Man, 53, charged for allegedly punching two NEA officers and entering Redhill Food Centre while unvaccinated

SINGAPORE — A 53-year-old man, who is unvaccinated against Covid-19, was charged on Friday (Jan 14) for allegedly trying to enter Redhill Food Centre last year and for attacking two public servants who questioned him about his vaccination status. 

Chua Soon Hean was charged with two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from carrying out his duties and another two counts for flouting Covid-19-related regulations.

The Singaporean is accused of entering the food centre on the evening of Oct 23 last year even though he was unvaccinated, as well as taking off his face mask in public. 

Under current Covid-19 regulations, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals are not allowed to eat at hawker centres and other food establishments and can only buy food for takeaway. 

Chua is also accused of punching two National Environment Agency (NEA) officers, one on the neck and the other on the face.

No other information about Chua’s alleged offences were provided in court documents.

The police said in a statement on Thursday that the NEA officers were conducting checks at the hawker centre when they discovered that the man was unvaccinated.

When questioned, he allegedly became agitated and punched the officers.

If found guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from performing his duty, the man may be jailed for up to seven years and fined or caned.

Those who enter and have their meals at a food centre without a cleared vaccination status can be jailed for up to six months or fined up to S$5,000.

Those who fail to wear a face mask while outside their ordinary place of residence can be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to six months.

Chua is scheduled to return to court on Jan 26.