Singapore maintains its status as one of the world's safest nations through a zero-leniency police force. With severe penalties like judicial caning and mandatory capital punishment for drugs, the city-state enforces strict public order, resulting in exceptionally low crime rates.

‘Zero leniency policies’: Which country has the most strict police in the world

Singapore police are investigating a company linked to two entrepreneurs trying to buy Newcastle United after an accounting firm lodged a police report over unauthorised signatures on the group's financial statements.

The two Singaporean entrepreneurs, cousins Terence and Nelson Loh, head the Bellagraph Nova Group along with a Chinese business partner.

The group's bid to buy the English Premier League football club hit a snag after reports emerged last month of manipulated photos purporting to show former US president Barack Obama in a meeting with its founders in Paris, among other inconsistent claims.

Ernst and Young said Saturday it did not sign off on the documents of Novena Global Healthcare Group, but served as the auditor of a Singapore subsidiary in 2017.&nbsp;

"Ernst &amp; Young LLP were never the auditors of Novena Global Healthcare Group (incorporated in Cayman Islands)," a spokesperson said in a statement sent to AFP.

The police confirmed that a report was lodged and said they were looking into the matter.&nbsp;

The Novena Global Healthcare Group is owned by the Lohs, according to the Straits Times newspaper.&nbsp;

Terence Loh denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer, the newspaper reported.&nbsp;

AFP has reached out to Terence and Nelson Loh for comment.&nbsp;

BN Group's bid came after a Saudi-backed consortium withdrew its offer to buy Newcastle in late July, following a months-long wait for Premier League approval

The company has blamed "errant individuals" for the doctored Obama photographs.

It has made other questionable claims, including that it is headquartered at a prestigious Paris address.&nbsp;

A visit by an AFP reporter found that the Paris office address belongs to workspace provider Regus. AFP also found that no company named Bellagraph Nova Group or BN Group is registered in France.

The Lohs are also controlling shareholders in professional advisory services firm Axington, which saw a string of resignations from its board after the revelations about Bellagraph Nova surfaced, including of Kirk Wagar, the former US ambassador to Singapore.&nbsp;

Singapore police are investigating a company linked to two entrepreneurs trying to buy Newcastle United after an accounting firm lodged a police report over unauthorised signatures on the group's financial statements.

Singapore police are investigating a company linked to two entrepreneurs trying to buy Newcastle United after an accounting firm lodged a police report over unauthorised signatures on the group's financial statements. The two Singaporean entrepreneurs, cousins Terence and Nelson Loh, head the Bellagraph Nova Group along with a Chinese business partner. The group's bid to buy the English Premier League football club hit a snag after reports emerged last month of manipulated photos purporting to show former US president Barack Obama in a meeting with its founders in Paris, among other inconsistent claims. Ernst and Young said Saturday it did not sign off on the documents of Novena Global Healthcare Group, but served as the auditor of a Singapore subsidiary in 2017. "Ernst & Young LLP were never the auditors of Novena Global Healthcare Group (incorporated in Cayman Islands)," a spokesperson said in a statement sent to AFP. The police confirmed that a report was lodged and said they were looking into the matter. The Novena Global Healthcare Group is owned by the Lohs, according to the Straits Times newspaper. Terence Loh denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer, the newspaper reported. AFP has reached out to Terence and Nelson Loh for comment. BN Group's bid came after a Saudi-backed consortium withdrew its offer to buy Newcastle in late July, following a months-long wait for Premier League approval The company has blamed "errant individuals" for the doctored Obama photographs. It has made other questionable claims, including that it is headquartered at a prestigious Paris address. A visit by an AFP reporter found that the Paris office address belongs to workspace provider Regus. AFP also found that no company named Bellagraph Nova Group or BN Group is registered in France. The Lohs are also controlling shareholders in professional advisory services firm Axington, which saw a string of resignations from its board after the revelations about Bellagraph Nova surfaced, including of Kirk Wagar, the former US ambassador to Singapore.

Singapore police investigate firm linked to Newcastle bidders

Asian city-state&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;is well known for its strict rules: fines can be doled out for everything from feeding birds to forgetting to flush a public toilet.

But this week&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;police had to clarify that using a&nbsp;phone&nbsp;while crossing the road was not illegal after rumours circulated online that doing so could result in a S$1,000 ($733) fine under revised rules.

"There is a message circulating online which claims erroneously that pedestrians who use their mobile&nbsp;phones while crossing the roads may be fined up to $1,000 from December 1, 2019. This is false,"&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;police said in a statement on Facebook".

