The Singapore police have arrested a 30-year-old Singaporean man for using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty.

On June 12, 2020, the police received a call for assistance regarding an altercation between two Safe Distancing Ambassadors (SDAs) and the man at Compass One shopping mall in Sengkang.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the SDAs were advising a group of food delivery riders to observe safe distancing measures when the man, who was not part of the group, confronted one of the SDAs and pushed him.

He also assaulted the other SDA who tried to intervene.

Police investigations are ongoing.

The man is also being investigated for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty and possible breaches of safe distancing measures.

For pushing the SDA while he was carrying out his duty, the man is liable for the offence of using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty.

The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to four years, or a fine, or both.

For assaulting the other SDA who tried to intervene, the man is liable for the offence of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty.

The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, a fine, or caning, or any combination of such punishments.

The police said they have zero tolerance towards such acts of violence against Enforcement Officers (EO) and SDAs, and will not hesitate to take action against those who blatantly disregard the law.

The police also said everyone should take the safe distancing measures seriously, and cooperate and comply with the instructions of the EOs and SDAs, as they are performing an important duty to keep our population safe.

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