Three Singapore Citizens – 28-year-old Quresh Singh Sandhu, 54-year-old Azhar Bin Khamis and 60-year-old Zahari Bin Samat – will be charged in court on 13 May 2020 after breaching their Stay-Home Notices (SHN).

2.     Quresh will be charged under Section 21A of the Infectious Diseases Act, while Azhar and Zahari will be charged under the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 – Stay Orders) Regulations 2020.

Wilful Breach of the SHN Requirements

3.     The Government had announced that with effect from 16 March 2020, 2359 hours, all residents, Long-Term Pass (LTP) holders and short-term visitors entering Singapore with travel history to any ASEAN country

 within the previous 14 days would be issued an SHN and must remain in their place of residence at all times for a 14-day period. From 20 March 2020, 2359hrs, these requirements were extended to all residents, LTP holders and short-term visitors entering Singapore. Further measures were put in place, from 9 April 2020, 2359hrs, requiring all residents, LTP holders and short-term visitors entering Singapore to serve their 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities.

Case of Quresh Singh Sandhu

4.     Quresh arrived in Singapore from Batam, Indonesia, on 17 March 2020 and was served with an SHN for the period from 17 March to 31 March 2020. Instead of proceeding to his declared place of residence in Sembawang Drive, Quresh took public transport to Marina Bay Sands where he worked as a security officer. After he left work on 18 March 2020, he took public transport to his company’s lodging at Dunlop Street where he shared a room with three co-workers. Between 19 March and 21 March 2020, Quresh continued to commute daily to work by public transport. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) discovered his breach of SHN on 21 March 2020 when enforcement officers visited his declared place of residence in Sembawang Drive and found that he was not there.  

Case of Azhar Bin Khamis

5.     Azhar arrived in Singapore from Batam, Indonesia, on 26 March 2020 and was served with an SHN for the period from 26 March to 9 April 2020. Instead of proceeding to his declared place of residence in Tampines, Azhar spent the night at his sister’s residence in Serangoon. On 27 March 2020, he left his sister’s residence and spent the next few days in public areas at Harbourfront. On 5 April 2020, ICA enforcement officers visited his declared place of residence in Tampines and found that he was not there. ICA officers found him at the Singapore Cruise Centre later that day.

Case of Zahari Bin Samat

6.     Zahari arrived in Singapore from Batam, Indonesia, on 1 April 2020 and was served with an SHN for the period from 1 April to 15 April 2020. However, Zahari proceeded thereafter to a rented address at North Bridge Road which was not his declared place of accommodation at Ang Mo Kio. On 2 April 2020, he went to the ICA Building to inform an officer that he had provided an outdated address in his electronic health declaration and intended to update the address where he would serve his SHN. ICA officers advised him to return to his place of accommodation at North Bridge Road immediately and reminded him to remain there at all times for the 14-day SHN period. However, on 8 April 2020, he left his place of accommodation again and was arrested by CNB officers at an open air carpark nearby.

ICA’s investigation into their Wilful Breaches

7.     ICA has investigated the three individuals’ wilful breaches of SHN requirements. In consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, they will be charged in court on 13 May 2020. A person convicted of an offence under the Infectious Diseases Act and its Regulations is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or up to six months’ imprisonment, or both.

Importance of Complying with SHN Requirements

8.     ICA will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against those who fail to comply with SHN requirements. 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. Anyone who makes a false or misleading declaration will be liable to prosecution under the Infectious Diseases Act. The penalty for providing false or misleading information is a fine of up to S$10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months. For subsequent offence(s), the penalty is a fine of up to S$20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months. For foreigners, ICA may also take further administrative actions, such as revoking, or shortening the validity of permits and passes to remain in Singapore.

9.     Members of the public can report information about anyone who fails to comply with SHN requirements to ICA at go.gov.sg/reportshnbreach or 6812 5555. All residents, LTP holders and short-term visitors who require assistance such as updating their contact number or address where they are to serve their SHN, may call the SHN helpline at 6812 5555, and will not need to make a physical visit to the ICA Building.