of theft, the man faces up to three years in jail, a fine, or both.

The police said they are also looking at possible breaches of safe distancing measures by him.

When you hear of a Singaporean actress getting signed on by Hollywood agents, you’d probably picture a sweet, young, 22-year-old receiving her first big break.

So the news that a middle-aged thespian – albeit one of Singapore entertainment’s finest – has been signed on by not one, but three international talent agents, should leave many jaws hanging.

At an iridescent 55 years young, the commercially and critically acclaimed Tan Kheng Hua is at an age when actresses, who used to being consistently cast as film, TV and theatre leads, suddenly find that the telephone has stopped ringing.

They love the age that I am at … being my age actually opens up more opportunities

Tan, however, has not only managed to buck that trend, but also finds herself – the mother of a 20-year-old daughter – slap-bang in the middle of one of the most defining periods of her career (and life) to date.

Tan, who recently won rave reviews for her role as Kerry Chu, the mother of Constance Wu’s Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians, is now signed with Conway van Gelder Grant in the United Kingdom; and GVA Talent Agency and Zero Gravity Management in Hollywood, Los Angeles. This puts her alongside illustrious names in the industry including Benedict Cumberbatch, Helena Bonham Carter and Sally Hawkins, just to name a few.

Set against the truism that if you’re a woman in entertainment, the roles start drying up when you hit 35 – much less 55 – Tan’s current momentum and success is indeed heartening and, more importantly, inspiring.

I love how they (the agents) see me now. I feel that it is so validating for me

“I think it’s really interesting that all the agents that I have spoken to internationally told me that they love the age that I am at,” Tan told CNA Lifestyle candidly. “And that being my age actually opens up more opportunities.”

She continued: “Certainly because the world views a 55-year-old woman differently from how Singaporeans view a 55-year-old woman like myself. I am so sad that there is so little in our (local) media that is written about the emotional and intellectual landscape of a woman of my particular demographic.”

I would not have been able to weather everything that is happening in my life…

In an unforgiving industry where many feel that ageism is a perennial issue and women have sell-by dates, Tan is all about embracing life and career in her 50s.

In fact, she confesses to CNA Lifestyle, to “never want to be in my 20s ever again!”

“I did not enjoy it as much as I am enjoying my life now. I love how they (the agents) see me now. I feel that it is so validating for me,” she shared. “When I look at myself now, I like how I look today, as a 55-year-old. I never feel like I want to look younger. I don’t even want to be 10 years younger. I just want to be my age.”

READ: Singapore takes over Hollywood as Crazy Rich Asians premieres

Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything about being 55 is easy, she acknowledged.  “In fact, it’s not. But I want that grey. I want the ups and downs, the lows and highs, because I feel so alive.”

Most importantly, she says, if she weren’t at this age, she thinks she would “not have been able to weather everything that is happening in my life… in such a calm, peaceful, authentic and humble way.”

So how has life changed since the global box office hit that was Crazy Rich Asians?

“One main (change) would be the offers from the agents. Whilst I am calm and level-headed about it, I certainly don’t expect or have my eye on changing my life,” she revealed. “My main source of pleasure and joy from that particular instance – just the agencies wanting to sign me up – is the promise of new wonderful work.”

Another big change, Tan admits, is that the work that she and her fellow actors do in Crazy Rich Asians has now gone out to a much larger market.

“So what does that mean? It just means that more people have seen your work,” she said with a smile. “And I am just so humbled and thankful for all the positive reactions to the work.”

But don’t think for one moment that Singapore’s beloved TV and theatre actress-producer-director will be flying the coop. Tan says that having all her overseas agents simply means that she now has more people looking out for jobs for her.

“How great is that? But I also want to mention that all these years, Fly (her Singapore artiste management) has always been there for me – very own work family here in Singapore. And the theatre! I want to continue to reinforce and keep all these relationships going.

“There are types of work I like to do and a lot of them are here in Singapore,” she explained.  “And I will continue to do those and have my feelers out.”

One can almost say that geography has and never will hold this actress back. For the past year, Tan has been jetting about and flying the Singapore flag proudly.

I am just so humbled and thankful for all the positive reactions to the work

Audiences will  next catch Tan in Foreign Skies, a limited series adaptation of Lucy Kirkwood’s acclaimed play Chimerica for British TV broadcaster Channel 4 slated for a 2019 release; as well as the HBO Asia/Astro Shaw/FINAS film The Garden Of Evening Mists, which is based on Penang-born writer Tan Twan Eng’s 2012 award-winning novel of the same name.

Currently back in Singapore, she just wrapped up the run of She’s A Great Way To Fly – a theatre showcase about Singapore Airlines stewardesses that is part of The Substation’s programme Singapore Girl, Or Heritage Deployed – for which she served as producer.

