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Seven individuals, aged between 30 and 52, have been issued fines on June 25 for drinking and socialising at Robertson Quay during the circuit breaker period.

Went on a pub crawl

Four of the accused had gone on a pub crawl on May 16, visiting three bars, Bar Bar Black Sheep, Boomarang and Rosso Vino, and buying drinks, according to court documents.

The four then stopped at the third bar and started chatting. They had also removed their masks during their gathering, and one of the men was smoking.

These four individuals are James Titus Beatt, 33; Poynter Joseph William, 35; Neil Gordan Buchan, 30; and Perry Scott Blair, 37. All four are British citizens.

The quartet originally met by chance at Robertson Quay.

CNA reported that those involved in the pub crawl were given fines of S$9,000 each.

Bought alcohol that was on promotion

On the same day, three other individuals were gathered in the same area as well.

Brown Jeffrey George, 52, and his wife Bao Nguyen Brown, 40, who are U.S. citizens, arrived at Robertson Quay and decided to get a drink from the bar, TAP @ Robertson Quay.

The bar at the time was having a promotion for the sale of alcohol.

After purchasing the beer, the couple left and started to drink their beer at an empty table nearby.

There, they met Austrian citizen Michael Czerny, 45, who was walking his dog. The couple offered Czerny a pint of beer, and the trio then stood next to the table and began chatting while drinking.

All three had pulled down their masks.

They were fined S$8,000 each on Thursday, CNA reported.

All seven pleaded guilty to one count of breaching Covid-19 regulations by gathering for a social purpose and without reasonable excuse.

Traumatised from charges

Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh originally asked that each of the four people involved in the pub crawl should be sentenced to an imprisonment term of at least one week.

"The accused persons knew, but did not care, that they were breaking the law," he said.

This, he said, had given the impression that Singapore's laws could be "disregarded with impunity".

"Their conduct also belittles the tremendous efforts and sacrifices of the vast majority, who has, amongst many things, given up the pleasures of social interaction with family and friends or the public good to contain the spread of Covid-19."

The judge subsequently turned down the call for one week of imprisonment each.

Defence lawyers initially asked for fines between S$2,000 and S$3,000 for Beatt, Buchan, and the Browns.

CNA reported the defence lawyers saying that their clients have experienced "trauma" from the charges they faced, with the Brown's school-going son having had "comments passed over him".

For breaching Covid-19 regulations, the seven individuals could have been fined S$10,000, jailed for six months, or both.

Background

Photos of the crowds at Robertson Quay circulated on social media in mid-May, showing numerous people sitting and standing outside bars and drinking.

The photos caused quite a stir, as they were posted in the midst of circuit breaker, during which social gatherings were disallowed and wearing masks were a must.

Soon after the photos were posted online, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) banned the sale of takeaway alcohol at restaurants which could have resulted in the gathering of people.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli subsequently updated on his Facebook that the police have traced a number of the individuals who had gathered in the area.

The seven of them were subsequently identified and charged in court by end-May, following investigations by URA and the police.

Back in April, the work passes of 24 foreign workers were also revoked after they had been found breaching the circuit breaker rules.

The Ministry of Manpower also reiterated in June that foreigners who flout the Covid-19 safety measures will risk having their employment passes revoked, regardless of pass types.

Top photo from Lectress Pat / FB