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Man charged with meeting others at public bench during circuit breaker, not wearing mask

SINGAPORE — A 63-year-old man allegedly left his Whampoa Drive flat to meet three others on separate occasions at a nearby public bench, once while not wearing a face mask.

Ong King Hwa (pictured) is facing five charges under the Covid-19 laws and regulations, including being part of a social gathering with people who do not live with him.

Ong King Hwa (pictured) is facing five charges under the Covid-19 laws and regulations, including being part of a social gathering with people who do not live with him.

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SINGAPORE — A 63-year-old man allegedly left his Whampoa Drive flat to meet three others on separate occasions at a nearby public bench, once while not wearing a face mask.

Ong King Hwa was handed five charges under the Covid-19 laws and regulations on Friday (May 29), including being at a social gathering with people who do not live with him.

He is accused of breaching regulations imposed to stem the spread of Covid-19 here.

Court documents stated that he purportedly left his home on the morning of April 12 without a reasonable excuse. 

He was found at the ground floor lift lobby of the block of flats next to his own. It is not known why he was there.

Again, on May 3, he went to the same block and met another man — identified as Sim Hock Kong — at a stone bench outside a Hao Supermarket outlet.

Finally, five days later, he allegedly left his home again and met two other individuals —identified as Teo Han Chye and Png Han Teck — at the same bench to socialise. He was not wearing a face mask at the time.

Court documents did not reveal Ong’s relationship to the three other people.

Ong told the court on Friday that he intends to plead guilty. He will return on June 10. 

If convicted under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 or the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020, he could be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months, or get both penalties for each charge.

Similarly, a 30-year-old woman was charged last week with leaving her home on two occasions to meet her boyfriend at a public bench in front of a block of flats at Clementi West. She was caught not wearing a face mask on the second occasion. 

Others who have been hauled to court for attending social gatherings include 38-year-old Francis Soh Seng Chye. He was fined S$4,500 for having dinner with six others in his cousin-in-law’s flat, one day after the circuit breaker kicked in to stop social and non-essential work activities.

He had taken pictures and posted them on Facebook with the caption: “After a long long long long super long day... we are having (an) illegal gathering... so what? Enjoy the food to the max.” 

Ten Indian nationals were also charged last week with being at social gatherings earlier this month. Three of them, who rented a flat in the Balestier area, allegedly let the seven others in to study, have tea or collect items. 

Related topics

Covid-19 coronavirus mask circuit breaker crime court breach

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