Two male Singapore Citizens, 26-year-old Thanasegaran S/O Elancharan and 25-year-old Yeo Ee Kai, will be charged in the State Courts on 20 August 2021 for breaching their Stay-Home Notice (SHN) requirements.

2.          Both Thanasegaran and Yeo will be charged for engaging in a conspiracy to breach their SHNs, thereby exposing others to the risk of infection under Section 21A Infectious Diseases Act. Thanasegaran faces additional charges for failing to wear a mask on multiple occasions under Regulation 3A of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

3.          On 30 April 2021, the two men arrived in Singapore from the Dominican Republic and were served with SHNs from 30 April to 21 May 2021. They were each informed by an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer that they were not allowed to leave their individual rooms in the dedicated facility nor were they allowed to have visitors for the duration of their SHN. The two men were subsequently conveyed to the same dedicated facility in Orchard and assigned different rooms to serve their SHN.

4.          On 11 May 2021, Thanasegaran allegedly left his room on several occasions where he was found loitering around the common corridor without wearing a face mask. On one of these occasions, Thanasegaran and Yeo had also allegedly agreed for Thanasegaran to visit Yeo in the latter’s room. Yeo allowed him to enter his room and Thanasegaran remained there for about one and a half hours.

5.          Strict compliance with SHN requirements is key to safeguarding the health and safety of our population. Those who fail to comply with SHN requirements will be liable to prosecution under the Infectious Diseases Act and/or the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 – Stay Orders) Regulations 2020. On conviction, first-time offenders are liable to punishment of a fine of up to S$10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months.

6.          Individuals who are found not wearing a mask or not wearing a mask properly outside their place of residence shall be liable to prosecution under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020. On conviction, first-time offenders are liable to punishment of a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months.

7.          Members of the public can report information about anyone who fails to comply with SHN requirements to ICA at go.gov.sg/reportshnbreach or call 6812 5555.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
20 AUGUST 2021