SINGAPORE: Singapore is ready to enter a new chapter in its relations with Japan, as it deepens ties and cooperation with Northeast Asian partners China and South Korea, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sim Ann said on Friday (Mar 6).

Speaking at a Business China event, she noted that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will visit Japan later in March, as part of his introductory visits across the Asia-Pacific region.

The occasion will mark 60 years of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Japan, she said, adding that Singapore looks forward to further collaboration in areas including the digital economy, green transition and security.

Singapore believes it would benefit the region if Japan deepens cooperation with more Asian partners and contributes more to peace, stability and prosperity in APAC, said Ms Sim in Mandarin.

“At the same time, we recognise that the severity of the damage and suffering caused by Japan during World War II continues to create difficult historical issues in parts of Asia,” she said, adding that these issues must be handled with sensitivity.

After 80 years, the passing of generations and shifts in the broader strategic environment, Singapore hopes that Japan will consider how to put these outstanding issues to rest, said Ms Sim.

Doing so would allow Japan to contribute even more to the region and help build an open and inclusive regional architecture, she added.

“This reflects Singapore’s long-standing view that honest remembrance and continued efforts at reconciliation can strengthen regional trust.”

With an evolving geopolitical landscape, expanding and deepening regional engagement is not optional for Singapore, but strategic and essential, she said.

While the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains the cornerstone of Singapore’s foreign policy, Singapore cannot engage ASEAN alone, Ms Sim said. Some of its key partners – China, South Korea and Japan – are in Northeast Asia, whose growing importance reflects a broader shift in the global economy.

“Asia is no longer defined principally by its role in global production networks. It has emerged as a major centre of consumption, innovation and capital formation in its own right,” she said.

These three key partners and ASEAN, often referred to as ASEAN+3, account for 28 per cent of global final demand, making it the world’s largest collective market, she added, noting that this reflects a rebalancing of the global economy towards the region.

NORTHEAST ASIA PARTNERS

As the world’s second-largest economy and a leader in several sectors, China plays a particularly consequential role among Singapore’s partners, given its scale, proximity and influence in regional and global developments, said Ms Sim.

Singapore and China marked 35 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, and China was the first non-ASEAN country Mr Wong visited after becoming prime minister.

Singapore serves Chinese businesses as a regional gateway to ASEAN markets, while Singapore companies are consistently encouraged to engage the Chinese market, said Ms Sim.

“China has spoken of its role as a responsible major power. Given China’s scale and weight, its policies have significant influence on regional and global stability,” she said. “In this period of heightened uncertainty, China can help anchor confidence in the international system.”

On South Korea, Ms Sim noted that President Lee Jae Myung made a state visit to Singapore earlier this week. The two countries are among each other's top 10 trading partners and share similarities in their developmental experience as “Asian tigers” – advanced, trade-dependent economies that value innovation and openness.

“We share a common goal to uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system,” she said, adding that South Korea plays an increasingly important role as a major trading nation with deep links across global supply chains.

Ms Sim then outlined Singapore’s long history with Japan.

In the 19th century, Japanese traders formed a small but distinct community in Singapore, then a growing port city. Then came the Japanese Occupation during World War II, when people of all races suffered hardship and violence.

“The Chinese community, in particular, experienced severe reprisals due to their strong support for China’s anti-Japanese war efforts – the most horrific was the Sook Ching operation, in which tens of thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives,” she said.

“These tragic events are clearly documented and transmitted through memorials, exhibitions and our history texts, so that each generation understands what happened. We remember this history not to reopen wounds, but to ensure we never lose sight of its lessons.”

She noted that disinformation videos recently circulated online, falsely claiming Singapore had changed its stance on Japan under external and domestic pressure.

After independence, Singapore had to decide how to move forward, balancing demands from Singaporeans that wartime suffering be acknowledged. The issue was resolved bilaterally in 1966, when Japan provided S$50 million in grants and special loans – opening the way for Japan to participate in building modern Singapore.

Today, more than 5,300 Japanese companies operate in Singapore, employing more than 100,000 Singaporeans.

“Now we are ready to enter a new chapter in our relations,” Ms Sim said. 

