Police probe three cases of alleged verbal abuse against safe distancing officers, bus drivers

SINGAPORE — The police are investigating three separate incidents of abusive behaviour towards bus drivers as well as safe distancing personnel who were carrying out their duties.

In a statement on Wednesday (May 12), they said that six men involved in the incidents are under probe for not complying with safe distancing regulations.

Among them, three purportedly displayed abusive behaviour towards public servants or public service workers, including the use of vulgarities.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that in all three cases, the individuals were believed to either have not worn their mask, or not worn their mask properly, when they were advised to do so,” the police said.

The incidents happened over the span of two days.

On April 30, the police attended to a case at Block 6 Jalan Bukit Merah involving three male stall operators aged 26, 27 and 37. They allegedly refused to wear their masks properly when repeatedly asked to do so by a safe distancing enforcement officer and two safe distancing ambassadors.

One of the men allegedly used vulgarities at the safe distancing workers, the police said.

In the second incident, on May 1, the police were called to a bus stop along Serangoon Road after two male passengers, aged 57 and 65, were said to have refused instructions from a bus driver and bus inspector to wear their masks properly.

The 57-year-old man reportedly used vulgarities and made an insulting hand gesture at the bus driver.

“As his actions purportedly caused a commotion and led to the disruption of the bus service, the man was arrested for causing public nuisance,” the police said.

And in another case that same day, the police were alerted to an incident on Orchard Road involving a 64-year-old male passenger who was said to be uncooperative. The man allegedly raised his voice at a bus driver when asked to put on his mask properly.

The police advised members of the public to take safe distancing regulations seriously and warned that offenders will be dealt with under the law.

Earlier this week, the police said that they were investigating a case of verbal abuse against a safe distancing enforcement officer at Lau Pa Sat, after a video of the incident went viral online.

Individuals found guilty of using abusive words against a public servant or public service worker face a fine of up to S$5,000 or up to 12 months’ jail, or both. Those found guilty of causing a public nuisance can be jailed up to three years or fined up to S$2,000, or both.

Anyone found not putting on a mask or not wearing it properly when outside his or her home can be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to six months, or both.