WORLD RECORD
Biggest Fraud Case
Between 1999 and 2002, Chia Teck Leng, a fi nance manager at Asia Pacifi c Breweries, used forged documents to cheat four banks of more than S$117 million. It was the biggest fi nancial fraud case in Singapore history. He was jailed 42 years, the longest for a white- collar crime.
Oldest Person Placed On Probation
61-year-old Siauw Yin Hee, suff ering from depression and kleptomania, has been caught several times for his impulsive stealing. Since 1985, he has been fi ned and jailed many times. For his latest off ence on 5 Jul 2007, a S$10,000-bond had to be signed by his wife to ensure his good behaviour, his regular medication and that he follows the terms of the probation.
Biggest Drug Haul
In Mar 1998, 47.3 kg of heroin was seized from a syndicate by the Central Narcotics Bureau. A total of 29 sus- pects were rounded up over three days. The second biggest drug haul was in Aug 2001 when 11 men and two women were arrested. 34.8 kg of drugs were seized.
Beaded Postage Stamp First Postage Stamps
In 1854, postage stamps were fi rst introduced in Singapore. These stamps were shipped from India, as Singapore was then part of the Straits Settlements that was administered under the British East India Company.
First And Only Use Of Bisected Stamps
From 1855 to 1860, there
was a shortage
of stamps. Eight-pie, one-anna, two-anna, four-anna and eight-anna stamps were cut in halves to double the quantity. These were the fi rst and only bisected stamps in Singapore.
First Stamps Issued By The State Of Singapore
Singapore was self-governing in 1959. The ‘New Constitution’ stamps were the fi rst stamps issued when Singapore became a self-governing state.
Biggest Manhunt
When Mas Selamat escaped from Whitley Road Detention Centre on 27 Feb 2008, the search for him was described as the largest manhunt ever launched in Singapore. Thou- sands of police and military personnel combed the island looking for him. Mas Selamat was allegedly the head of the Singapore branch of militant group Jemaah Islamiah and had previ- ously escaped custody twice in Indonesia. He was recaptured on 1 Apr 2009 in Johor.
First Stamps Issued By The Republic Of Singapore
Singapore gained independence on 9 Aug 1965. This series of three stamps were issued on 9 Aug 1966 to commemo- rate Singapore’s fi rst anniversary of independence.
First Embroidered Postage Stamp
On 6 May 2009, SingPost issued Singapore’s fi rst embroidered appliqued stamp. The petals of the Pigeon Orchid on the stamp are exquisitely embroidered showcasing the off set lithography with embroidery printing technique. Limited in quantity, this special collector’s sheet cost S$8, and comes with a folder.
First Stamp Design Competition
A stamp design competition was organised in Dec 1942. In Apr 1943, the Japanese picto- rial series was issued to replace the Straits Settlements stamps.
To com- memorate the open- ing of the Peranakan Museum on 8 Apr 2008, SingPost issued a unique
pouch-shaped collector’s sheet intricately pasted by hand with ‘caviar beads’. It is inspired by the exquisite beadwork which is a distinc- tive aspect of the Peranakan culture.
World’s First
Postal Service First Postal Service
From 1819 to 1822, the British military administered a lone mail offi ce. Occupying the location of the Old Parliament House, the offi ce collected and delivered a small number of letters. In 1823, it became a branch of the Indian Postal Service, as some administration in Singapore were controlled by the British in India.
First Postbox Art Competition
The ordinary postbox became a can- vas for an art competition launched in Jan 2007. It was organised by the URA, design group FARM and Singapore Post. 1,000 participants submitted their original artwork for postboxes facades, out of which 40 designs were shortlisted. The colour- ful postboxes, located along Orchard Road, City Hall, Shenton Way, Little India, Kampong Glam and China- town, were painted by the fi nalists over two Sundays in Mar 2007.
First Postcards
The fi rst international postcards were introduced in 1879 into the Straits Settlements by the Postal Department, costing one cent for each card and fi ve cents for postage, while private postcards cost eight cents for postage. On 15 Dec 1884, the Postal Department intro- duced local postcards for use within the Straits Settlements and the Malay States, costing one cent each.
Biggest Postcard Exercise
160,000 people from Singapore sent a postcard telling their overseas friends about Singapore in the Singapore Tourism Board’s Mail-a-Postcard Competition fi rst launched in 2003. The postcards were mailed for free.
Oldest Operational Postboxes
Pillar boxes were introduced in Singapore in 1873 and were found everywhere, until 1971 when they were replaced by rectangular post- ing boxes. The pillar box outside the Singapore Philatelic Museum was re-commissioned to operate when the museum opened in 1995. In 2010, Fullerton Hotel, which used to house the General Post Offi ce, commissioned two red pillar boxes in its premises.
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