SINGAPORE: The maximum penalties for possessing, using, importing and selling vapes in Singapore will be raised significantly after changes to the law were passed in parliament on Friday (Mar 6).

Owners of warehouses and storage units will also bear greater responsibility if such prohibited products are found in their premises, while nightclubs, bars and pubs will have to take action when they find patrons in possession of or using vapes.

The Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) and Other Matters Bill was passed unanimously, with nine MPs raising questions.

Speaking during the debate on the Bill, Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon said that while etomidate vapes triggered the recent escalation in enforcement efforts, the majority of vape users do not use etomidate.

“We are therefore significantly increasing the penalties for offences involving these products to strengthen deterrence,” said Dr Koh.

Over the past six months, the authorities have caught over 5,100 people for vape-related offences, of which more than one in 10 were etomidate vape users.

Among the offenders placed on rehabilitation, 42 defaulted. One person has been convicted and imprisoned, while the rest will be charged.

Seventy offenders have completed their rehabilitation programmes, with four youth offenders reoffending.

NEW LAWS FOR NEW CHALLENGES

Dr Koh said that vapes have created new challenges in enforcement and health protection.

The new law not only prohibits vaporisers, but also allows for enforcement against the abuse of etomidate and potentially other psychoactive substances through such delivery devices in the future, said Dr Koh.

The Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA) has been renamed the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA) to reflect the law's broader mandate and coverage.

Vapes and their components are considered prohibited products under the TVCA, along with imitation tobacco products that are not already covered by the Act.

“Future-proofing is important, especially given that the tobacco industry has been introducing new products to circumvent tobacco control regulations,” said Dr Koh.

Under the new law, the purchase, use and possession of vapes now carry a maximum fine of S$10,000 (US$7,810), up from S$2,000 previously.

Those who import vapes now face mandatory jail terms of up to nine years, and fines of up to S$300,000.

Sellers or suppliers of the products may be jailed for up to six years and fined up to S$200,000.

Maximum penalties for the sale, supply or import of imitation tobacco products have also been increased to a fine of S$100,000 and three years’ jail for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders may face double the maximum penalties.

The government had temporarily listed etomidate and its analogues as Class C controlled drugs in the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) to deal with the emerging issue of the abuse of the substance.

Under the new law, a category of Specified Psychoactive Substances (SPS) has been created to cover products like etomidate, which can cause psychoactive effects when consumed and could also be abused by using a tobacco product, vaporiser or imitation tobacco product.

With its SPS classification, etomidate will be concurrently removed from the MDA when the new law comes into effect on May 1.

Anyone who supplies SPS products faces between two and 10 years’ jail, as well as two to five strokes of the cane.

Those who import such products may be jailed for three to 20 years, and face five to 15 strokes of the cane.

Those convicted of possessing, purchasing or consuming SPS, can be fined up to S$20,000, jailed for up to 10 years, or both.

As with the drugs and substances covered by the MDA, it will be an offence for Singapore citizens and permanent residents to consume SPS overseas.

“This deters locals from going abroad to feed their addiction to evade enforcement in Singapore,” said Dr Koh.

PROTECTING THE YOUNG

The new law also seeks to protect the young from the harms of vaping.

It punishes adults who possess SPS products and knowingly or recklessly leave them where children can access them, or who do not take reasonable steps to prevent young people from using the products.

They could be jailed for up to 10 years for a first offence. Repeat offenders face between two and 10 years’ jail.

Adults who involve the young or vulnerable in importing or supplying such products may be jailed between four and 20 years, and face four to 15 strokes of the cane.

In response to questions from MPs Hamid Razak (PAP-West Coast-Jurong West) and Vikram Nair (PAP-Sembawang), Dr Koh said that the government has stepped up preventive education efforts, noting that “many people, especially the young, picked up vaping out of curiosity or peer pressure”.

“The national campaign across multiple platforms includes digital display panels across the island … mainstream media and social media, to inform the public about the dangers of vaping and etomidate vaporisers,” he said.

The authorities have also collaborated with many online content partners to reach out to young people, he added.

