Zi char shop in Kovan receives defaced S$10 note with Yusof Ishak looking startled
Defacing notes is an offence.
A zi char shop in Kovan first believed it had received a counterfeit S$10 note, after noticing the portrait of Singapore's first president, Yusof Ishak, appeared differently than usual. Upon closer inspection, the note was genuine but had been altered. The portrait's moustache was scratched off and its eyelids marked, giving the late president an unsettling look.
Zhang Xiao Hai, one of the cooks at 21 Seafood, explained to Mothership that the shop was extremely busy at the time, so they couldn't recall who had given them the note. The incident occurred around lunchtime on August 2. Zhang mentioned that the note felt identical in texture to a regular one. They initially kept the note and later took it to the bank for verification.
The bank confirmed the note was authentic but had been tampered with on the surface using a sharp object, according to Lianhe Zaobao. The owner intends to keep the note as a souvenir and believes it was an act of mischief. The owner did not accept an offer from OCBC to exchange the note. An employee later shared the story on Xiaohongshu, sparking widespread discussion online.
Many users were surprised that such a peculiar-looking note was indeed genuine, with some even suggesting they would pay extra to own it. Defacing currency notes is illegal in Singapore, and if convicted, offenders could face a fine of up to S$2,000, as stated on the Monetary Authority of Singapore's website.
Written by urgent.news from Mothership's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
