Upset at the smell of cigarette smoke purportedly coming from his neighbour's flat, a 52-year-old Singaporean man allegedly let his anger loose with a golf club.
He is alleged have smashed two of his neighbour's windows with the golf club on Apr. 18. A woman was injured when a shard of glass hit her arm.
The 52-year-old man was among eight individuals charged in court on Friday, May 15, 2020 for abusive and irresponsible behaviour relating to the flouting of safe distancing measures during the circuit breaker period.
Specifically, the man was charged for mischief and a rash act causing hurt. He was also charged for leaving his place of residence without a mask and without a valid reason.
Intentionally coughing at people
Another Singaporean charged on May 15 was a 41-year-old man who refused to have his temperature taken by staff at the entrance of a SingPost outlet at Tampines Central on Mar. 30.
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the man is alleged to have told the staff he had the "coronavirus" and intentionally coughed without covering his mouth.
When a customer voiced concern about the man's behaviour he allegedly coughed intentionally towards the customer's face.
He was charged with causing public nuisance and intentional harassment.
Assaulting auxiliary police, destroying park benches
There was more to come, according to the police, with a 60-year-old Singaporean who accused of assaulting two auxiliary police officers at Singapore General Hospital.
They approached him on Feb. 7 after he created a scene at the hospitals accident and emergency department.
On Apr 12, the man is alleged to have been sitting on a bench at Fort Canning Green that was demarcated as not to be occupied.
When an NParks officer approached him, the 60-year-old is alleged to have hurled vulgarities at the officer and ripped out one of the planks from the park bench.
Later that day, the man was found by police to be drinking with a friend at a bus stop along Stamford Road. He was issued a notice of composition by the police for breaching safe distancing measures, though Police say that he has yet to pay his S$300 fine. His friend was issued a notice too.
Then on four separate occasions between Apr. 19 and 23, the man is alleged to have refused to wear a mask in public despite being aware of the requirement to do so.
He was finally arrested on Apr. 27 by the police for again refusing to wear a mask in public, and was referred to the Institute of Mental Health.
On May 15, the 60-year-old was charged with the following:
- Two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty
- Using abusive language against a public servant with enhanced punishment for a repeat offender
- Mischief, relating to him prying out a plank from a park bench
- One count of breaching temporary Covid-19 measures by sitting on a park bench demarcated as not to be occupied
- One count of breaching temporary Covid-19 measures by drink with his friend at the bus stop
- Five counts of breaching temporary Covid-19 measures by not wearing a mask in public
In statement, the SPF said they took a "stern view of abusive and irresponsible behaviour" of those who flouted safe distancing measures during the circuit breaker period.
"Offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law," said the Police.
Top image by Liam Minty and Thomas Dumortier via Unsplash