‘Very shaken’: Father of girl killed in Chinatown crash mourns as Indonesian community rallies

SINGAPORE: Indonesians in Singapore have rallied around compatriot Ashar Ardianto, 30, as he struggles to cope with the trauma of losing his six-year-old daughter in a Chinatown road accident, an ordeal that an Indonesian embassy spokesperson says has left him “very shaken”.

Mr Ashar’s wife, Ms Raisha Anindra Pascasiswi, 31, remains in Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH) High Dependency Unit (HDU), though she is now able to communicate. Deputy Chief of Mission Thomas Ardian Siregar told CNA that she is still weak due to the severity of her injuries and continues to be hospitalised.

The Indonesian Embassy has also arranged accommodation for Mr Ashar while he remains in Singapore to be near his wife. Mr Thomas said he is currently staying at the ambassador’s residence, after Ambassador Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan agreed to host him.

“For now, Mr Ashar is staying at the Ambassador’s Residence … while we await his wife’s treatment at the hospital,” he said, adding that staying there allows the embassy to respond quickly if he needs help.

The Ascott hotel chain had separately offered complimentary accommodation for Mr Ashar, saying it “has reached out to the Indonesia Embassy to offer complimentary accommodation to support him during this difficult period”.

“Physically, he appears fine. But emotionally, he is clearly very shaken,” said Mr Thomas, adding that Mr Ashar sometimes has to pause mid-conversation. 

“Psychologically, it is still very hard for him to accept.”

Mr Ashar has declined media interviews.

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, LEGAL AID

The fatal accident happened on Feb 6 at around noon when the family - Mr Ashar, Ms Raisha, their daughter Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani and their two-year-old son - were crossing a street near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, located along South Bridge Road.

A dark-coloured electric car, reportedly exiting an adjacent car park and making a right turn, struck Ms Raisha and Sheyna. Mr Ashar, who was pushing a stroller with their younger son, was slightly ahead and was not hit.

Sheyna suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at SGH shortly after the accident. Her remains were repatriated to Jakarta and she was buried on Feb 8 at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery.

In the days since, Indonesian community groups in Singapore and beyond have mobilised to raise funds for the family, even as the Indonesian Embassy works behind the scenes to help with practical arrangements, such as accommodation and legal support.

Mr Thomas said the embassy has been “touched and grateful” by the empathy shown by Indonesians here, describing it as a source of strength for the family during an intensely difficult period.

“Support like this strengthens the victim’s family, especially as they face these difficult days,” he said, noting that initiatives from Indonesian community groups have helped lighten the burden.

Ms Raisha’s former classmates and the University of Indonesia Alumni Association (ILUNI FIB UI) have launched fundraising efforts as medical costs mount. Ms Raisha graduated from the university's Chinese Literature programme in 2017.

Ms Reynilda Hendryatie, leader of diaspora group Indonesians in Singapore Communication Forum (FKMIS), told CNA on Feb 11 her organisation has been spreading word of the family’s situation through its diaspora network.

“In FKMIS, we are only spreading the word about the condition of the family,” she said, adding that FKMIS does not directly handle donations. They are being collected by a family representative and channelled directly to the family.

Ms Reynilda said the funds are expected to go mainly towards the hospital bills.

“Mostly for hospital (expenses), because the hospital bill is piling up,” she said.

In an Instagram post, FKMIS said it was helping to channel donations through a family representative, identified only as Ms Cornelia.

CNA contacted Ms Cornelia for details on the amount of donations collected to date but did not receive a response.

As Singapore Police Force (SPF) investigations continue, the Indonesian Embassy said it is also supporting the family on the legal front.

The driver, a 38-year-old woman, was arrested on the day of the incident for driving without reasonable consideration causing death, said SPF.

Mr Thomas said the embassy remains in close contact with SPF and continues to request updates.

The Indonesian Embassy told CNA it understands that the driver has been released on bail in accordance with Singapore law. 

When contacted by CNA on Feb 16, SPF said investigations are ongoing and it is unable to provide further details at this time.

The embassy has also provided the family with a lawyer who is acting pro bono.

“So there are no legal fees,” Mr Thomas said.

He added that the embassy is still exploring options for medical expenses and discussing possible solutions, though no final decision has been made.

SHEYNA WAS BRIGHT, CHEERFUL: SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Anna Nuryana Liza Adriani, principal of Erlass Pejaten Kindergarten in South Jakarta where Sheyna was enrolled, said her staff members were initially stunned and heartbroken, especially because Sheyna had been happily talking about her holiday plans.

Speaking to CNA, Mrs Anna described her as “bright” and “cheerful”, with a level of maturity beyond her years, and said her parents were cooperative and actively took part in school activities.

On the Monday after the news broke, Sheyna’s classmates gathered to pray together, Mrs Anna said.

She also expressed hope that the legal process would continue “so justice would be done for Sheyna”.

Her K2 teacher, Ms Raden Tati Hamdiah, said Sheyna was deeply missed.

“Sheyna was always very enthusiastic about coming to school. She loved learning, was bright and cheerful, and enjoyed playing with her friends,” she told CNA, adding that she hopes the family will find strength and support to get through the difficult period ahead.

For now, Mr Thomas said the priority is to help Mr Ashar cope day by day - as his wife continues to recover and investigation progresses - encouraged by the solidarity shown by Indonesians in Singapore.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/father-indonesian-girl-killed-chinatown-car-accident-5934021

Not chio. NEXT!

In SG you either work till you drop dead, or you drop dead whilst working. This is the painful, sobering reality confronting many middle-class folks these days.

Gee, what a way to check out. Rest in pieces, Supergirl.

