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A former magazine editor knowingly violated Covid-19 safe distancing rules by inviting four people to a 13-person gathering, which he also attended, at actor Terence Cao's home.

Lance Lim Chee Keong, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of breaching Covid-19 laws on May 18, 2021.

What happened?

The incident took place on Oct. 2, 2020, at Cao's condominium unit along Daisy Road.

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Cao, 53, had organised a social gathering involving himself, Lim, artiste Heng Tee Kok, 45, and actors Shane Pow, 30, Jeffrey Xu, 32, and Jeremy Chan, 39, before 7pm that day.

The gathering was organised to celebrate the birthdays of Cao, Pow, and Xu.

Two guests

Between 7pm and 8pm, Cao, Lim, and Pow were having dinner at Cao's residence.

Prior to this, Lim had invited radio DJ Sonia Chew, 30, actress Julie Tan, 29, and marketing managers Lu Shuyi, Debbie, 33, and Wang Chunwei, Eleanor, 34, to the gathering, and expected them to arrive later.

Lim had also asked Wang to bring a birthday cake to the gathering.

Lim was also aware that actress Dawn Yeoh, 34, would arrive later to attend the gathering, as Wang had invited her.

Third guest

At about 8pm, model-actress Valnice Yek, 22, arrived.

Pow had earlier invited her to the residence to have a social gathering with him, Cao, and Lim.

Neither Pow nor Yek knew that more guests would appear at the residence.

Fourth guest

Sales manager Tan Jun Chuan, 30, subsequently arrived on his own before 9pm.

Tan's arrival was intended to be a surprise for Cao and Tan was not aware that more guests would arrive later. At this time, there were four guests in the residence — Lim, Pow, Yek, and Tan.

Fifth and sixth guests

Between 9pm to 10pm, Wang and Yeoh arrived.

Before their arrival, Wang and Yeoh did not know that there was going to be more than five guests present and that more guests would arrive later. At this time, there were six guests in the residence — Lim, Pow, Yek, Tan, Wang, and Yeoh.

Nine guests in total

Between 10pm and 11pm, Lu, Julie, and Heng arrived. Lu had arrived alone to surprise Cao.

Prior to their arrival, Lu, Julie, and Heng did not know that there was going to be more than five guests present and that more guests would arrive later. At this time, there were nine guests in the residence - Lim, Pow, Yek, Tan, Wang, Yeoh, Lu, Julie, and Heng.

Twelve guests in total

Between 11pm on Oct. 2, 2020, and 12am on Oct. 3, 2020, Chew, Xu, and Chan arrived. The three of them was not aware that there was going to be more than five guests present. At this time, there were 12 guests in the residence - Lim, Pow, Yek, Tan, Wang, Yeoh, Lu, Julie, Heng, Chew, Xu, and Chan.

At about 11:24pm, all 13 attendees held a birthday cake-cutting ceremony and snapped group photographs of everyone present at the gathering, one of which was shared by Xu on his Instagram Stories.

All attendees were not wearing masks in the residence and did not maintain a one-metre distance from each other as they chatted and consumed food and beverages. They also knew it was against the law to gather in groups of more than five people, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Norman Yew added.

Between 12am and 1am on Oct. 3, 2020, Yek, Tan, Wang, Yeoh, Heng, and Chan left the residence. At this time, six guests remained - Lim, Pow, Lu, Julie, Chew, and Xu.

Between 1am to 2am on Oct. 3, 2020, Lu left. The remaining guests — Lim, Pow, Julie, Chew, and Xu — left between 2am and 4am.

Court case

Yew assessed that the gathering had lasted a significant duration of time, with 13 people gathered for four hours, between 9pm and 1am.

He also noted that Lim chose to flout the law despite being aware of the limit on social gatherings.

Thus, the DPP put forth the sentence of a fine of at least S$3,000 for Lim.

For his offence, Lim could be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.

In addition to Cao's and Lim's charges, the other 11 participants have each been fined S$300.

Cao will plead guilty in court next Tuesday (Oct. 25), according to Lianhe Zaobao.

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Top image from Jeffrey's Xu's Instagram via Shinmin Daily News.