Key facts
- Ohin Construction and seven individuals, including managing director Ivan Ong Khiaw Yang, have been charged over the July 2025 Tanjong Katong sinkhole incident.
- Charges include violations of the Building Control Act and Workplace Safety and Health Act.
- Alleged lapses include failure to follow approved structural plans, using smaller diameter jet grout piles, and unapproved caisson ring modifications.
- A car fell into the sinkhole, but the driver was rescued.
- PUB and Surbana Jurong Consultants received conditional warnings.
- Ohin Construction is under provisional liquidation.
Ohin Construction, its managing director Ivan Ong Khiaw Yang, and six other individuals have been charged in Singapore over alleged lapses linked to a sinkhole that appeared on Tanjong Katong Road South in July 2025. The sinkhole caused a car to fall into the pit, though the driver was rescued.
The charges, primarily under the Building Control Act and Workplace Safety and Health Act, stem from works at an adjacent PUB project involving the construction of a 16m-deep shaft to connect sewer lines. Court documents indicate Ohin Construction failed to adhere to approved structural plans, allegedly constructing jet grout piles with smaller diameters than stipulated and failing to conduct necessary tests. Issues were also cited with reinforced concrete caisson rings, including unapproved openings and non-circular casting.
Ohin Construction is currently under provisional liquidation. The individuals charged include project director Raajkumar Nadarajan, project manager Sellappan Saravanakumar, Qualified Persons Kee Chen Siang and Yau Tze Yin, and resident engineer Senthilnathan Mathyalakan. Their alleged offences encompass unauthorised works, licensing and supervisory failures, and not notifying authorities of a road depression prior to the sinkhole formation.
Separately, national water agency PUB and Surbana Jurong Consultants received conditional warnings under the Building Control Act. Investigations by the Building and Construction Authority, Ministry of Manpower, and Land Transport Authority have concluded, with cases set for further hearing in July.