Singapore
Home Affairs and Law Minister, K Shanmugam, refutes allegations in Facebook posts amidst controversy
Singapore Minister K Shanmugam addressed personal allegations on Facebook, including refuting claims of an affair with an Member of Parliament and a false post by an imposter about his ex-wife, Jothie Rajah.
SINGAPORE: In the midst of a property rental controversy, Minister for Home Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam, took to Facebook on Tuesday evening to address personal allegations circulating against him.
1. Addressing Alleged Affair with MP:
The first post by Mr. Shanmugam tackled allegations of an affair with an MP. “I have been told that an old post, fake news, is being recirculated – that I had an affair with an MP. False baseless allegations,” he stated.
The Minister has engaged his lawyers on the matter and is weighing other possible actions.
2. Disputing Imposter’s Claims about Ex-wife Jothie Rajah:
In a subsequent post, he clarified a past incident concerning an imposter who falsely claimed to be his ex-wife, Jothie Rajah, daughter of Senior Counsel and former Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Singapore, K.S. Rajah.
“A person pretending to be my ex-wife Jothie, put up a nasty, false post, many years ago,” he shared. Mr. Shanmugam confirmed that Jothie had disavowed any connection to the post, attributing it to the imposter.
While he had initially considered filing a police report when the issue first emerged, he chose not to. With the post resurfacing, he now plans to proceed with the police report.
Mr Shanmugam and Jothie Rajah were previously married for 15 years, but their marriage ended due to “mutual incompatibility”.
Speculations and allegations, such as the ones the Minister recently addressed, have been cited by some as potential reasons for their separation, although these claims remain unsubstantiated.
Parallel to these personal clarifications, Mr Shanmugam is also contending with public scrutiny over renting 26 Ridout Road, a sizable black-and-white bungalow of 23,164 sqm (249,294 sq ft) at S$26,500 from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), a statutory board under his oversight as the Minister for Law.
Ministerial statements by Mr Shanmugam and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on the matter were released in a parliamentary sitting in July.
Cabinet members of the People’s Action Party government refuted any wrongdoing, highlighting reviews by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) which cleared both ministers.
However, concerns about a potential conflict of interest persist. Engaging in negotiations with an agency within one’s own ministry, even after recusal, can give rise to perceptions of impropriety. This seems at odds with the Ministers’ Code of Conduct from 1954.
The parliament session in July brought these concerns to the fore, with both the opposition and the public vocalizing their desire for clearer answers, but the responses provided were hardly satisfactory.
In addition to the Ridout rental saga, Mr Shanmugam and Dr Balakrishnan are also embroiled in a legal dispute with Mr Lee Hsien Yang, son of late Lee Kuan Yew.
They have threatened to sue him for defamation over a Facebook post in which Mr Lee commented on the declining trust of Singaporeans in the PAP government. So far, no public update on the legal threat by the two ministers has been made.
Crime
Singaporean fugitive deported from Thailand, to be charged with drug trafficking
A Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand, was deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024 and faces drug trafficking charges. Authorities expect him to face the death penalty under Singapore’s tough drug laws for running a smuggling operation between Thailand, Australia, and Singapore.
A 31-year-old Singaporean man, wanted for drug trafficking offences, was arrested in Thailand and deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024.
The fugitive, identified as Benny Kee Soon Chuan, was apprehended by Thai police at his residence near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and will face charges in court on 20 September.
Kee, described as a high-level trafficker, ran a smuggling operation that trafficked crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, and Ecstasy to Australia and Singapore using Thailand as a transit hub, according to Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).
Cross-Border Investigation and Arrest
The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore had issued an arrest warrant for Kee following investigations into two drug trafficking cases in December 2020 and November 2022.
He had been on the run since 11 April 2016, prompting CNB to collaborate with its international counterparts, including the ONCB. Thai authorities were tipped off by CNB on 12 August 2024, and after weeks of investigation, Kee was apprehended on 17 September.
Thai immigration officials revealed that Kee had entered Thailand earlier in 2024 using a Vanuatu passport.
Following his arrest, Kee’s Thai visa was cancelled, and assets worth 15 million baht (S$585,000), including luxury watches, gold pieces, and a luxury car, were seized during a raid on his residence in Samut Prakan.
Lt Gen Panurat confirmed that the fugitive had been living an affluent lifestyle in Thailand despite lacking legitimate employment.
Links to Broader Drug Network
Kee is believed to be linked to other Singaporean traffickers involved in the smuggling of drugs from Thailand.
In March 2021, Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force (AITF) intercepted packages containing Ecstasy and ketamine destined for Singapore, as well as crystal methamphetamine bound for Australia.
Two other Singaporean men, aged 21 and 29 at the time of their arrests, were later sentenced to imprisonment and caning in Singapore for their involvement in these operations, which were connected to Kee’s trafficking network.
Death Penalty Under Singaporean Law
Kee’s deportation to Singapore brings him under the jurisdiction of Singapore’s severe drug laws, which prescribe the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking substantial amounts of controlled substances.
Singaporean authorities have indicated that he could face the death penalty under the country’s strict drug trafficking laws. Pol Lt Gen Panurat indicated that Singaporean authorities are expected to seek the maximum penalty for Kee’s alleged offences.
Arts & Culture
Epigram Books to close SAM bookshop amid low sales and footfall
Epigram Books will shut down its bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum on 26 January 2025, citing low sales and foot traffic. The independent bookstore, known for supporting local authors, will continue to operate its online store, but its future in brick-and-mortar retail is uncertain.
Epigram Books, a major supporter of Singaporean literature, will close its Epigram Coffee Bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) on 26 January 2025.
The decision comes after years of struggling with low sales and foot traffic at the Tanjong Pagar Distripark location, marking the end of the bookstore’s three-year lease.
The announcement on 19 September follows Times Bookstores’ closure of its final outlet in Holland Road, highlighting the growing challenges faced by brick-and-mortar bookstores in Singapore.
Edmund Wee, publisher at Epigram Books, expressed disappointment, stating: “We tried everything to make this work. Over the past three years, we’ve often asked ourselves, how many people even knew our bookstore existed here, let alone visited?”
Despite efforts to boost traffic, including operating shuttles to increase accessibility, the bookstore struggled to attract visitors consistently.
Epigram Coffee Bookshop, previously located at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Centre on Maxwell Road and later in a pop-up at Beach Road, relocated to SAM in May 2022 in partnership with Balestier Market Collective.
The 20-seater store featured towering shelves showcasing local and Southeast Asian titles, including books from other independent publishers like Ethos Books and Math Paper Press.
However, the location’s industrial setting, which only saw spikes in visitors during major exhibitions like Olafur Eliasson’s, limited consistent footfall.
The closure coincides with the end of Eliasson’s exhibit on 22 September 2024. Although the exhibition provided a temporary boost to the bookshop’s sales, Epigram noted that the increased traffic was short-lived.
Epigram’s future in physical retail remains uncertain. Mr Wee indicated that high rental costs make reopening a physical store unlikely: “Unless rent prices relent, it’s unlikely we’ll move into another space.”
Epigram Books has been a significant presence in Singapore’s independent book scene, promoting local authors and holding literary events.
The bookshop was also a community hub for the literary arts, hosting numerous book launches and events supporting local writers. “These spaces are special to our literary arts community. They’re where book lovers gather, where literary events and book launches happen in support of our writers,” said Mr Wee.
Despite the closure of the SAM store, Epigram will continue to operate its online store. The publisher emphasized the need for continued support from readers: “We’ve come this far with everyone’s support, and we look forward to continued support from our readers as we transition to focus on online sales.”
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