Schools and institutes of higher learning have also played a big part in educating the young on this topic, with messages on the harm and consequences of vaping integrated into the school curriculum, he said in response to a question from Nominated MP Neo Kok Beng.

Dr Koh also said that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will closely engage parents and guardians and exercise powers judiciously when dealing with young offenders.

“Parental and family support are crucial to helping young offenders quit,” he said.

“Parents who refuse to be involved in their children’s counselling without reasonable justifications will potentially face criminal charges.”

REHABILITATION REQUIREMENTS

Besides enhanced penalties, the new law also comes with new powers to order rehabilitation.

Community-based rehabilitation orders may be imposed when there are reasonable grounds to believe a person has consumed SPS, and for individuals convicted of or who have accepted offers of composition for the offence of consuming SPS.

Those caught repeatedly for the consumption of SPS can be subject to treatment and rehabilitation at the Drug Rehabilitation Centre.

Community-based rehabilitation orders may also be imposed for people who vape.

MP He Ting Ru (WP-Sengkang) said she hoped that enforcement efforts would provide an opportunity for vape users to turn over a new leaf, instead of stigmatising them, especially children who have a long future ahead of them.

“Even though enforcement checks in schools to stamp out such behaviour are welcome, we must also be cautious about being overly punitive with our approach, to prevent students from being unduly stigmatised,” she said.

MP Choo Pei Ling (PAP-Chua Chu Kang) said she welcomed the structured rehabilitation orders introduced in the Bill.

“Enforcement stops the spread, rehabilitation stops the cycle,” she said.

“The credibility of this framework will depend on timely and consistent implementation. For eligible first-time youth offenders, intervention must be swift, structured and supported by access to cessation and counselling pathways.”

Dr Choo asked MOH for details on how to ensure that rehabilitation is operationalised quickly.

In response, Dr Koh said suspected offenders may have to undergo interviews, investigations and testing before being sent for rehabilitation, which is why there will be some time between detection and rehabilitation.

“We are working to minimise this turnaround time,” he said.

Dr Koh added that providers of rehabilitation programmes will explore the underlying causes for the use of vapes and etomidate, and offenders will learn healthy coping habits.

For those under 21, counselling sessions will also be conducted with their parents or guardians.

LIABILITY FOR WAREHOUSE OWNERS

The law will also require owners and occupiers of land, buildings and places to exercise due care to prevent prohibited products from being stored in spaces under their purview.

That could involve conducting background checks on tenants, conducting ad hoc inspections and including explicit clauses in tenancy agreements on prohibited activities.

“The intent is to allow us to take action against owners or occupiers who allow or turn a blind eye towards storage of such illegal products in their premises for supply and distribution purposes,” said Dr Koh.

He noted that the HSA has uncovered several cases of illegal vape operations in warehouses and storage units, including one where the vapes and components were worth more than S$5 million in street value.

During the debate, MP Yip Hon Weng (PAP-Yio Chu Kang) asked whether clear guidelines would be provided so that owners know what constitutes due diligence.

Dr Koh said support will be provided to owners and occupiers so they will understand how to fulfil their obligations.

They will be given practical guidance on identifying prohibited products, how to engage and handle individuals possessing or using prohibited products, and when to engage HSA for assistance.

“To protect these owners and occupiers, it will be an offence for individuals to hinder, obstruct, threaten, abuse or assault owners and occupiers in the course of performing their duties,” he said.

Each case involving the storage of prohibited products will be assessed on its own facts, so owners and occupiers who have exercised due care do not need to worry, said Dr Koh.

SINGAPORE: Some taxi companies will absorb part of the recent fuel price increases to cushion the impact on drivers, as the war in the Middle East drives up global oil prices.

Singapore’s largest taxi operator ComfortDelGro said it will cover some of the higher fuel costs, recognising the “direct pressure” that the hikes place on drivers’ livelihood.

“Working with the National Taxi Association to alleviate the drivers’ financial pressure, we will absorb a portion of the increased fuel costs at our pumps and deploy targeted fuel subsidies as part of a broader commitment to driver welfare and operational stability during this period of volatility,” said Mr Michael Huang, head of its Singapore point-to-point mobility business.

