A 44-year-old American commercial pilot in Singapore, Brian Dugan Yeargan, had his guilty plea for flouting his Stay-Home-Notice, by spending three hours outside, rejected by the court.

This was due to Yeargan stating that he did not receive a physical copy of the SHN.

However, the prosecution noted that he had received an electronic copy.

Previously, Brian Dugan Yeargan's lawyer, Ronnie Tan of Central Chambers Law Corporation, stated that his client intended to consider the position that the prosecution would adopt first, and did not have the intention to plead guilty at the moment.

What did Yeargan do?

Yeargan arrived in Singapore from Australia on April 3 and was issued a short-term visit pass valid for 30 days.

In an online health declaration form submitted to ICA, he had declared that he had visited Hong Kong, China and the U.S. prior to his arrival in Singapore.

The commercial pilot was then served with an SHN for the period of April 3 to 17.

On April 5, he left his place of accommodation at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, took a train from Changi Airport MRT station to City Hall MRT station, and walked to Chinatown Point to purchase personal items.

He visited four shops at Chinatown Point and spent five minute at each shop, where he purchased a thermometer from one store and face masks from the other stores.

He then took a train back to his hotel, and received a call from his company, FedEx, telling him that he was not allowed to leave his hotel.

He spent approximately three hours outside.

Will return to court on May 8

On April 21, Yeargan was charged in court for an offence under the Infectious Diseases (Covid-19 – Stay Orders) Regulations 2020 and was also offered S$5,000 bail.

The case has been adjourned to May 8.

Separately, two other Singaporeans, Chong Chun Wah, 47, and Siti Wan Su'Aidah Samsuri, 25, were also charged in court for breaching their SHN.

They also will return to court on May 8.

Top image via Nigel Chua