I feel a sense of simplicity, humility, peace, goodness and freedom

So what’s on the horizon for a 55-year-old mutli-hyphenate?

“I’ve been getting my (US working) visa sorted. Currently I don’t have a confirmed acting project from my new agents but the feelers are out. The machinery is oiled and starting its rumble.

“I do think what’s next for me is a great sense of peace and happiness at (being) where I am. I don’t have over-the moon-expectations. But I am so full of curiosity and hope. And confidence in anything that can or may not happen. And it’ll all be fine.”

Certainly sounds like it took 55 complicated years for Tan Kheng Hua to arrive at this current serenity and state-of-mind, we offer up blithely.

“Yes, it did. Because I had some terrible scrapes. And I’ve come through some really difficult times, but today I sit here and I feel a sense of simplicity, humility, peace, goodness and freedom,” she replied frankly.

And if the crazy turning point of Crazy Rich Asians had never happened, does she think she’d still have arrived at this point?

“Without Crazy Rich Asians, no,” she replied without hesitation. “You know, I had this conversation with (writer) Kevin Kwan recently. And I told him that for direct and indirect reasons, Crazy Rich Asians came to me at a time when there were so many shifts in my life; and when all sort of changes were happening.  And it had direct and indirect reasons for some sort of amazing cosmic energy, and I took it! I allowed myself to shed. Crazy Rich Asians was all a part of that time and I embraced it.”

And at this juncture, all this older and wiser woman simply wants to be is “a good mother, good daughter, a good friend”.

“And let’s see what else the rest of the world has for me, and I want to do that as well,” she said with a laugh.

After all, life is all about perspective, isn’t it?

“How do I make what is good in my life better,” said Tan. “As opposed to leaving what is good in search of something better?”

I can’t help but be myself … and in the end, just follow your joy

Her mantra, she shared, is this: “Be better. Try not to make the same mistakes again”.

“I will never make some of the big mistakes I’ve made in my life again,” she said. “Never.”

She admits that being herself  “for good and bad reasons, has gotten me into terrible scrapes” over the years.

“But I can’t help but be myself,” she said. “And in the end, just follow your joy.  I think I can’t help but do that – follow my joy.”

Photography: Aik Chen

Makeup: Tinoq Goh

Hair: Dylan Chan

Dress: Stolen

Jewellery: theKANG

Art Direction: Chern Ling

READ: Crazy Rich Asians: The biggest misconceptions about Asians according to the cast

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) — Norristown Police want you to share these photos of three older teenagers who they say brutally beat the 56-year-old owner of a local pizzeria after she confronted them about stealing from her restaurant. The victim’s family spoke about how she’s doing and their message to the attackers.

READ MORE: CBS3 Legend Pat Ciarrocchi Tells Ukee Washington Her Most Personal Story Ever — Her Own Brain Surgery

The victim’s family says that more than two weeks later, she’s still in a lot of pain and they are asking those responsible to turn themselves in.

Surveillance video captured the brutal attack of a Norristown pizza shop owner, 56-year-old Ying Ngov, outside Mama Venezia’s Pizzeria on East Marshall Street on Feb. 19.

The confrontation began after the men allegedly took items without paying. The victim chased the crowd, and at one point, picked up a shovel from her neighbor’s yard.

But the men soon swarmed her. Video shows them punching and throwing Ngov to the ground.

The victim’s husband is relieved it wasn’t any worse. Her son-in-law, Bryan Skipper, described her injuries.

“Her back is hurting right now and they are actually going to take a lot of imaging tomorrow,” he said. “Her face still hurts, it’s still swollen.”

On Monday, police issued arrest warrants for three 19-year-olds they say are responsible.

READ MORE: The Story Of Pat Ciarrocchi’s Brain

Delaware County brothers Justin and Kevin Cassidy are being charged for the robbery and attack. Justin Croson, of York County, is charged with aggravated assault.

“Putting hands on a female, and especially one of her age and stature, it just kind of blows my mind that you could do that to a person,” Skipper said.

“Sweetest lady, like always asks how your day is,” one woman said.

Customers showed their support for the woman they fondly call “mom.”

“That they can get some closure and they find the guys that did this,” a customer said.

The family is pleading for those responsible to come forward.

“You’re going to get caught, you might as well turn yourself in. You’re still young, you still have a chance to better yourself,” said Skipper.

Anyone with information is asked to call Norristown Police at 610-270-1476.

MORE NEWS: New Jersey Expanding COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility To Teachers, Child Care, Transportation Workers

CBS3’s Alicia Roberts reports.