Coronavirus pandemic

29 taken to court since circuit breaker started for virus-related offences

Alan Tham Xiang Sheng was sentenced to six weeks' jail for breaching a stay-home notice to have a bak kut teh meal. Tay Chun Hsien, who left his home about 30 minutes before his quarantine period ended, was fined $1,500.
Alan Tham Xiang Sheng was sentenced to six weeks' jail for breaching a stay-home notice to have a bak kut teh meal.
Alan Tham Xiang Sheng was sentenced to six weeks' jail for breaching a stay-home notice to have a bak kut teh meal. Tay Chun Hsien, who left his home about 30 minutes before his quarantine period ended, was fined $1,500.
Tay Chun Hsien, who left his home about 30 minutes before his quarantine period ended, was fined $1,500.

A 50-year-old man was charged in court on Thursday after he allegedly breached his stay-home notice on two occasions.

Based on Straits Times reports, he is the 29th person to appear in court for Covid-19-related offences after the circuit breaker started on April 7.

Apart from breaching their stay-home notices, the alleged offenders are accused of acts such as failing to wear a mask over their nose and mouth when outdoors, and hurling vulgarities at public servants, including safe distancing enforcement officers.

In Thursday's case, Ong Chong Kiat allegedly left his Hougang home and went to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority building on March 27 and 30.

And on Wednesday, three people appeared in court for allegedly flouting Covid-19 control orders, while two others were charged with harassment.

One of the five alleged offenders, Jin Yin, 55, is accused of offering massage and sexual services at the In-Style Beauty Salon in Upper Cross Street on April 10.

To date, at least three Singaporeans have been dealt with in court for offences linked to the outbreak.

On Wednesday, financial adviser Tay Chun Hsien, 22, was fined $1,500 after he left his home at around 11.30am on March 22 - about 30 minutes before his period of quarantine ended.

Last week, Alan Tham Xiang Sheng, 34, was sentenced to six weeks' jail for breaching a stay-home notice to have a bak kut teh meal on March 23 after returning from a trip to Myanmar.

He was the first person to be convicted of exposing others to the risk of infection by breaching such a notice.

On April 2, Jasvinder Singh Mehar Singh, 52, was sentenced to two months' jail for committing a rash act and being a public nuisance.

He smashed a plate and spat on the floor of Azur restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport hotel on March 3 after a waitress told him that the eatery was closed.

After that, he spat on the floor two more times and yelled "corona, corona".

Prior to the circuit breaker, two Chinese nationals hauled to court in February were the first to be charged under the Infectious Diseases Act in relation to the outbreak.

Shi Sha, 36, and Hu Jun, 38, allegedly gave false information to Ministry of Health officials - lies which obstructed the process of contract tracing.

Shi faces four charges under the Act while her husband, Hu, faces one.

The cases involving the couple and other alleged offenders are still pending.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 02, 2020, with the headline 29 taken to court since circuit breaker started for virus-related offences. Subscribe