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AHPETC found guilty of organising fair without a permit

SINGAPORE – The Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) was found guilty by the State Courts today (Nov 28) for holding a Chinese New Year fair earlier this year without a permit.

MPs Png Eng Huat (left) and Pritam Singh (right) from the Workers' Party leaving court today (Nov 28). Photo: Amanda Lee

MPs Png Eng Huat (left) and Pritam Singh (right) from the Workers' Party leaving court today (Nov 28). Photo: Amanda Lee

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SINGAPORE – The Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) was found guilty by the State Courts today (Nov 28) for holding a Chinese New Year fair earlier this year without a permit.

In a close to two-hour oral judgment delivered by District Judge Victor Yeo, he said he was satisfied that the “Lunar New Year Flora and Community Fair 2014” at Hougang Central Hub from Jan 9 to Jan 30 of this year fell within “temporary fair” of Section 35 of the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA).

The town council was charged under Section 35 of the EPHA which requires a permit for “any temporary fair, stage show or other such function or activity”. The fair comprised of five stalls which sold festive decorations, festive cookies and sweets, fruits, flowers and assorted potted plants.

During the two-and-a-half-day trial involving the Worker’s Party town council and the National Environment Agency (NEA), defence lawyers for AHPETC said the festive event did not require a permit as it was a “mini-fair” or “community event”. However, NEA prosecutors charged that the fair amounted to a “temporary fair” which required a licence under Section 35 of the EPHA.

Mr Yeo said the NEA prosecutors have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the town council had indeed organised a temporary fair and that it has no permit. The district judge also said that the town council had not taken “reasonable care” in this case. For instance, despite the NEA warning the town council several times to cease the fair as it did not have a permit, the town council still went ahead with the fair.

AHPETC chairman and Aljunied GRC Member of Parliament Sylvia Lim who served as its representative in earlier hearings was not present in court today. However, AHPETC vice-chairman Pritam Singh who is also an Aljunied GRC MP and Hougang MP Png Eng Huat were present in court.

The district judge has not given a sentence yet and the hearing will continue in the afternoon.

The town council could been fined up to S$1, 000.

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