Driver in Tampines crash that killed 2, including JC student, set to plead guilty on April 1

SINGAPORE – The driver who is accused of causing a six-vehicle collision in Tampines that killed two people, including a junior college student, in 2024 is expected to plead guilty on April 1, 2026.

The new date comes after at least three court adjournments since he was first set to admit to his offences in October 2025.

Court records on March 4 did not state why his case was previously adjourned.

Muhammad Syafie Ismail, 44, is set to plead guilty almost two years after the accident on April 22, 2024, at the junction of Tampines Avenue 1 and Tampines Avenue 4.

On April 25, 2024, Syafie was handed four charges, including dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing hurt and failing to stop after an accident. In June 2025, he was handed another dangerous driving charge.

Syafie was offered bail of $30,000 when he was first charged.

According to court documents, Syafie allegedly failed to stop at a red traffic light, which resulted in his car colliding with two cars before surging forward to crash into another car.

Meanwhile, the first car Syafie crashed into spun before overturning, which caused it to collide with a van. The van then collided with a minibus.

The impact is said to have caused the deaths of Madam Norzihan Juwahib, 57, and Afifah Munirah Muhammad Azril, 17, a student at Temasek Junior College.

Charge sheets also stated that six others, including two 11-year-old boys, were injured in the accident.

Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can be jailed for up to eight years and be disqualified from driving.

The offence of dangerous driving causing hurt carries a penalty of up to two years’ jail, a fine of up to $10,000 or both.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/driver-in-tampines-crash-that-killed-2-including-jc-student-set-to-plead-guilty-on-april-1

P or M?

https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/woman-baby-found-dead-foot-block-mum-was-worried

Perhaps she was squabbling with a fellow Pinay maid over some Bangla cock and couldn't think straight, hence her ass opting for the easy way out

Couple found dead in Punggol HDB flat; police investigating

SINGAPORE – A husband and wife were found dead in a Punggol Housing Board flat early in the morning on Feb 27.

In response to queries, police said they were alerted to the incident at Block 408B Northshore Drive at about 6.25am.

When officers arrived, they found a man and a woman lying motionless in a residential unit, the police said. The pair were later declared dead by a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedic.

There was blood on the floor of the flat as well.

The man was 71 and the woman was 66, the police said.

Police have classified the case as one involving unnatural death.

When The Straits Times arrived at 12.25pm, there were at least four police investigators outside the unit. They were wearing shoe covers and standing in an area cordoned off by the police.

At about 12.40pm, two more plainclothes investigators arrived at the unit, carrying cameras, brown paper bags and a toolkit.

The couple’s godson, who declined to be named, arrived at the unit at about 2.10pm.

Police officers were seen talking to him and comforting him.

Choking back tears, he said: “I only found out what happened when I saw it on the news. I saw the block number and the floor and thought – it’s not possible that it’s about them, but it is.”

He added that he last saw them before Chinese New Year.

“We would often meet for meals. They would even wait for me to finish work before having dinner together. I don’t know how this happened,” he said.

Mr Mike Liew, who lives three doors away from the couple, said he found out what happened only when he saw police officers along the corridor.

The retired executive, 73, said: “It’s a shock to me. I have lived here for five years and there’s never been any commotion. I didn’t even hear anything out of the ordinary this morning either.”

Describing the couple as friendly, he said: “They moved in around the same time that I did. I would always see them at the lift lobby or even at the nearby mall. They would always smile and say hello to me.

“The husband retired a while ago and loves to keep potted plants outside his home, but I remember he cleared them away recently. I know his wife used to work part-time at Covid-related jobs. I’m not sure if she eventually retired.”

Mr Liew also said the woman who died was generous, and gave his foreign domestic worker a $20 hongbao for Chinese New Year.

He said: “Their home was always the one with the most elaborate Chinese New Year decorations. I know they looked forward to this time of the year.”

The exterior of the dead couple’s flat was still festooned with streamers, banners and pineapple-themed decorations for Chinese New Year, which fell on Feb 17.

Another neighbour, logistics worker Muhd Shariyan, 33, said his wife heard shouts coming from the unit around 5am on Feb 27.

“It was a woman shouting. But we couldn’t hear what she was saying. We only realised something happened when we saw SCDF officers outside the couple’s home this morning,” he said.

Mr Shariyan added that he and his wife had not seen the couple in the past two months.

“Before that, we usually saw them quite often. They have even been to our home before. But recently, the auntie told me her husband fell sick and was very weak.

“I’m very shocked and very sad about what happened. We were quite close to them,” he said.

At about 3.45pm, a group of six people arrived at the flat. Two of them told the police that they were the dead couple’s children.

They spoke to the police for about 20 minutes before leaving, but declined to speak to reporters.

Around 5.40pm, an investigation officer left the unit holding a large evidence bag estimated to be 1.3m long.

More investigators left the flat holding bags of evidence 10 minutes later. One bag was labelled “biohazard waste”.

Around 7.20pm, both bodies were removed from the unit.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/couple-found-dead-in-punggol-hdb-flat

Without doubt there are two Singapores now - one for the elites and filthy rich, the other for the rest of us chao peasants who are being freely trampled upon on a daily basis by you know who.

Expect many more suicides by S'poreans who are no longer able to cope with the spiralling costs of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. SG appears to be a first world country on the surface, yet the overwhelming majority of us ordinary folks are only drawing third world wages. A whole lot more will inevitably see no way out of their predicaments, mark my words.

Vote the dense motherfucker out at the next GE, problem solved

Upgrading my ride to this monster for better protection against buses now!!!!!

😰😰😰

南无阿弥陀佛。。。