Singaporean man to be charged in court on April 30 with ‘wilful’ breach of stay-home notice
Ong Chong Kiat visited the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Building in Kallang on March 27 and March 30, 2020, despite being ordered to stay home.
SINGAPORE — A Singaporean man will be charged in court on Thursday (April 30) with breaching the conditions of his stay-home notice, after he left his house twice and spent about five hours outdoors.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said Ong Chong Kiat, 50, arrived in Singapore from Indonesia on March 24 and was handed an order to stay home until April 7.
Those given stay-home notices are to remain in their homes for 14 days after returning from abroad to slow the spread of the coronavirus causing Covid-19.
But Ong did not do so.
On March 27, he left his residence in Hougang for about three hours, ICA said.
He took a private-hire vehicle to the ICA Building in Kallang to appeal for permission to leave Singapore before completing his stay-home notice.
ICA officers told him to return home immediately.
On March 30, Ong again left home and took a private-hire vehicle to Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Novena to obtain medical test reports. He then returned to the ICA Building to appeal for a second time to be allowed to leave the country.
This time, he spent about two hours outdoors, ICA said, calling his actions a "wilful breach" of his stay-home notice.
Ong will be charged under the Infectious Diseases Act (Covid-19 — Stay Orders) Regulations 2020. Those convicted of an offence under the regulations can be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months, or face both penalties.
The Government announced that from 11.59pm on March 20, all Singaporeans, permanent residents, long-term pass holders and short-term visitors entering Singapore would be given stay-home notices. Those returning from 11.59pm on April 9 have been serving their orders at dedicated facilities — they are taken from the airport to hotels, for example.
FIRM ENFORCEMENT
ICA reiterated on Wednesday that it would not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against those who flout the conditions of their stay-home notices.
“ICA also reminds all travellers arriving in Singapore to ensure that they submit complete and accurate health and travel declarations via the SG Arrival Card,” it said.
“Anyone who makes a false or misleading declaration will be liable to prosecution under the Infectious Diseases Act.”
For this, they could be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months, or be punished with both. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to S$20,000, up to 12 months behind bars, or both.
For foreigners, ICA may also revoke or shorten the validity of their permits or passes, which allow them to remain in Singapore.
Members of the public who wish to offer information on individuals who breach their stay-home notices can log on to go.gov.sg/reportshnbreach or call 6812 5555.
