The Police are aware of a post circulating online alleging that Police officers had manhandled a woman when responding to an incident at Ang Mo Kio Hub on 22 December 2021 at 9.19am.
These allegations are categorically untrue.
The Police had responded to an incident where a 55-year-old woman had repeatedly refused to put on a mask in a public place. Upon arrival, the officers were informed that the woman had allegedly refused to wear a mask when she was in the supermarket. Despite repeated reminders by the supermarket staff, the woman continued to refuse to wear a mask and was purportedly shouting in the supermarket.
The officers subsequently spotted the woman at the Ang Mo Kio bus interchange and advised her to wear a mask. Despite the officers’ continued and repeated advice for her to wear a mask, the woman refused to comply, and spoke to officers in a hostile manner. Officers offered the woman a mask as well, but she refused to accept it. The woman then started shouting loudly, and attempted to walk away.
The officers had engaged the woman for more than 15 minutes before arresting her as her conduct posed a risk to herself and to public health. During the arrest, the officers supported the woman to the ground as she was resisting arrest and appeared to want to sit down. The woman was later referred to the Institute of Mental Health for assessment.
Strict compliance with Safe Management Measures (SMMs), including wearing a mask in public places, is key to safeguarding the health and safety of our population. Mask-wearing in public places is important to mitigate the spread of infection to others, especially with the Omicron variant spreading rapidly all around the world. We urge members of the public to continue to abide by the prevailing SMMs, to do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The Police would also like to urge members of the public to be responsible when posting or sharing any information online, and not spread unverified information or misrepresentations on any incident.
The Police take a serious view of such malicious and false allegations, and the authorities are looking into the circulation of the falsehood.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 December 2021 @ 6:41 PM