Woman, 28, charged with bribing, assaulting police officers and breaking Covid-19 rules

SINGAPORE —  A 28-year-old woman was charged on Thursday (Oct 7) for a string of offences, including allegedly attempting to bribe a police officer, assaulting two other police officers and flouting Covid-19 rules.

Chen Yuanyuan, a China national, committed the offences between January and June this year, the police and the Corruption Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a joint statement.

Chen allegedly kicked the legs of two officers on Jan 8 this year in order to deter them from discharging their duties.

On the same day, she is said to have annoyed others in a public space while drunk.

The next month, on Feb 25, Chen allegedly defied Covid-19 regulations by being part of a gathering of more than eight people outside of her home, in an apartment unit located along Pemimpin Drive in the Sin Ming estate.

At the time, Singapore was in its third phase of reopening social and economic activities after a semi-lockdown last year and people could gather in groups of only up to eight people.

On the same day, Chen also allegedly tried to bribe a police officer by offering the officer S$100 to not take enforcement action against her.

The officer, Senior Staff Sergeant Norhidayah Ahmad, rejected the alleged bribe and later referred the case to CPIB.

Separately, CPIB and the police said that Chen allegedly threatened to injure a man on June 21 this year, by holding a kitchen knife and walking with it, with the intent to cause alarm.

If found guilty of corruption, she could be fined up to S$100,000 or jailed up to five years, or both.

For voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from discharging his or her duties, she could be jailed up to seven years and fined or canned.

If found guilty of causing annoyance while drunk, she could be fined up to S$1,000 or jailed up to six months, or both.

If found guilty of criminal intimidation, she could be jailed up to two years or fined, or both.

For violating Covid-19 regulations, she could be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to six months, or both.