Eleven men and three women, aged between 20 and 65, will be charged in court on 22 May 2020 for abusive and irresponsible behaviour related to non-compliance with safe distancing measures (SDM) during the COVID-19 circuit breaker period.
The cases are as follows:
a. A 30-year-old Singaporean woman will be charged with breaching one count of regulation 4(2) and one count of regulation 6 of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measure) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, punishable under Section 34(7) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020. She is alleged to have left her place of residence without a valid reason, and socialised with a friend, on 12 April 2020. The woman will also be charged with breaching one count of regulation 4(2) and one count of regulation 3A(1)(a) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measure) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 punishable under Section 34(7) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 for leaving her place of residence without a valid reason and not wearing her mask on 17 April 2020. She will also be charged with breaching one count of regulation 6 of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measure) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 punishable under Section 34(7) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 for socialising and visiting a supermarket in Jurong West with a friend who was not staying at the same address as her on 29 April 2020.
b. A 55-year-old Singaporean man will be charged for an offence punishable under Section 6(3) of the Protection from Harassment Act. He is alleged to have scolded and insulted an enforcement officer from the Singapore Food Agency on 15 April 2020. The man, a food handler from a stall, is alleged to have committed the offence when the officer, having observed that he was not wearing his mask over his nose and mouth, asked for his particulars.
c. A 65-year-old Singaporean man will be charged for breaching four counts of regulation 4(2) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measure) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 punishable under Section 34(7) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020. He is alleged to have left his house to drink beer on 22 April 2020, 26 April 2020, 1 May 2020, and 2 May 2020.
d. A 28-year-old Singaporean man will be charged with three counts of using abusive/threatening language towards a public servant punishable under Section 6(3) of the Protection from Harassment Act. In addition, the man will be charged for breaching one count of regulation 3A(1)(a) COVID-19 (Temporary Measure) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 for not wearing a mask in public, and one count of regulation 4(2) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measure) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 for wandering outside his place of residence. He will also be charged for failing to report a change in his registered address under Section 13(1)(b) of the National Registration Act.
e. A group of 10 Indian nationals will be charged under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 for breaching safe distancing measures at a residential unit on 5 May 2020. Three of the subjects, who are tenants at the unit, allegedly invited the other seven persons. The three tenants will be charged under regulation 4(4) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measure) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 for permitting others to enter their residence for a non-exempted reason. The seven guests will be charged under regulation 6 for being part of a social gathering. Both offences are punishable under Section 34(7) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.
The Police take a stern view of abusive and irresponsible behaviour related to
non-compliance with safe distancing measures (SDM) during the COVID-19 circuit breaker period. Offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law.
Everyone should take the circuit breaker measures seriously. Members of the public should cooperate and comply with the instructions of EOs, and SG Clean and Safe Distancing Ambassadors. The Police will not tolerate any verbal or physical abuse of them. They are performing an important duty to keep us and our community safe. Let us all do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
21 May 2020 @ 10:30 PM