A 20-year-old man was charged in court on Wednesday with committing criminal intimidation against a 13-year-old girl.
The court heard that on August 23, Mohamad Mazwan Safwan bin Jahari allegedly sent a direct message via Instagram to the victim, threatening to circulate a doctored picture of the victim naked, along with her phone number. Prosecutor Atiyyah Abas informed the court that the police have yet to complete investigations.
Senior Magistrate Pengiran Hazirah binti Pengiran Haji Mohd Yusof ordered the defendant remanded and adjourned the case to September 5 for further mention.
A horrific accident claimed the lives of two local men yesterday, after the vehicle they were travelling in slammed into the rear of a truck and a road divider along the Katok highway.
Photos and videos of the aftermath went viral soon after.
A team from the Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) Police Station was dispatched to the scene after a distress call was received at 3.27pm, the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) said.
Initial investigations showed that six individuals – truck driver included – were involved in the accident, and that the deceased had been killed by the impact of the collision.
The victims were rushed to the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital for treatment. The RBPF is conducting a detailed investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Road users are reminded to abide by the speed limits and to stay focussed on the road and its surroundings when behind the wheel.
A viral photo shows the vehicle involved in the accident
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) through Community Development Department (JAPEM) yesterday handed over financial assistance to a family whose home in Kampong Pasai was destroyed by a fire on August 27.
The money is from provisions of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Government was handed over by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad.
Pengiran Hajah Jabaidah binti Pengiran Haji Umar as head of the family received the donation.
The fire around 8.15pm destroyed the family’s two-storey house.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad presents financial assistance to Pengiran Hajah Jabaidah binti Pengiran Haji Umar. PHOTO: JAPEM
A 30-metre tall tree fell and damaged the kitchen roof of a home in Kampong Seri Tanjong Belayang, Temburong District last Sunday. No injuries were reported.
Twelve firefighters with two fire engines from the Bangar Fire Station, led by ABKS 61 Jeludin bin Haji Hamdan, responded to the incident around 8.51am, according to the Fire and Rescue Department.
On arrival, the fire and rescue personnel found a fallen mambangan tree and took four hours to remove it using three chainsaws. They also covered the damaged roof with canvas.
Commanding Officer of Operation ‘G’ Branch SSFR Haji Afiq bin Haji Julah and Acting Deputy Commander of Operation ‘G’ Branch SO Jamaludin bin Ahmad oversaw the operation.
ABOVE & BELOW: Firefighters removing the tree; and the scene of the incident. PHOTOS: FRD
Some 31 individuals were fined for violating Chapter 30 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act by the Licensing and Enforcement Division of the Brunei-Muara District Office during a joint operation recently.
The raid in Kampong Kapok, Mukim Serasa saw participation from the Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED), the Immigration and National Registration Department (INRD) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
Ten individuals were caught possessing five cartons and 14 packets of cigarettes including an e-cigarette.
Two foreign workers were nabbed for immigration violations – a special pass was issued to an Indonesian while Bangladesh national was detained for failing to show valid documents.
ABOVE & BELOW: Enforcement officers writing down details of the migrant workers; and littering among the offences found. PHOTOS: AZLAN OTHMAN
Prosecutors arraigned a 51-year-old Indian man in court on Wednesday to face a charge of outraging the modesty of a 10-year-old girl.
However, Senior Magistrate Pengiran Hazirah binti Pengiran Haji Mohd Yusof did not record any plea from Gopal Pillai Kasinathan to make way for police to complete investigations.
The defendant allegedly slid his hands down the victim’s body while they were at a house in the Brunei-Muara District at 9am on August 29.
The court ordered the defendant’s remand and adjourned the case to be heard again tomorrow, while prosecutor Atiyyah Abas’ charge against the defendant alleged him of having outraged the girl’s modesty by fondling the victim.
The Brunei Pakistan Friendship Association (BPFA) held its annual general meeting (AGM) at a restaurant in Kampong Kiulap recently.
Prior to the meeting, a Tahlil recitation was held for former president, the late Pehin Datu Kesuma Diraja Colonel (Rtd) Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Mustapha who passed away on July 14.
The meeting saw the election of a new management committee.
Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Majid bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Rahim remained as advisor while Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Rambli bin Pengiran Haji Bunut was elected President. Haji Abdul Ul Quyyume Negyal is Secretary General and Haji Awang Ahmad Morshidi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Abdul Rahman is Treasurer.
