28 people will be charged in court for not complying with COVID-19 safe distancing measures during the “circuit breaker” period, as announced by the police on Tuesday (21 Jul).
Couple and guests to be charged for social gathering at a place of residence
In one case, the charge on 18 people, aged between 19 – 37 years old, will take place between Wednesday (22 Jul) and Friday (24 Jul).
On May 8, a couple living in Compassvale Crescent invited eight men and eight women to their place of residence for a social gathering.
The 16 people visited the unit between 9.30pm that night and 1am on 9 May.
The charge against the 16 guests will be for the violation of restrictions on leaving their place of residence without a valid reason. These restrictions fall under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations which came into effect on 7 April.
According to these Regulations imposed by the Ministry of Health, not more than five individuals may gather at another’s place of residence, and these individuals must be from the same household.
The couple will be charged with violating the restrictions on allowing other individuals to enter their ordinary place of residence without a valid reason.
They will also be charged with violating the prohibition on social gatherings during the circuit breaker period.
Charged for gathering at fitness corner and consuming alcohol
In the second case, 10 people will be charged in court on Wednesday (22 Jul) as well for violating safe distancing measures.
The group consists of five men and five women, aged between 19 and 33.
The police received a complaint about noise at Blk 42 Beo Crescent around 1am.
13 people were found to be gathering at a fitness corner in that area, with portable tables and chairs being set up. There were also bottles of liquor with them.
10 will be charged with violating restrictions on leaving their place of residence without a valid reason and for violating the prohibition on social gatherings of more than five persons.
They will also be charged with consuming liquor at a public place during the mandated no-public drinking period.
The remaining three were issued a 12-month conditional warning after the police consulted with the Attorney-General’s Chambers. One of them was a 14-year-old male.
Two others from the group will be separately dealt with on top of this charge as they are concurrently being investigated for other unrelated offences.
“The authorities will not hesitate to take action against anyone who does not comply with safe distancing measures or shows blatant disregard for our laws,” said the police.
Past charges for violation of regulations
These latest charges come after a string of individuals were found violating social gathering regulations as well.
On 25 June, seven people were charged on one count each for breaching COVID-19 regulations for having a social gathering at Robertson Quay without a valid reason.
Three of them, two Australians and an Austrian, were fined S$8,000 while the remaining four, who were on a pub crawl, were fined S$9,000.
The four Britons were also consequently banned from working in Singapore as the Ministry of Manpower revoked their work permits.
On 22 May, 10 people were also charged for breaching COVID-19 laws by gathering at a rented home for socialising.
Three tenants invited seven guests to their place of residence at Kim Keat Road. All of them are Indian nationals.
Francis Soh Seng Chye was similarly charged on 8 May for unlawfully attending a social gathering during the “circuit breaker” in Singapore.
The Singaporean was reported to have left his home between 7pm and 8pm on 8 April to meet Lye Bao Ru in a Circuit Road flat.
