A video of a youth "sampling" unpurchased drinks at FairPrice supermarket made its rounds on social media platforms earlier in February.

The 26-second clip was superimposed with the words “how to spread Wuhan”.

On April 8, Singapore Police stated in a release that they have arrested the two youths involved, both aged 17, for causing public nuisance.

Arrested for video causing public alarm and concern

According to the news release, a police report was lodged over a video that showed one of the youths drinking two bottles of unpurchased drinks at a FairPrice supermarket and then placing them back on a refrigerated shelf.

One of the youths later uploaded the video on to his private Instagram account.

However, an acquaintance recorded a copy of the video and circulated it online.

This caused public alarm and concern, the Police said.

To be charged in court

The two youths will be charged in court on April 9 with the offence of public nuisance with common intention.

Anyone convicted of public nuisance, punishable under Section 290(b) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, will be liable, on the first conviction, to imprisonment for a term of up to three months, or with fine of up to S$2,000, or both.

The news release stated that the Police will not tolerate any actions that stoke undue public alarm, especially during this period of heightened sensitivity.

The two youths have also apologised for their mistake on Feb 10:

"I sincerely apologise for what I posted online and realise it was not ethical and definitely wrong to post such a video at this point in time. We indeed took the drink off the shelves and drank it. Although we indeed paid for the drinks in the end, there is no excuse that the video we posted was not right.

We were indeed really childish and immature. I know most of you have tweeted that we should go to jail for this and we should be punished.

But I really hope you guys can give us a second chance. We were really doing it out of stupidity and our own pleasure although I know it did not turned out as fun as it was to us. I really want to apologise to everyone affected by my video.

I promise such videos will be constrained from my page in the future. I really hope a second chance can be given to us because we are still young and studying.

I sincerely apologise again."

Top photo via SPF/Facebook and @jelenece on Twitter

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