The firm said that as of Thursday morning (Mar 5), its petrol price was S$1.93 (US$1.51) per litre, 34 per cent lower than retail. Its diesel was priced at S$1.41 per litre and 48 per cent lower than retail.

Another taxi operator, Trans-Cab, also committed to absorbing a portion of the fuel price increases to help ease immediate cost pressures on drivers.

"We remain mindful of the challenges faced by our drivers and will continue to assess the situation carefully," said the company, adding that it is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and the potential impact on fuel prices.

According to online car marketplace Motorist, pump prices for 95-octane in Singapore on Thursday ranged from S$2.91 to S$2.97 per litre. They cost S$2.87 to S$2.88 per litre on Feb 23, before the war in the Middle East began.

Similarly, diesel prices also experienced an increase over the same period - from S$2.57 to S$2.66 per litre, to S$2.61 to S$2.78 per litre.

Ride-hailing operators Grab and Ryde said they have measures to help drivers manage costs.

A Grab spokesperson said it provides exclusive fuel discounts through its partnerships with Caltex, Shell and Sinopec.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely and are engaging the unions and our industry partners to explore further ways to extend support," said the spokesperson.

Ryde said that it will continue to support its drivers and partners through its zero per cent commission model for full-time drivers.

"This allows drivers to retain the full fare from completed trips, helping them better manage operating costs, including fluctuations in fuel prices," said Ryde.

The firm said it maintains a transparent bonus and incentive structure, in which drivers can clearly see the requirements and rewards for completing trips on the platform.

"This provides drivers with greater certainty in their earnings and the opportunity to earn additional incentives," added Ryde.

Tensions in the Gulf have escalated since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb 28.

Iran on Wednesday claimed it had “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz and warned ships against attempting to pass through it.

The strait is a global energy chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil transits each day.

Singapore's Energy Market Authority said on Wednesday that the conflict is likely to push up global energy prices and, in turn, electricity tariffs in the country.

SINGAPORE: Private landowners of coastal plots will face new obligations and receive capital grants to help them implement mandatory coastal protection measures after the Coastal Protection and Other Amendments Bill was passed in parliament on Friday (Mar 6).

The grants are designed to ease the upfront capital burden on landowners who will be legally required to install flood defences as part of an islandwide line of defence against rising sea levels, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said.

These landowners will also receive advice and consultation from national water agency PUB on how to carry out the required works.

The new law will require all coastal landowners - including government ministries, statutory boards and private firms - to implement coastal protection measures as part of a continuous line of defence.

About 70 per cent of Singapore’s coastline is government-owned and will largely be handled by the state. The remaining stretches are held by private companies, mostly shipyards, ports, and businesses in the oil, gas and manufacturing sectors. 

The capital grants will cover studies, diversion of services and construction costs. Grants will be sized against cost norms that account for prevailing market rates and inflation, and paid in reimbursement tranches to help landowners manage cash flow. Landowners may apply for the grant only after a legal obligation has been formally imposed on them.

PUB will notify affected landowners of their obligations around 10 years before the expected completion date. 

The Bill also gives PUB enforcement powers, including emergency powers of entry if the continuous defence line is incomplete due to delays, or if a landowner cannot be reached during an imminent coastal flood event.

Mean sea levels around Singapore are projected to rise by up to 1.15m by the end of this century. Combined with storm surges and high tides, water levels could spike by 5m instead.

“This is serious. It means that around 30 per cent of Singapore could be flooded by seawater. Our businesses along the coast, such as shipyards or ports that rely on having access to the sea, will be at risk of coastal flooding,” Ms Fu said. 

CONCERNS IN PARLIAMENT 

Eight MPs raised questions largely centred on the responsibilities that private landowners or lessees would have to bear.  

MP Poh Li San (PAP-Sembawang West) pushed for a centralised approach to the design and construction of coastal protection measures to avoid points of weakness and allow the government to leverage economies of scale.

MP Lee Hui Ying (PAP-Nee Soon) echoed similar concerns, suggesting it might be more efficient for the government to build the entire defence line and then seek reimbursement from landowners. 

In response, Ms Fu said landowners should be responsible for works on their own land. 

