Covid-19: Man admits pushing staff, barging into ActiveSG gym twice without SafeEntry check-in

SINGAPORE — A 57-year-old man pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Dec 14) to pushing a staff member at the Heartbeat@Bedok complex and breaching Covid-19 safe distancing regulations last year.

How Wai Kong tried to rush into an ActiveSG gym there on two occasions without completing a check-in with the SafeEntry system for contact tracing. He then turned aggressive and had to be pinned to the ground.

How admitted to three charges: Using criminal force to deter a public servant from his duty, failing to keep a safe distance under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, and behaving in a disorderly manner in public.

Three other similar charges will be taken into consideration for sentencing.

District Judge Shaifuddin Saruwan called for a report to assess if he is suitable for a mandatory treatment order — a community sentencing option offered to offenders suffering from mental conditions that contributed to the offences. 

However, no details were revealed in open court or court documents on what mental disorder he has.

The incident took place at around 7am on July 8 last year, the court heard.

How was the first patron waiting to enter the gym at the time, but he did not have his mobile phone for SafeEntry check-in purposes or proof of his time-slot booking.

Because of this, a staff member — Mr A’Abdu Nastaain Syamsuddin, 36 — went inside the gym to get a digital tablet in order to verify How’s booking and log his entry.

When Mr Nastaain returned, he saw How walking past the gym's main entrance towards a series of gantries. He stopped How and told him to log his SafeEntry check-in on the tablet.

Just then, How saw another patron, who had used the TraceTogether mobile application to complete the check-in, walking into the gym.

How grew unhappy, pushing Mr Nastaain aside and entering the gym when the other man spread his arms to block him. Mr Nastaain then called the police for help.

However, this incident did not deter How from trying again two days later.

He returned without his mobile phone once more. When an assistant director of the Singapore Sports Council told him to wait until she had cleared other patrons, he pushed her aside and walked towards the gym gantries.

Two security officers detained him before he managed to get past the gantries, but he continued behaving in an aggressive manner and put up a fierce struggle. Three officers had to pin him to the ground until he calmed down.

Both incidents were captured on security camera footage.

How will return to court on Jan 14 next year after the mandatory treatment order report is ready.

Those convicted of using criminal force on a public servant can be jailed up to four years or fined, or both.

Those who breach Covid-19 laws can be jailed up to six months or fined up to S$10,000, or both.