Woman makes police report alleging safe distancing ambassador stalked her
SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - She got to know the safe distancing ambassador (SDA) in November last year when he helped her speak to a customer about safe distancing guidelines. He allegedly told her she looked pretty and asked for her days off and if she had a boyfriend. Soon after he started following her. She was so traumatised she eventually made a police report. The 20-year-old woman, who wanted to be known only as Ms Isabel, works in a restaurant at Tampines 1. Speaking to The New Paper (TNP) recently, she said: “He asked me for my contact number and whether I had an Instagram account. He also asked if I had any pretty friends I could introduce him to.” She eventually gave him her number a month later. “It was a huge regret of mine. I should have said no or at least given him a fake number so he would stop persisting,” she said. Earlier this year, he allegedly took a photo of her and sent it to her. “I was so creeped out. I told him not to take (any more) photos of me,” she said. Later, Ms Isabel said he followed her during her lunch breaks and tried to strike up conversations with her. “The last straw was in late April (this year). When I was heading back to the restaurant aft...
Police investigating 4 people for abusing enforcement officers, flouting safe distancing measures
SINGAPORE - Four people are being investigated for abusing enforcement officers and safe distancing ambassadors (SDAs), and not complying with safe distancing measures. The three men and a woman, aged between 25 and 54, allegedly committed the offences in three separate incidents, said a police statement on Friday (June 11). One of them, Ng Chwee Hock, was charged on Friday for using insulting words against a public servant at Redhill Food Centre on Thursday (June 10). The 46-year-old's case will be heard again on July 9. "Preliminary investigations revealed that (Ng) allegedly used abusive language towards the SDEO, when he was advised not to sit at the table in the food centre to consume his food and drinks," police said. SDEO refers to a safe distancing enforcement officer. Ng purportedly refused to comply even when police officers advised him to do so, and continued to verbally abuse the SDEO. Police told The Straits Times that he is currently under investigation for other unrelated offences. In another incident on May 26, police received a report from an SDA that a man taunted her while she was on duty in Crawford Lane. He allegedly approached the SDA, pulled down his mask and...
13 under probe for flouting Covid-19 rules after police raid
SINGAPORE - Thirteen people, aged between 21 and 33, are being investigated for breaching Covid-19 safe distancing rules. The police said in a statement on Monday (May 3) that they conducted a raid last Saturday on an office unit in Ubi Road 2 and found the five men and eight women allegedly drinking alcohol and socialising. The public entertainment and liquor are believed to have been provided at the venue without valid licences. The authorities found and seized karaoke equipment as a case exhibit. A 31-year-old man is believed to be the operator of the unit and will also be investigated for offences under the Public Entertainments Act and Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, said the police. The offences of providing public entertainment and supplying liquor without a valid licence each carry a fine of up to $20,000. For flouting safe distancing measures, offenders may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to $10,000, or both. The police advise the public to take the prevailing safe distancing measures seriously, and say they will continue to take tough enforcement action against illegal activities. "Those found engaging in illicit activities, or in breach of safe...
Man who allegedly refused to wear mask in Sentosa bar to be charged with being public nuisance
SINGAPORE - A 48-year-old man was scheduled to be charged in court on Saturday (March 13) with being a public nuisance and refusing to wear a mask in a bar at Sentosa. On Thursday, the police were alerted to an incident where the man allegedly refused to put on a mask despite being asked to do so by staff of a bar in Siloso Beach Walk. Preliminary police investigations showed he had also allegedly pointed his middle finger at a safe distancing ambassador (SDA) after being asked to put on his mask. The man is scheduled to be charged with causing a public nuisance, and if convicted, can be jailed for up to three months and/or fined up to $2,000. He can also be charged with intentionally causing alarm for his abusive behaviour towards the SDA. For this, he can be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to six months. The man can also be charged with refusing to wear a mask - an offence under the current Covid-19 regulations. If convicted, he can be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to six months. Police investigations into his second and third charges are ongoing. On Saturday morning, the police said they take a stern view of abuse directed at SDAs and that offenders will be de...
MND investigating alleged breach of Covid-19 measures at actor Jeffrey Xu’s birthday celebration
SINGAPORE - Mediacorp artistes are being investigated for possible breaches of safe distancing measures after a group gathered at a residence to celebrate actor Jeffrey Xu's birthday. In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Ministry of National Development (MND) confirmed the probe, saying it had been alerted to the incident. "Investigations are ongoing in respect of possible breaches by the various parties," a spokesman said, without identifying the individuals implicated. "MND and other government agencies take a serious view of such breaches, and will not hesitate to take firm action against those who are found to have violated safe distancing measures." Mediacorp celebrities - Xu, Shane Pow and Terence Cao - apologised on Wednesday (Dec 23) via the broadcaster after photos of them apparently breaching Covid-19 regulations were posted on social media. One picture, reportedly uploaded on Oct 3, showed 13 people standing close to one another, with Xu holding a cake. No one was wearing a mask. Under current Covid-19 regulations, social gatherings have to be limited to groups of five outside a residence. Households may receive up to five visitors at any one time. From Dec...
Man arrested after attempting to leave shophouse gathering via roof, 14 others probed
SINGAPORE - The police are investigating 15 people who were found at a shophouse located along North Bridge Road on Dec 20 for breaching safe distancing measures. A 29-year-old man, who was part of the group of Singaporeans, was also arrested for committing a rash act. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 12 men and three women, aged between 22 and 40, had gathered to drink alcohol on Dec 19, said the police in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 23). When police officers arrived at the two-storey shophouse following a police report, the 29-year-old man allegedly attempted to leave the building via the roof. He was later arrested. "Upon further checks, there were 14 other persons found in the shophouse, 10 of whom were hiding on the rooftop," said the police. Investigations are still ongoing. For non-compliance with safe distancing measures, offenders may be jailed for up to six months, or fined up to $10,000, or both. If found guilty of doing a rash act, the 29-year-old man can be jailed for up to six months, or fined up to $2,500, or both. More on this topic Related Story 53 people charged with flouting Covid-19 safe distancing measures Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more s...
Coronavirus: 2 groups of 20 people or more probed for safe distancing breaches at nature reserves
SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - Two groups, each comprising 20 people or more, are under investigation for allegedly breaching safe distancing rules at Singapore's nature reserves. One involved 26 hikers who had attempted to go off-trail illegally in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the largest on the island. The other was a group of 20 who had gathered for a birthday celebration at Labrador Nature Reserve in the south-west of Singapore. Of greater concern is that these two groups are not the only ones being investigated for possible violation of Covid-19 safety measures, nor are they even the biggest group. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) revealed on Thursday (Nov 13) that a group of 50 people is also being investigated. The New Paper understands this is the largest group linked to a breach since safe distancing measures were put in place in March. Responding to queries from TNP, an MSE spokesman said these incidents are among a spate of recent cases involving 12 to 50 people intermingling in large groups at various parks, birthday celebrations, baby showers, food and beverage outlets, and basketball and football games in Housing Board estate courts. Thes...