NEA not told Chinese New Year fair was ‘mini fair’ or ‘community event’: Prosecutors

SINGAPORE — The Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) did not at any point of time say during its email correspondence with the National Environment Agency (NEA) that the Chinese New Year fair it was going to host in January was a “mini fair” or “community event”, the court heard today (Oct 16).

This was despite the NEA informing AHPETC prior to the event that a permit was required for the event under Section 35 of the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA).

Referring to an email sent by the town council to the NEA on Dec 24 last year, NEA prosecutor Issac Tan questioned AHPETC chairman Sylvia Lim during cross-examination this morning if the town council had informed the NEA that the event was a “mini fair” so it did not require a permit. In response, Ms Lim said the town council did not.

Mr Tan then asked Ms Lim again if the town council had said in the same email that the event that they were going to host was a “community event” and thus did not need a permit under Section 35 of the EPHA.

Ms Lim responded by referring to a letter from Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang to the NEA on Jan 9, which she said described the nature of the event in it.

During the entire two-and-a-half-days trial, AHPETC has claimed that the Chinese New Year fair in January at Hougang Central Hub was a “mini fair” or “community event”.

The event, which ran from Jan 9 to Jan 30, comprised five stalls which sold items such as festive decorations, cookies and potted plants. NEA prosecutors however charged that the event constituted a “temporary fair” and contravened Section 35 of the EPHA — which states that a permit is necessary for “any temporary fair, stage show or other function or activity”.

The trial concluded today after two other employees of AHPETC testified on procedural matters such as the authenticity of documents which were presented during the trial.

District judge Victor Yeo, who is presiding the trial, is expected to deliver his ruling at the end of next month.

If found guilty, the town council can be fined up to S$1,000.