Executive members of the committee are: Dato Paduka Haji Harun bin Ismail, Pengiran Dato Paduka Mashor bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, Hajah Husnah binti Haji Awang Damit, Haji Md Daud bin Haji Matarsat, Haji Syed Anayatullah Shah and Saeed Hassan Khan Mehmand.
The association, registered on April 8, 2008, is aimed at establishing a network to promote and foster ties between the peoples of Brunei Darussalam and Pakistan.
Brunei Darussalam currently has one COVID-19 case in Category 5 receiving treatment at the intensive care unit while three are in Category 4 requiring respiratory assistance and under close monitoring.
No COVID-related deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours.
These were disclosed by the Ministry of Health in its daily report.
Some 192 cases were declared recovered yesterday bringing the total number of recoveries to 220,146.
Meanwhile, 83.5 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received at least two vaccine doses while 58.2 per cent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 have been given the third shot.
Some 77.4 per cent of the population have received at least three doses of the vaccine while 9.6 per cent of the populace administered the fourth shot.
Relentless Entertainment will hold their 10th production titled Musical Mania 4 – a production with a jukebox concept featuring songs from Broadway and Disney musicals as well as pop music.
Relentless Entertainment Co-Founders Mardi Hedus and Amy Cheong along with talents Hafizzul Rahman and Flora Ngu spoke about the production at a press conference at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at Supa Save Mata-Mata yesterday.
The shows will take place at 8pm on September 9; 8pm on September 10; and 1.30pm and 8pm on September 11 at the Jerudong International School Arts Centre Theatre.
Musical Mania 4 will feature 54 cast members comprising dancers, singers and actors.
“For Musical Mania 3, we added pop songs and this time around we wanted to do the same to cater to the younger generation,” said Amy.
She said there are about 24 musical numbers in total to cater to children, the older generation and those who enjoy Broadway numbers.
“The production will be about two hours in duration, not including the 20-minute intermission, making it a full evening out,” said Amy.
Relentless Entertainment Co-founder and Managing Partner Amy Cheong speaks at the press conference. PHOTO: BAHYIAH BAKIR
Mardi said the production will see Korean-influenced performances, which they have never done before, with talents singing and dancing.
On the cast members, Amy added that auditions were held twice prior to this year’s production as they had attempted to hold Musical Mania 4 in 2020 and 2021, but were unable to due to the pandemic.
“We did two auditions prior to this one – this would be the third. So it’s an accumulation of all the talents that we got through these three auditions,” said Amy.
Returning talent Flora, who has participated since Musical Mania 1 in 2017 while in Year 6, said she had been waiting for Musical Mania 4 as she had not performed in a musical in a while.
“I’m really happy because Musical Mania is personally my favourite as there’s so many different numbers and genres of music, as well as different costume changes.
“I think everyone is going to enjoy the show and I hope people will come,” she said.
First-timer Hafizzul told the media that he had initially felt anxious, but others in the production have really helped him break out of his shell.
“I’m very shy and reserved, and everyone else is so out there, but they helped push me to my limits and I’m very grateful for that,” he said. Both talents agreed that being a part of the Musical Mania has helped them each grow.
“It’s a very supportive environment, and it’s really great to watch them support each other because they understand what it’s like, especially for first-timers,” said Amy.
The musical is supported by Baiduri Bank, NBT and Lexus Brunei, Constance Brunei, Progresif Sdn Bhd, Yippy Tune Music School as the official vocal coach and ticketing partner The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
OMAHA (AP) – The auction of a high-tech portrait of Warren Buffett didn’t come close to matching the USD19 million someone paid earlier this year for a private lunch with the billionaire, but it still raised USD75,100 for one of his favourite charities.
The eBay auction wrapped up on Tuesday evening on Buffett’s 92nd birthday. The portrait created by Motiva Art features a grid of letters over the picture that light up to spell out 11 of the Berkshire Hathaway CEO’s best-known quotes including, “It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who has been swimming naked.”
A previous portrait of Buffett painted by performance artist Michael Israel in 10 minutes outside the Berkshire annual meeting attracted a USD100,000 price in 2008.
The lunch auction Buffett has done for years to benefit the Glide Foundation that helps the homeless in San Francisco always attracts big bids because it offers exclusive access to the investor who is willing to answer almost any question except what he might buy next. This year’s auction generated a remarkable amount of money because Buffett said it was going to be the final one.
But he has auctioned off a number of unusual items over the years to benefit Girls Inc of Omaha, which provides educational, cultural and recreational programmes for young women in Buffett’s hometown. That non-profit will get all the proceeds from this week’s art auction.
