5 charged with Covid-19 breaches, including 1 who allegedly worked as private-hire car driver while on MC

SINGAPORE — Five people have been charged in court with committing Covid-19-related offences, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday (March 15).

One person had allegedly failed to self-isolate while awaiting the result of his Covid-19 test, thus exposing others to the risk of infection, MOH said in a press release.

The remaining four had allegedly gone to public places despite being issued with medical certificates (MC) for acute respiratory symptoms.

The five people charged are:

Namasivayam Sundar

On March 20, last year Namasivayam Sundar, who is a 57-year-old male Singapore permanent resident, returned to the Republic following a business trip to India, Paris and Dubai. 

The next day, he developed a fever and self-medicated. He then consulted a doctor on March 24 as his condition did not improve and was referred to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, where he underwent a Covid-19 test.

MOH said that instead of returning home to self-isolate while waiting for his test result, Sundar allegedly travelled to the Textile Centre at 200 Jalan Sultan for a 90-minute body massage.

On March 25, 2020 Sundar was found to be positive for Covid-19.

Sundar was charged in court on Jan 29 with one count under Section 21A(1) of the Infectious Diseases Act. His case was scheduled for further mention on March 12. MOH did not provide details of what happened that day.

Bawani Murugaiah

Between July 22 and Aug 29, Bawani Murugaiah, a 37-year-old Singaporean woman, was issued with five-day MCs on three occasions by different general practitioner clinics, all of which stated that she was required by law to stay at home throughout the duration of her MCs.

MOH said that while she was on MC, Bawani had allegedly left her home on six days to work as a private-hire car driver.

On Dec 28 last year, Bawani was charged in court with five counts under Section 21A(1) of the Infectious Diseases Act and one other count under related regulations.

She appeared in court again on Feb 22, and her case has been scheduled for further mention in court on March 22.

Abdul Rashid Sugianto

On June 2 last year, Abdul Rashid Sugianto, a 30-year-old Singaporean man, visited a clinic and was given a five-day MC from June 2 to 6 for displaying symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infection.

The next day, Rashid visited another clinic where he was again diagnosed with acute respiratory infection and was issued with another five-day MC from June 3 to 7.

MOH said that Rashid allegedly left his home on three separate occasions during his period of MC to visit Tampines West Community Centre and Geylang.

He was charged in court on Jan 6 with three counts under Section 21A(1) of the Infectious Diseases Act. He appeared in court again on Feb 17, and his case had been scheduled for further pre-trial conference in court on March 11. MOH did not provide details of what happened that day.

Ang Siu Yen

On Oct 24 last year, Ang Siu Yen, who is a 22-year-old female Singapore permanent resident, visited a clinic and was diagnosed with upper respiratory tract infection.

She was given a four-day MC from Oct 24 to 27.

MOH said that while she was on MC, Ang had allegedly left home on Oct 24 and 25 to go to a supermarket in Junction Nine Shopping Mall, as well as visiting Bugis Junction and the Yew Tee area.

Ang was scheduled to be charged in court on Monday with two counts under Regulation 3(2) read with Regulation 3(3) of the Infectious Diseases (Covid-19-Stay Orders) Regulations 2020.

Nick Foo Suan Rong

On Sept 16 last year, Nick Foo Suan Rong, a 20-year-old Singaporean man, visited a polyclinic and was diagnosed with acute respiratory infection.

He was given a three-day MC from Sept 16 to 18.

MOH said that after his visit to the polyclinic, Foo allegedly went to ION Orchard, Orchard Central, Bugis MRT Station and Admiralty MRT Station instead of returning home. On Sept 17, Foo had allegedly left home to go to Woodlands and the Somerset area.

Foo was charged in court on Monday with March 15 with breaching Covid-19 laws.

Any person convicted of an offence under the Infectious Diseases Act or Stay Orders Regulations is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or up to six months’ imprisonment, or both.

“We urge individuals to adhere to the prevailing measures, and to stay at home for the duration of MC issued for the episode of illness, to prevent putting our loved ones and others in the community at risk of infection,” MOH said.