SINGAPORE — Three men aged between 45 and 62 have been arrested for being members of an unlawful society, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Friday (May 28).

The arrests were in relation to an incident where gang slogans were heard during a funeral procession along Havelock Road on Wednesday.

"Police investigations revealed that the men, who are secret society members, had allegedly chanted gang slogans and displayed gang hand signs to show off their secret society affiliation,"  they said in a statement.

A video capturing the incident was circulated online, they added.

In a video circulating on Facebook, a man in a dark shirt could be heard shouting and seen raising his hands in the middle of a funeral procession. At least one other man shouts back in a call-and-response.

Several people are also seen gathering around the hearse in the video.

Investigations are under way. The police are also looking into potential breaches of Covid-19 safe-distancing regulations during the funeral procession.

If found guilty of being a member of an unlawful society, offenders may be fined up to S$5,000 or jailed for up to three years, or given both penalties.

Anyone convicted of breaching a control order under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 may face a fine of up to S$10,000 or a jail term of up to six months, or both.

"The police have zero tolerance towards secret society activities and will not hesitate to take firm action against those who are associated with gangs and blatantly disregard the law," they said. CNA

For more stories like this, visit cna.asia.