"However, we advise pedestrians to avoid using such devices when crossing the road, as such usage would distract them from the road conditions and the movement of vehicles around them."

All major domestic media outlets including broadcaster Channel NewsAsia and The Straits Times newspaper carried the police clarification.

But some people said such a&nbsp;law&nbsp;would be a good idea.

"Please make this an offence, simply because people who do this have no regards for other people's safety, and&nbsp;many&nbsp;a time at the traffic lights vehicles have to wait for them to finish crossing even when the lights are not in their favour," reader Alan Kiong commented on the Straits Times' Facebook page.

"Time to look into the matter. No to zombie world," said another Facebook user, I'sha Md Eusuff.

People in&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;spend more than 12 hours a day on gadgets such as mobile&nbsp;phones, tablets, computers and video game consoles, according to a 2017 study by consultancy Ernst &amp; Young.

Asian city-state Singapore is well known for its strict rules: fines can be doled out for everything from feeding birds to forgetting to flush a public toilet. But this week Singapore police had to clarify that using a phone while crossing the road was not illegal after rumours circulated online that doing so could result in a S$1,000 ($733) fine under revised rules.

Asian city-state Singapore is well known for its strict rules: fines can be doled out for everything from feeding birds to forgetting to flush a public toilet. But this week Singapore police had to clarify that using a phone while crossing the road was not illegal after rumours circulated online that doing so could result in a S$1,000 ($733) fine under revised rules. "There is a message circulating online which claims erroneously that pedestrians who use their mobile phones while crossing the roads may be fined up to $1,000 from December 1, 2019. This is false," Singapore police said in a statement on Facebook". "However, we advise pedestrians to avoid using such devices when crossing the road, as such usage would distract them from the road conditions and the movement of vehicles around them." All major domestic media outlets including broadcaster Channel NewsAsia and The Straits Times newspaper carried the police clarification. But some people said such a law would be a good idea. "Please make this an offence, simply because people who do this have no regards for other people's safety, and many a time at the traffic lights vehicles have to wait for them to finish crossing even when the lights are not in their favour," reader Alan Kiong commented on the Straits Times' Facebook page. "Time to look into the matter. No to zombie world," said another Facebook user, I'sha Md Eusuff. People in Singapore spend more than 12 hours a day on gadgets such as mobile phones, tablets, computers and video game consoles, according to a 2017 study by consultancy Ernst & Young.

Fake phone law dupes many in Singapore, but wins support too

When US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meet for their historic summit in Singapore later this month, they will be protected by men from one of the fiercest warrior tribes in the world — the Gurkhas of Nepal.

While both leaders will bring their own personal security teams, elite Singaporean police, including its Gurkha Contingent, will be securing the summit venue, roads and hotels, according to diplomats familiar with VIP security in the island state.

The Gurkhas, who have a low-profile presence in Singapore, were more visible than usual at the weekend as they secured the Shangri-La Hotel for a security conference that included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other regional ministers.

The Gurkhas, recruited by the Singapore police from the hills of faraway Nepal, were kitted out in body armour, Belgian-made FN SCAR combat assault rifles and pistols in leg holsters at the conference, in what some security experts believed was a dry run for the US-North Korea summit.

Despite all the advanced weaponry, the Gurkhas do not prepare for battle without the khukri&nbsp;— the heavy curved knife that is their traditional weapon of choice. According to custom, the khukri must draw blood every time it is unsheathed.

"They are among the best Singapore can offer, and I am sure they will be involved (in the summit)," said Tim Huxley, an expert on Singapore's armed forces at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

"They remain very much a substantial and frontline force, and the demands of this kind of event are precisely the sort of special operation that the Gurkhas are trained to handle," he said.

A spokesman for the Singapore police declined to comment on the deployment of the Gurkhas or their numbers.

The IISS Military Balance says 1,800 Gurkhas serve in the Singapore police, across six paramilitary companies.

A legacy in part of the British colonial era and more recent pragmatic Singaporean leadership, Singapore's Gurkhas are linked to a British tradition that has recruited and paid for elite regiments of soldiers from Nepal for more than 200 years.

Beaten back by the Gurkhas in the 19th-century Anglo-Nepalese War and admired for their valour and fighting skills, the colonial British then began to recruit them. Now Gurkhas serve in the British, Indian and Nepalese armies, as well as in Brunei and Singapore.

They have fought in both world wars as well as the Falklands conflict and, more recently, in Afghanistan.

