The Police are investigating four men, aged between 34 and 81, for four separate incidents of allegedly using abusive language towards three public servants and a public service worker.
Preliminary investigations revealed the following:
a. For the first incident, on 31 July 2021, a 53-year-old man had allegedly hurled vulgarities at a bus captain when he was advised to wear his mask properly while inside the bus, near Paya Lebar MRT station. The bus captain had approached the man at his seat to advise him to pull up his mask as it had dropped below his nose. After complying, the man followed the bus captain back to the driver’s seat and allegedly scolded him using vulgarities. The 53-year-old man is currently assisting with police investigations for using abusive language towards a public service worker and for non-compliance with safe distancing measures.
b. For the second incident, on 5 August 2021, a safe distancing enforcement officer (SDEO) attached to the National Environment Agency (NEA) was performing his duties at Geylang Serai Market when he came across an 81-year-old man who had his mask pulled below his mouth. The SDEO had approached the man to advise him to wear his mask properly however instead of complying, the man had allegedly hurled threats and vulgarities at the SDEO. The 81-year old man is currently assisting with police investigations for using abusive language towards a public servant and for non-compliance with safe distancing measures.
c. For the third incident, on 7 August 2021, a 51-year-old male passenger had allegedly refused to wear a mask while inside a taxi. The taxi driver had observed the man to be visibly intoxicated and not wearing a mask at the point of pick-up. During the trip, the taxi driver had advised the man to put on a mask and even offered a mask to the man repeatedly, but he allegedly refused to comply. Upon the Police’s arrival, officers engaged the man to put on a mask but to no avail. The man had instead allegedly hurled vulgarities at the police officers. The 51-year-old man was subsequently arrested for allegedly using abusive language towards a public servant and for allegedly causing annoyance in a public place whilst drunk. He is currently assisting with police investigations for non-compliance with safe distancing measures.
d. For the fourth incident, on 12 August 2021, an SDEO attached to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) was performing her duties at a coffee shop along Whampoa Drive when a 34-year-old man had interrupted her conversation with another patron as she was advising on safe distancing measures, and had allegedly hurled vulgarities at her. The 34-year-old man is currently assisting with police investigations for using abusive language towards a public servant.
The offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards or to a public servant, under Section 6(3) of the Protection from Harassment Act, is punishable with an imprisonment term of up to 12 months, a fine not exceeding $5,000, or both.
The offence of causing annoyance whilst drunk is punishable under Section 14(2) of the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015. Offenders may face an imprisonment term not exceeding six months, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both for first time offenders.
Individuals who are found not to be wearing a mask, or not wearing a mask properly outside their place of residence, are liable for a breach of Regulation 3A of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 punishable under Section 34(7) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020. Offenders may face a fine not exceeding $10,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding six months, or both.
Members of the public are advised to take the prevailing safe distancing measures seriously. The Police take a stern view of abusive behaviour against public servants or public service workers who are carrying out their public duties, and irresponsible behaviour relating to the flouting of safe distancing measures. Offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law.
Source: Singapore Police Force