The Police are investigating 46 men and 37 women, aged between 20 and 58, in four separate cases of alleged non-compliance with safe distancing measures under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.
Preliminary investigations revealed that in all four cases, individuals had allegedly gathered to socialize, with public entertainment and liquor believed to have been supplied to them without a valid license:
- On 25 February 2021, the Police received information about a gathering in an office unit along Pemimpin Drive. When officers arrived, eight men and seven women, aged between 21 and 38, were allegedly drinking, smoking and singing in the unit. A 38-year old man, believed to be the operator of the unit, and an additional three men believed to have been acting as ‘lookouts’ for the group, are being investigated for offences under the Public Entertainments Act and Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015.
- On 1 March 2021, the Police received information about a gathering in a shophouse unit along East Coast Road. When officers arrived, 12 men and seven women, aged between 21 and 39, were allegedly drinking and singing in the unit. The unit’s operator is being investigated for offences under the Public Entertainments Act and Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015.
- On 13 March 2021, the Police received information about a gathering in an office unit along Jalan Bukit Merah. When officers arrived, five men and six women, aged between 20 and 38, were allegedly drinking, smoking and singing in the unit. The unit’s operator is being investigated for offences under the Public Entertainments Act and Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015.
- On 18 March 2021, the Police conducted a raid on an office unit along Ubi Avenue 3, and found 18 men and 17 women, aged between 22 and 58, allegedly drinking and socialising in the unit. A 22-year-old man, believed to be the operator of the unit, is being investigated for offences under the Public Entertainments Act, Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015 and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Four female Vietnamese nationals were arrested for suspected offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
Investigations into all four cases are ongoing.
Under the Public Entertainments Act and Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, the offences of providing public entertainment and supplying liquor without a valid license each carries a fine of up to $20,000.
Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, the offence of employing a foreign employee without a valid work pass carries a fine of between $5,000 to $30,000, a jail term of up to 12 months, or both. Under the same Act, the offence of being in employment without a valid work pass carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.
Members of the public are advised to take the prevailing safe distancing measures seriously. For non-compliance with safe distancing measures under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, offenders may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.
The Police will continue to take tough enforcement action against criminal activities and breaches under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020. Those found engaging in illicit activities, or in breach of safe distancing measures, will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law.
Scene photo and case exhibits seized from the office unit along Pemimpin Drive
Scene photo and case exhibits seized from the office unit along Jalan Bukit Merah
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
22 March 2021 @ 3:25 PM