SINGAPORE — Two British men were hauled to court on Tuesday (June 16) for socialising along Robertson Quay last month during the circuit breaker, which started on April 7 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Based on court documents, Alfred Jon Veloso Waring, 34, and Olagunju Daniel Olalekan Olasunkanmi, 30, were charged with flouting a control order under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act.

Waring and Olasunkanmi — who are both permanent residents according to their lawyer Shiever Subramaniam of Grays LLC — met a few other individuals around the vicinity of the Limoncello Italian restaurant along Robertson Quay on May 16.

Court documents said that they had gathered “without reasonable excuse and without permission” to chat and drink between 4pm and 6.45pm that day.

Both men will return to court on July 7 and were offered bail of S$3,000. 

As part of bail conditions, they have to surrender their travel documents — including passports — and must not commit further offences. 

If convicted, they could be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months, or face both penalties.

Waring and Olasunkanmi are not the first foreigners to be charged over socialising in the Robertson Quay area on May 16. 

On June 2, seven other individuals, who met in two separate groups, were also charged.

It was not stated if Waring and Olasunkanmi were part of either of these groups.

Photos of crowds outside food-and-beverage outlets in the area went viral in late May, with many commenting on the lack of enforcement in the area.   

Following that, the Urban Redevelopment Authority issued directives to about 10 restaurants at Robertson Quay to immediately stop selling takeaway alcohol.