<img alt="gurkhas2_0.JPG" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/gurkhas2_0.JPG" width="770" />

(Gurkhas guard the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Image source: Reuters)

'TOUGH, VIGILANT AND STEADFAST'

Huxley said the Gurkhas had long proven to be an asset to Singapore's leadership, providing a neutral force within an ethnically diverse city-state, including VIP and anti-riot protection.

At times of regional tension, they have protected international schools, and are often seen at the Malaysia-Singapore border crossings.

The Singapore Police website describes the group as "tough, vigilant and steadfast" that operates "across the spectrum of paramilitary operations to help safeguard Singapore".

They live with their families in the secure Mount Vernon Camp outside the city, an enclave that ordinary Singaporeans are not allowed to enter.

A woman married to a Gurkha who lived in the camp said life there was restricted.

"We have a curfew of 12 midnight," she said. "For women, we can let them know if we have a genuine reason to stay out, for men, there is no excuse.

"One of the rules we have is that we have to be in bed by 10.30 pm&nbsp;every night. This means no music, no nothing. Even if we have a party, we need to stop. If not, there will be some form of enforcement by the people patrolling."

Typically recruited at 18 or 19 before being trained in Singapore, the Gurkha soldiers retire at 45 when they are repatriated. While their children attend local schools, Gurkhas are not allowed to marry local women.

A handful of ex-British Army officers serve as sworn-in Singapore police in senior leadership, training and organisational roles.

"Although they are police, the links between the contingent and the British Army remain deep and strong," one British Army officer said. "They are part of a fine tradition."

While both leaders will bring their own personal security teams, elite Singaporean police, including its Gurkha Contingent, will be securing the summit venue, roads and hotels, according to diplomats familiar with VIP security in the island state

When US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meet for their historic summit in Singapore later this month, they will be protected by men from one of the fiercest warrior tribes in the world — the Gurkhas of Nepal. While both leaders will bring their own personal security teams, elite Singaporean police, including its Gurkha Contingent, will be securing the summit venue, roads and hotels, according to diplomats familiar with VIP security in the island state. The Gurkhas, who have a low-profile presence in Singapore, were more visible than usual at the weekend as they secured the Shangri-La Hotel for a security conference that included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other regional ministers. The Gurkhas, recruited by the Singapore police from the hills of faraway Nepal, were kitted out in body armour, Belgian-made FN SCAR combat assault rifles and pistols in leg holsters at the conference, in what some security experts believed was a dry run for the US-North Korea summit. Despite all the advanced weaponry, the Gurkhas do not prepare for battle without the khukri — the heavy curved knife that is their traditional weapon of choice. According to custom, the khukri must draw blood every time it is unsheathed. "They are among the best Singapore can offer, and I am sure they will be involved (in the summit)," said Tim Huxley, an expert on Singapore's armed forces at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). "They remain very much a substantial and frontline force, and the demands of this kind of event are precisely the sort of special operation that the Gurkhas are trained to handle," he said. A spokesman for the Singapore police declined to comment on the deployment of the Gurkhas or their numbers. The IISS Military Balance says 1,800 Gurkhas serve in the Singapore police, across six paramilitary companies. A legacy in part of the British colonial era and more recent pragmatic Singaporean leadership, Singapore's Gurkhas are linked to a British tradition that has recruited and paid for elite regiments of soldiers from Nepal for more than 200 years. Beaten back by the Gurkhas in the 19th-century Anglo-Nepalese War and admired for their valour and fighting skills, the colonial British then began to recruit them. Now Gurkhas serve in the British, Indian and Nepalese armies, as well as in Brunei and Singapore. They have fought in both world wars as well as the Falklands conflict and, more recently, in Afghanistan. (Gurkhas guard the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Image source: Reuters) 'TOUGH, VIGILANT AND STEADFAST' Huxley said the Gurkhas had long proven to be an asset to Singapore's leadership, providing a neutral force within an ethnically diverse city-state, including VIP and anti-riot protection. At times of regional tension, they have protected international schools, and are often seen at the Malaysia-Singapore border crossings. The Singapore Police website describes the group as "tough, vigilant and steadfast" that operates "across the spectrum of paramilitary operations to help safeguard Singapore". They live with their families in the secure Mount Vernon Camp outside the city, an enclave that ordinary Singaporeans are not allowed to enter. A woman married to a Gurkha who lived in the camp said life there was restricted. "We have a curfew of 12 midnight," she said. "For women, we can let them know if we have a genuine reason to stay out, for men, there is no excuse. "One of the rules we have is that we have to be in bed by 10.30 pm every night. This means no music, no nothing. Even if we have a party, we need to stop. If not, there will be some form of enforcement by the people patrolling." Typically recruited at 18 or 19 before being trained in Singapore, the Gurkha soldiers retire at 45 when they are repatriated. While their children attend local schools, Gurkhas are not allowed to marry local women. A handful of ex-British Army officers serve as sworn-in Singapore police in senior leadership, training and organisational roles. "Although they are police, the links between the contingent and the British Army remain deep and strong," one British Army officer said. "They are part of a fine tradition."

