Eight Britons slapped with S$3,000 fine each, permanently banned by MOM from working in S’pore for flouting COVID-19 measures on yacht gathering near Lazarus Island

Eight Britons were each fined S$3,000 after they pleaded guilty on Thursday (20 May) to flouting COVID-19 regulations during their yacht gathering off Lazarus Island in Dec last year.

The group was in breach of the social distancing rules at the time, which stipulated that social gatherings should be restricted to five people at a time. None of them were wearing masks while on board.

Annabelle Morgan Duke, 26, Philip Edward Knatchbull Holmes, 27, Mark Alexander Bellamy, 27, Amy Georgina Hunt, 30, Thomas Cuthbert Williams-Jones, 30, Oliver Francis William Campbell, 31, Benjamin David Waters, 32, and Amy Alexandra Stewart, 32, were a part of a group of 10 who had embarked on the yacht.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has also imposed a permanent employment ban on the eight individuals.

Their work passes have been earlier cancelled by their former employers, according to MOM.

In Mar, Briton Amy Grace Ropner, 28, and Singapore permanent resident Mark Lau San Mao, 30 were also fined S$3,000 each for the same offence.

Ropner was subject to an employment ban in Singapore, while Lau’s re-entry permit validity period will be shortened upon his next renewal.

The chartered yacht, named Advant, was owned and operated by a company called Beyond Luxury.

Hunt had contacted a booking agent called Marine Bookings in Oct last year to charter a yacht for 10 people on Boxing Day.

The 10 people then met Advant’s two crew members at the Cove Avenue marina on Sentosa on the morning of 26 Dec last year.

They were briefed by the master of the yacht prior to departing, in which they were instructed to limit socialising to two groups of five — one at the front and one at the back of the yacht.

They were also reminded not to mix between groups, to wear a mask when not in the water or eating or drinking, and to comply with safety management measures while aboard.

However, onlookers had spotted the group failing to comply with the measures, and the incident soon went viral after photos and videos of the yacht gathering were uploaded on social media.

Those found guilty of breaching COVID-19 regulations can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to S$10,000.

Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to S$20,000.