Police officers from the Secret Societies Branch of Criminal Investigation Department and the seven Police Land Divisions, together with Safe Distancing Enforcement Officers (SDEO) from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA), Enterprise Singapore (ESG), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Housing & Development Board (HDB), jointly carried out a series of island-wide operations at nightlife establishments between 20 August 2021 and 12 September 2021.
During these operations, Police conducted checks on 543 persons and arrested 17 men, aged between 15 and 57, for being suspected members of unlawful societies. Four food and beverage outlets, namely Beer Belly Lok Lok Bar, Chips Café and Pub, Ocean Star Bar & Grill and Oh My Bistro were allegedly detected to be in breach of safe management measures (SMM) under COVID-19 (Temporary Measures)(Control Order) Regulations 2020.
Police investigations against the 17 men for being suspected members of unlawful societies are ongoing.
The Police have zero tolerance towards secret society activities and will not hesitate to take strong actions including invoking the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act that provides for detention without trial, against anyone involved in secret society and criminal activities that threatens the public safety, peace and good order. Members of the public are advised to steer clear of secret society activities and to report those engaging in such unlawful activities to the Police immediately. Anyone found guilty of being a member of an unlawful society under section 14(3) of the Societies Act shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.
For non-compliance with SMM under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures)(Control Order) Regulations 2020, those found guilty may be punished with a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.
Beer Belly Lok Lok Bar located at 11 Irving Place #03-01
‘Oh My Bistro’ located at 9 Yio Chu Kang Road #01-12
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 September 2021 @ 6:30 PM