Trump-Kim Singapore summit to be guarded by Gurkhas

An Indian-origin student was sentenced to 10 months in jail in Singapore for taking the services of an underage prostitute and not paying her in May last year, a media report said today.&nbsp;

Hari Kumar Anpalagan, 25, was found guilty of having sex with the girl, who had admitted she was 14-year-old and was providing services in exchange for cash, the Straight Times reported.&nbsp;&quot;You have not shown a shred of remorse for the girl... You added salt to the wound by not paying her&quot;, District Judge Kenneth Yap chided Hari yesterday.&nbsp;

Following a three-day trial, Hari was convicted on one count of hiring a sex worker who was below 18 years old.&nbsp;The court heard that Hari responded to the girl&#39;s post on the Tagged social network app in which she requested help to buy a new mobile phone. He offered to assist and asked what he would receive in return.

The girl offered sexual services, and after negotiating, they agreed that she would receive 70 Singapore dollars. The pair met at around 9 pm in May last year at the void deck of her apartment block.&nbsp;She told him then that she was 16, but this did not deter Hari from engaging her services.

Later, the girl told Hari that she would wait for him downstairs before running off. He left without paying her.&nbsp;The offenses came to light when the girl&#39;s school found out about her activities.&nbsp;The police were notified, and officers arrested Hari after they found text messages between him and the girl when they searched her mobile phone.

Hari, who was unrepresented, had earlier told the court that he did not have sex with the girl. He claimed in his defense that he met the girl out of the &quot;goodness of his heart&quot; to give her 70 Singapore dollars to help her buy a phone.&nbsp;Hari asked the court to defer his sentence to a later date, saying that he had to complete an internship. He will be back in court on January 5.

According to the media report, two other men were prosecuted and a third was referred to the Serious Sexual Crime Branch of the Singapore Police Force for investigations for having sex with the girl.&nbsp;For engaging the services of an underage prostitute, Hari could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined.

The accused had responded to the underaged girl's post on social media app in which she asked for assistance to buy a new phone while offering sexual favours. The accused took up the offer and but did not end up paying the girl

An Indian-origin student was sentenced to 10 months in jail in Singapore for taking the services of an underage prostitute and not paying her in May last year, a media report said today. Hari Kumar Anpalagan, 25, was found guilty of having sex with the girl, who had admitted she was 14-year-old and was providing services in exchange for cash, the Straight Times reported. "You have not shown a shred of remorse for the girl... You added salt to the wound by not paying her", District Judge Kenneth Yap chided Hari yesterday. Following a three-day trial, Hari was convicted on one count of hiring a sex worker who was below 18 years old. The court heard that Hari responded to the girl's post on the Tagged social network app in which she requested help to buy a new mobile phone. He offered to assist and asked what he would receive in return. The girl offered sexual services, and after negotiating, they agreed that she would receive 70 Singapore dollars. The pair met at around 9 pm in May last year at the void deck of her apartment block. She told him then that she was 16, but this did not deter Hari from engaging her services. Later, the girl told Hari that she would wait for him downstairs before running off. He left without paying her. The offenses came to light when the girl's school found out about her activities. The police were notified, and officers arrested Hari after they found text messages between him and the girl when they searched her mobile phone. Hari, who was unrepresented, had earlier told the court that he did not have sex with the girl. He claimed in his defense that he met the girl out of the "goodness of his heart" to give her 70 Singapore dollars to help her buy a phone. Hari asked the court to defer his sentence to a later date, saying that he had to complete an internship. He will be back in court on January 5. According to the media report, two other men were prosecuted and a third was referred to the Serious Sexual Crime Branch of the Singapore Police Force for investigations for having sex with the girl. For engaging the services of an underage prostitute, Hari could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined.

Indian student jailed for hiring underage sex worker in Singapore

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‘Zero leniency policies’: Which country has the most strict police in the world

Singapore police investigate firm linked to Newcastle bidders

Fake phone law dupes many in Singapore, but wins support too

Trump-Kim Singapore summit to be guarded by Gurkhas

Indian student jailed for hiring underage sex worker in Singapore