“Having the government centrally implement solutions will be suboptimal, since it may not be feasible to account for every landowner's unique needs and timelines,” she said, adding that landowners were better placed to implement measures suited to their business operations.

MP Dennis Tan (WP-Hougang) asked for the type of private landowners that occupied coastlines, and whether they were non-business entities.

Ms Fu said the vast majority had leased industrial land from JTC, which PUB is working with to explore a centralised procurement model and other options to support lessees. 

Mr Tan also asked if there were any industrial lessees that had short tenures remaining, which would affect their ability to carry out the coastal protection measures.

“If a waterfront company runs into financial problems or goes into liquidation and is not able to build or to complete the construction, may we also be left with a public safety risk that neighbors cannot fix alone. How will the government intervene in such a situation?” asked Mr Tan.

Ms Fu said that PUB will have the power to step in and undertake maintenance and repair works for companies that face short-term liquidity issues and are unable to maintain their coastal protection measures. PUB will then recover the cost as necessary from the landowners, she added. 

MP Cassandra Lee (PAP-West Coast-Jurong West) raised concerns about long project lifecycles that may span multiple ownerships, asking how liability and repair costs would be allocated if defects emerge after a change of hands.

Ms Fu said the transfer of liability is no different from when a property changes ownership. 

Previous landowners would have had to engage a qualified person to certify that the structure was up to standard before PUB approved it, she added. 

SINGAPORE: The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will have a new chief executive, with Mr Derek Tan from the Ministry of National Development (MND) succeeding Mr Kelvin Wong later this year.

Mr Tan will be appointed CEO (designate) with effect from Apr 1 and will fully assume the role on May 1, MND and BCA said in a joint media release on Friday (Mar 6). 

He has served in the public service for nearly 27 years across various portfolios in the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and MND.

In his current role as MND's executive director/planning and chief infrastructure planning officer, Mr Tan led transformation efforts in Singapore’s underground utilities space, and worked closely with BCA and the National Parks Board (NParks) on strategic policies and initiatives. 

He was previously group director of special duties in the Land Transport Authority (LTA), founding CEO of EV-electric Charging, as well as HDB’s group director of housing management. 

“Mr Tan’s extensive experience and familiarity with the built environment sector position him well for his new appointment as CEO,” MND and BCA said. 

MR WONG’S STINT AT BCA

Mr Wong was appointed BCA CEO in November 2020, having previously worked at the Economic Development Board (EDB).

Mr Wong played a key role in the built environment sector’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He led efforts with industry leaders, trade associations and chambers, and government agencies to address manpower and financial challenges while ensuring the safe restart of construction activities. 

After the pandemic, Mr Wong oversaw key policy changes, including the shift to firm-based regimes for supervision and safety inspections and the introduction of Mandatory Energy Improvement to improve the energy performance of existing buildings and reduce operational costs.

He also oversaw the review of the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment, which included enhanced provisions for different users while introducing greater design flexibility.

“Under his leadership, BCA fostered a stronger innovation ecosystem and made strides in industry transformation, technology adoption and enterprise development,” MND and BCA said.

“We would like to thank Mr Wong for his invaluable contributions to the built environment sector and BCA, and welcome Mr Tan to his new appointment at BCA." 

SINGAPORE: Two Malaysian men who repeatedly entered Singapore and withdrew about S$1 million (US$792,000) in scam proceeds between them were sentenced to jail on Friday (Mar 6).

Chang Yang, 23, was given four years and four months' jail, while Ivan Thong Yoong Khean, 27, will be imprisoned for four years.

The pair had admitted to conspiring with each other to withdraw S$403,020 from 24 bank accounts between May 2024 and December 2024. Another two charges each were considered in sentencing.

On top of the shared sum, Chang withdrew another S$371,850 and Thong withdrew another S$255,620.

Thong had taken up a "job opportunity" from an acquaintance as he was unable to pay back a loan he had taken.

He was added to Telegram group chats, which Chang subsequently joined after owing RM100,000 (S$32,200) to a creditor.

The chats disseminated weekly duty rosters which assigned two people to enter Singapore on certain days to perform cash withdrawals.

On average, Thong and Chang were on duty two to three times a week.

