Man claiming to have Covid-19 gets jail, fine for deliberately coughing, flashing genitals at Sembawang CC employee
SINGAPORE — Upset with an employee at the Sembawang Community Club, Abdul Lazis Abdullah claimed that he was “Covid-19 positive” and had run away from a hospital before he deliberately coughed near the man.
The Singaporean also flashed his private parts at the then 29-year-old man, who cannot be named due to a court order to protect his identity.
On Monday (Dec 12), Lazis, 59, was sentenced to three weeks’ jail and a fine of S$4,000 after he pleaded guilty to one charge related to causing alarm to the man, and another for insulting his modesty.
A single charge related to the use of criminal force on the younger man was taken into consideration for sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ng Jun Chong told the court that the incident happened around noon on April 8, 2020, which was at the height of the coronavirus outbreak.
At the time, the victim was working as a temporary staff member at the community club, and his job was to conduct temperature screenings and assist members of the public with their enquiries.
DPP Ng said that Lazis questioned the man in an agitated manner on why he had not yet received his Temporary Relief Fund, when others had already received theirs.
The fund gives a one-off S$500 to lower- to middle-income Singaporeans and permanent residents facing difficulties during the Covid-19 crisis due to job or income loss.
During their conversation, Lazis became angry with the victim and suddenly said that he was sick and had run away from the hospital before removing his mask, DPP Ng said.
He then deliberately started coughing loudly in near the victim and his colleagues, as well as several members of the public.
When the victim told Lazis that he would call the police if he did not stop, the older man challenged him to do so before walking away.
At around 7pm that day, the victim again chanced upon Lazis, who was coughing.
Lazis then claimed that he had Covid-19.
The younger man told him to move to another area because he was “causing alarm to others”, but Lazis then started arguing with him.
During the dispute, Lazis questioned the victim’s manhood and said that he would prove to the victim that he was a man.
Lazis then pulled down his underwear and exposed his genitals to the victim, before walking away. He repeated this a second time.
The staff members at the community club called the police and Lazis was arrested.
He was taken to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases where he tested negative for Covid-19.
For causing alarm to his victim, Lazis could have been fined up to S$5,000.
For insulting his victim’s modesty, he could have been jailed up to a year or fined, or both.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated that the accused was sentenced to three weeks’ jail. This is incorrect. He was sentenced to three weeks’ jail and a fine of S$4,000. We are sorry for the error.
