Yahoo Finance COVID-19: 88 people under probe for safe distancing breaches
SINGAPORE — Eighty-eight people, aged between 17 and 56, are being investigated by the police for allegedly breaching COVID-19 safe distancing measures during two incidents involving illegal public entertainment.
In a press release on Tuesday (23 February), the police said they had received information on 6 February about a gathering in an office unit at Genting Lane.
When police officers arrived, 65 people – 48 men and 17 women – were allegedly drinking and socialising there.
In a separate incident on 19 February, the police raided a residential unit along Emerald Hill Road, where 23 – 14 men and nine women – were allegedly drinking, smoking and singing in the unit.
A 23-year-old male Chinese national was arrested for purportedly working there as a server without a valid work permit. If found guilty of working in Singapore without a valid work pass, he may be jailed for up to two years, fined a maximum of $20,000, or both.
Public entertainment and liquor were believed to be provided without a valid licence during both incidents, said the police, who had seized karaoke equipment and supplies of alcohol. A 30-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman – believed to be the respective operators of the units along Genting Lane and Emerald Hill Road – are under investigation.
The offences of providing public entertainment and supplying liquor without a valid licence each carry a maximum fine of $20,000.
The police urged members of the public to take safe distancing measures seriously. If found guilty of breaching such measures, offenders may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.
"Those found engaging in illicit activities, or in breach of safe distancing measures, will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law," the police added.
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