On entering Singapore, they received instructions from the other chat on how much to withdraw, which ATM cards to use and the one-time passwords for each card.

They would collect the cards from lockers at *Scape mall or be handed the cards by a delivery driver.

The men would decide where to make the withdrawals from and update the chat before taking further instructions.

They retained about S$500 to S$600 from the withdrawn cash each time they performed their duty.

Depending on the instructions received, Thong would either pass the rest of the cash to a third party, or Chang would take the money back to Malaysia.

In total, Chang earned about RM50,000 while Thong earned about RM10,000 from their duties.

The men were arrested at Takashimaya on Dec 5, 2024 with 36 ATM cards and S$34,720 on them.

Another 15 ATM cards were found in a locker.

The money withdrawn by the two men belonged to victims of government official impersonation scams and Alipay scams, with some victims being vulnerable and elderly.

The prosecution said a transnational syndicate was involved, with both men "well aware" that they were working for a syndicate.

For engaging in a conspiracy to enter into an arrangement that facilitates the control of criminal proceeds, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to S$500,000, or both.

SINGAPORE: Singapore is making arrangements for a flight to Muscat, Oman, for foreign visitors who are affected by airspace disruptions in the Middle East. 

Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ8002 will depart Changi Airport at 5.30am local time on Mar 8, according to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

It is the corresponding outbound repatriation flight to the one that will bring home Singaporeans who have been stranded in the Middle East on Mar 7.

After dropping off passengers in Singapore, another plane will depart for Muscat the following morning.

"Please note that this flight is strictly for non-resident travellers currently in Singapore whose travel arrangements between Feb 28 and Mar 8 have been cancelled by an airline due to the closure of airspace in the Middle East," STB said.

In response to queries from CNA, STB said: "Travellers are responsible for all costs, including any onward travel to other destinations, accommodation, meals and ground transportation."

STB told CNA that the flight will facilitate passengers' return to their home destinations in the Middle East or help connect them to onward travel.

"Singapore is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East," STB added. "We understand the uncertainty and inconvenience caused by flight disruptions during this challenging period and remain committed to ensuring that Singapore continues to be a safe and welcoming destination for all visitors."

FLIGHT DETAILS

Tickets are priced at S$600 (US$470) per seat, with seating assigned at random, although efforts will be made to group families together.

Children aged two years and above are required to have their own seat and will be charged the same fare.

Passengers must also ensure that they have the necessary travel documents and visas for entry into Oman.

Affected passengers who wish to take the flight should register their interest by 9am on Mar 7 at www.stb.gov.sg.

Similar to the earlier flight, the trip to Muscat will offer no meal differentiation between cabin classes, and only meat or non-meat options are available.

There will be a baggage allowance of 30kg per passenger, and they are not allowed to purchase oversized or excess baggage.

Pets will not be allowed to be brought on board.

Passengers will also not be allowed to earn miles or use points to offset costs.

For more information, travellers can contact the STB Tourist Information Hotline at 1800 736 2000 or email stb_operations [at] stb.gov.sg, the agency said.

The fighting in the Middle East has caused major disruption to air travel across the region, with several countries temporarily closing their airspace following missile and drone attacks.

Airlines have cancelled or rerouted flights to avoid the region, leaving travellers stranded and forcing carriers to adjust flight paths between Asia, Europe and the Gulf.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT OMAN-SINGAPORE REPATRIATION FLIGHT

On Friday, SIA, which is supporting Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in operating the repatriation flights, provided CNA with more details on the Oman-Singapore repatriation flight.

Airbus A350-900 aircraft will be deployed on the flights, SIA said.

"Safety is our highest priority, and the flight will be conducted in full compliance with all regulatory, operational and security requirements," the airline said.

SINGAPORE: Two lawyers have been ordered to pay S$5,000 (US$3,900) each in personal costs for the misuse of artificial intelligence, after two fictitious cases were cited in closing submissions for a civil case.

The lead lawyer for the defendants had brought in another solicitor to assist in the research and drafting of the submissions. The second lawyer, in turn, said the initial research and drafting were done by a paralegal who has since left his firm and said he was unaware if any AI tools had been used.

