10 people fined for illegal drinking session at Golden Mile Tower during Phase 1 of circuit breaker exit

• Two of the offenders had been given keys to a shop at Golden Mile Complex
• They were meant to carry out water leakage checks there
• They decided to use it as an opportunity to meet eight other individuals
• They were discovered when the police received an anonymous tip-off

SINGAPORE — During Phase One of Singapore’s exit from the circuit breaker, Loo Jiale and Peter Ngin were given a set of keys to a shop at Golden Mile Tower, so they could carry out periodic checks for water leakage there.

Going far beyond the call of duty, the pair decided to take the opportunity to hold a drinking session with eight other individuals in the mall, at a time when Singapore residents were still not permitted to meet others from different households just to socialise.

On Friday (Aug 28), six Singaporean men and four Thai women pleaded guilty to one charge each under Regulation 6 of the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020. This stipulates that an individual must not meet another individual not living in the same place of residence for any social purpose, unless permitted under the regulations.

A second charge of leaving their homes without reasonable excuse was taken into consideration.

These 10 individuals are: 

• Loo Jiale, a 32-year-old Singaporean male

• Peter Ngin, a 52-year-old Singaporean male 

• Ho Hua Heng, a 51-year-old Singaporean male  

• Rainven Tan Choon Chye, a 49-year-old Singaporean male  

• Kwok Kian Ghin, a 56-year-old Singaporean male 

• Lek Guan Heng, a 56-year-old Singaporean male 

• Bunkhan Supapron, a 33-year-old Thai female  

• Ob-un Wanwisa, a 30-year-old Thai female  

• Ketthim Supatsara, a 25-year-old Thai female 

• Khamsam Wararat, a 30-year-old Thai female 

The occupations of each of the individuals and their relationships with each other were not stated in court.

For breaching the regulations, Loo and Ngin were fined S$8,000 and S$6,000 respectively. The remaining eight individuals were fined S$4,000 each.

The prosecution said that Loo was the most culpable as he had opened the shop and invited at least three of the others.

Ngin received a slightly higher fine than the other guests as he had made a decision to order beer with Loo, and did not stop the gathering from happening.

‘ILLEGAL DISCO PUB’

The court heard that the drinking session took place on the evening of June 11 this year, just over a week after Singapore made a gradual exit from the circuit breaker.

While some economic activities were permitted to resume during this first phase of the circuit breaker exit, social gatherings were still not allowed. 

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jason Chua said the police received an anonymous message that day that stated: “Illegal disco pub with sexy ladies going business during cb secretly open daily 24/7 report made but no respond will go social media.” (sic) 

The police responded to the anonymous report and investigated the location at Golden Mile Tower indicated in the anonymous tip-off, and discovered that it was in reality not a disco pub, but a retail shop.

Reports state that the unit was locked, and that police officers knocked on it numerous times before Loo unlocked it several minutes later. 

DPP Chua said the officers entered the unit and found a closed door behind Loo. When they entered it, they discovered the other nine individuals seated in a small room with cups of beer and soju bottles around them. 

There were also a few crates of beer bottles placed on the floor, said the prosecutor.

Investigations revealed that the owners of the unit had engaged Loo and Ngin to perform renovation works for them sometime in April, said DPP Chua.

The owner of the unit had allowed the pair to take possession of the keys, which Loo did on June 11, when they needed to periodically check the unit for any water leakage.  

Around noon that day, Loo entered the unit and invited some of the co-accused persons to join him. This invitation was later extended to the others and everyone trickled in throughout the day.

Some, like Ho, went of their own accord. Ho claimed that no one had invited him, said DPP Chua. 

Ho told investigators that this was not his first time going to the unit to drink, and that he had gone there to do so because he felt “very stressed” at home as he was not working. 

Lek, who was drinking at the shop for the first time, told investigators he was “feeling bored at home”.

On his part, Loo admitted to investigators that he had participated in two to three gatherings since the later part of April, though it was not revealed in court where these other gatherings were held.

Anyone found guilty of breaching Regulation 6 of the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 is liable to a fine of up to S$10,000, or a jail term of up to six months, or both.