Three individuals were charged in court for alleged committing COVID-19 related offences. Two men were charged in court for allegedly breaching their stay orders after being issued with a five-day medical certificate (MC) for acute respiratory infection. One woman was charged in court for allegedly breaching Stay-Home Notice requirements which were issued upon arrival in Singapore.
2. The two men were charged in court for offences under Regulation 3(3) read with Regulation 3(2) of the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations 2020, and the woman was charged for an offence under the Infectious Diseases Act.
Breach of Stay Order by Prabu S/O Rajendran
3. On 2 April 2020, 28-year-old Singaporean Prabu S/O Rajendran was given a five-day MC for acute respiratory infection and was required by law to stay home from 2 to 6 April 2020.
4. Investigations revealed that Prabu allegedly left his home on the evening of 2 April 2020, and had stayed at a friend’s residence for one night.
5. Prabu was charged in court on 5 June 2020 for one count under Regulation 3(3) read with Regulation 3(2) of the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations 2020. His case is scheduled for further mention in court on 14 August 2020.
Breaches of Stay Order by Chong Tet Choe
6. On 29 April 2020, 47-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident Chong Tet Choe was given a five-day MC for acute respiratory infection and was required by law to stay home from 29 April 2020 to 3 May 2020.
7. Investigations revealed that Chong had allegedly left his place of accommodation on four separate occasions between 30 April and 3 May 2020 to run personal errands.
8. Chong was charged in court on 17 June 2020 for four counts under Regulation 3(3) read with Regulation 3(2) of the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations 2020. His case is scheduled for further mention in court on 7 August 2020.
Breaches of Stay-Home Notice Requirements by Esther Tan Ling Ying
9. On 23 March 2020, 23-year-old Singaporean Esther Tan Ling Ying was served a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore from United Kingdom. She was required by law to remain in her place of residence for a 14-day period.
10. Investigations revealed that after the SHN was issued, Tan had visited a food centre, as well as a medical clinic where she had provided a false declaration of her travel history.
11. Tan was charged in court on 5 August 2020 for one count under the Infectious Diseases Act. Her case is scheduled for further mention in court on 24 August 2020.
Exercising social responsibility
12. Since 14 February 2020, healthcare professionals have been providing five-Day MCs for patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infection. Yet more than 35% of these cases had continued to engage in activities after symptoms onset and before they were isolated. Of these, nearly half went to work, and many visited shopping centres, supermarkets and hawker centres.
13. Any person convicted of an offence under Regulation 3(3) of the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations 2020, or under the Infectious Diseases Act, is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or up to six months’ imprisonment, or both.
14. We urge individuals to adhere to the regulations in place, to prevent putting our loved ones and others in the community at risk of infection. The Ministry of Health will not hesitate to take strict enforcement actions against those who place the public at risk of COVID-19 infection by failing to comply with the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations 2020 or with SHN requirements.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
7 AUGUST 2020