SINGAPORE — Fifty-two people aged between 16 and 36 are being investigated for allegedly not complying with safe distancing rules to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In a news release on Wednesday (Jan 20), the police said that they had received a call at about 3am on Jan 9, a Saturday, informing them of a large gathering in a unit of an industrial building along 18 Sin Ming Lane.

It is the address of Midview City building. 

When officers arrived at the location, a group of 27 men and 13 women were found to be drinking, smoking and singing in the unit.

In a second incident at the same location, the police were alerted to another gathering on Sunday Jan 17 at about 2.45am.

This time, a group of seven men and six women — aged between 19 and 36 — were found drinking there.

Gatherings of more than eight people are banned in Singapore to combat Covid-19.

In both incidents, the alleged operator of the unit — a 24-year-old man — was present.

Bottles of alcohol and audio equipment were seized as case exhibits, police said.

Investigations into the 52 people, comprising 33 men and 19 women, are ongoing for their non-compliance to the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

Preliminary findings showed that the unit is not licensed to provide public entertainment or supply liquor.

The operator will be investigated for breach of the rules and regulations under the Public Entertainments Act and Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, the police said.

Under the respective laws, the offences of providing public entertainment and supplying liquor without a valid licence each carry a fine of up to S$20,000.

The police urged members of the public to take the prevailing safe distancing regulations seriously.

If found guilty of breaking the laws, an offender can be jailed up to six months or fined up to S$10,000, or both.

Earlier this month, the police said that they were investigating 44 people for flouting safe-distancing rules at a gathering on New Year's Day.

The gathering then was at an industrial building along Boon Lay Way.