The two lawyers offered to jointly bear personal costs of S$1,500, but the judge found that this sum was "plainly inadequate" and ordered each man to pay S$5,000 instead for a total of S$10,000.

According to a judgment released on Friday (Mar 6), the case involves the executors of the estate of a man named Tan Thuan Teck, who launched suits to recover sums lent to the late Mr Tan's four brothers and their company.

The lawyer for the defendants, Mr Goh Peck San, was found to have cited two fictitious authorities in closing submissions. The two cases were discovered by lawyers for the claimants and highlighted in their reply submissions.

Justice S Mohan, who found that the claimants had made out their case, focused his judgment on the AI issue. He said generative AI is reshaping the legal profession in a manner that can be fairly described as "nothing less than a sea change".

"While the technological advances that (generative) AI has engendered are not in themselves unwelcome, its integration into legal practice demands a commensurate evolution in professional responsibility. The very standards and ethical foundations of the profession depend on it," he said.

"The responsibility that lies on the shoulders of every advocate and solicitor utilising Gen AI has been repeatedly underscored in both the professional guidelines governing legal practice, and in judicial authorities. It is again re-emphasised in this judgment."

WHAT HAPPENED

The lawyer for the defendants, Mr Goh, engaged another solicitor, Mr Amarjit Singh Sidhu, to assist him in carrying out the research and drafting of the closing submissions.

On Aug 4, 2025, the claimants flagged the issue of the two fictitious cases to the court, named as Case A and Case B in the judgment.

While the neutral citation and name ascribed to Case A corresponded to real cases, the neutral citation belonged to an entirely different case. When put together, Case A with that name and that neutral citation did not exist.

Case B had an entirely fictitious name and neutral citation.

After these allegations, the court registry directed Mr Goh to respond. Eventually, he acknowledged the allegations and explained that the fictitious authorities had been provided by a fellow solicitor, without naming him at first.

Mr Goh said he was unaware of which AI tool had been used, expressing his regret and seeking the court's indulgence.

On the court's further questioning, Mr Goh said Mr Singh had been instructed to assist in the research and drafting of the submissions. In a letter, Mr Singh said the initial research for and draft of the closing submissions were prepared by an unidentified paralegal who had since left the firm.

He said he was unaware whether any AI tools had been used by the paralegal, but said he had reviewed the draft submissions and cases before transmitting them to Mr Goh.

Mr Singh conceded that he had overlooked the fictitious authorities. He later realised that the two cases he had sent to Mr Goh were not on point for the submissions made and informed Mr Goh that another case could not be located on LawNet and should be removed.

However, he forgot to inform Mr Goh that the two cases he had sent were not on point. Mr Singh apologised to the court and to Mr Goh and said his firm maintains an internal database containing authorities that support the legal principles set out in the submissions.

When asked to file submissions on costs for the fictitious authorities issue, Mr Goh said it had not occurred to him that Mr Singh might have used "non-traditional research tools" and was unaware that ChatGPT was a tool that could be used for legal research.

Because of time pressures and his workload, he had not verified the existence of the fictitious authorities. He had texted Mr Singh saying he was unable to locate certain cited authorities online.

In response, Mr Singh acknowledged via email that he too was unable to locate those authorities and advised Mr Goh not to rely on them.

Mr Singh admitted to providing the fictitious authorities. He said he had read the draft submissions twice before sending them on to Mr Goh, making only minor grammatical and typographical edits.

He confessed that he had "honestly overlooked" the fake cases and said the former paralegal who had provided them left the law firm in July 2025 and was uncontactable.

Mr Singh enclosed copies of email correspondence and WhatsApp messages requesting responses to the court's questions from the former paralegal. These went unanswered.

Mr Singh stated that he had previously instructed all staff in his law firm not to use ChatGPT or any other AI tool for work. He proposed a sum of S$1,500 for personal costs and offered to bear Mr Goh's share, asking that the matter be dealt with privately and not be reflected in a court order.

"TROUBLING ISSUE"

Justice Mohan said the troubling issue of counsel relying on AI-generated case authorities, without verification of their existence or accuracy, is attracting mounting concern in a number of jurisdictions.

