A 52-year-old Malay man is being investigated by the police for making offensive and racist remarks and for breaching Covid-19 circuit breaker measures.
The police said in a news release on April 18 it is investigating the man for uttering words with intention to wound the racial feelings of others, causing intentional harassment, and breaching Covid-19 circuit breaker measures.
The mention of the man's race was made by the police in the news release.
The incident took place on April 17, 2020 at about 6pm.
The man visited a grocery store at Block 651 Jurong West Street 61 to buy a packet of soy milk.
The store’s female Chinese store supervisor denied the man entry and declined to sell him the item, as he was not wearing a mask.
The man took offence and hurled racist remarks and vulgarities at the supervisor.
He also attributed the source of the Covid-19 virus to the Chinese people.
On April 18, the police received several reports on a video of the incident circulating online.
Officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and traced him within three hours.
Investigations are ongoing.
The offence of uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the racial feelings of any person carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, or a fine, or both.
The offence of causing intentional harassment carries a fine of up to S$5,000, an imprisonment term of up to six months, or both.
The offence of failing to wear a mask in public places is a contravention of Regulation 3A of the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.
The police said it takes very seriously acts that can threaten racial harmony in Singapore.
Any person who makes remarks that can cause ill-will and hostility between the different races will be dealt with swiftly and firmly.
The police also urged the public to take the circuit breaker measures seriously.