The first reported case in Singapore addressing the citation of fictitious authorities was the case of Tajudin Gulam Rasul v Suriaya Haja Mohideen. In that case, the lawyer was ordered to pay S$800 in personal costs.

In less than a year after Tajudin was decided, more such cases have emerged, noted Justice Mohan.

"In my view, this phenomenon, if left unchecked, poses a serious threat to the administration of justice in Singapore, which relies heavily on lawyers to 'ensure that the evidence and arguments adduced before the court are skilfully, accurately and fairly presented'," he said, quoting from a previous case.

"The provision of fictitious authorities to the court wastes precious judicial time and resources at best, if the error is discovered in time. At worst, it may lead to an erroneous decision made in mistaken reliance on such fictitious authorities, resulting not only in potential embarrassment but more importantly, a potential miscarriage of justice," said Justice Mohan.

While clarifying that there is no inherent objection in using AI tools per se, such tools can "only ever play the part of the handmaiden".

"The fundamental point remains that lawyers bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring that all materials placed before the court – including case authorities – are, without exception, true and accurate, and crucially, verified by them to be so," he said.

The citation of fictitious cases constitutes sanctionable misconduct, said the judge. He found that Mr Goh's conduct was "clearly improper" as he failed to exercise due care and diligence in verifying the existence of the fictitious cases.

Justice Mohan said it ought to have been obvious to any competent solicitor that the bundle of authorities accompanying the submissions was incomplete.

"It should, and must, have been plainly evident to Mr Goh that Case A and Case B were not included in the bundle of authorities that was to accompany the closing submissions – a reasonably diligent solicitor would have picked up on this as a potential red flag," he said.

He said the fact that Mr Goh took no steps to address this "glaring omission" is a clear indication that his conduct fell short of that expected of an officer of the court.

"The proper and expected course of action would have been for Mr Goh to spend the time to track down and verify the existence of the missing authorities," said Justice Mohan.

"If the missing authorities could not be found, Mr Goh should have removed all references to them from the submissions altogether and to replace those references with actual cases on the point (verified to exist), and for those cases to be included in the bundle of authorities – these are not extraordinary steps that the court expects from counsel, but basic ones."

He also found that Mr Singh's role and conduct were improper and said Mr Singh ought to have recognised that a paralegal is not qualified to prepare written submissions independently, and that proper supervision and the verification of all authorities were ultimately his responsibility.

"Finally, I found it extraordinary that between Mr Goh and Mr (Singh), the issue fell between two stools and neither solicitor took the time or trouble of actually verifying the existence and veracity of the fictitious authorities," said Justice Mohan.

This was especially so for Case B, which, if searched online or using a research tool, would not have turned up an existing case.

Although it was plainly evident that an AI tool had most likely been employed, resulting in a hallucination, neither Mr Goh nor Mr Singh could shed any light on whether AI had been used.

"SHEER LACK OF DILIGENCE"

This demonstrated a "sheer lack of diligence displayed", said the judge. The fact that the fictitious cases were included without being picked up by Mr Singh, with no apparent inkling whether any AI tools had been used by the paralegal, indicates a "lax system of control and supervision", said Justice Mohan.

As for the lawyers' proposal to share the costs, Justice Mohan said responsibility must lie with both solicitors individually.

Mr Singh was primarily responsible for introducing the fictitious authorities, while Mr Goh "entirely failed" in his duty to verify them.

He disagreed with the proposed sum of S$1,500, saying it was insufficient to reflect the gravity of the matter.

Instead, he ordered a sum of S$5,000 each. The lawyers are also not to charge their clients for any time, costs or resources expended in dealing with the fictitious cases.

In closing, Justice Mohan offered caution to the Bar, saying he hoped that his judgment leaves no member of the Singapore Bar in any doubt over the critical importance of verifying the authenticity and accuracy of all materials submitted to the court, and in familiarising themselves with the rules and guidance on the proper use of Gen AI in the course of their work.

He added that such misconduct may result in disciplinary action against lawyers in future if appropriate, and solicitors cannot plead ignorance as the consequences for misusing AI tools are clearly spelt out.