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Eight Britons who violated Covid-19 safe distancing measures on a yacht off Lazarus Island on Dec. 26, 2020, were fined S$3,000 each on May 20, 2021, the Straits Times reported.

The eight individuals pleaded guilty today to breaching Covid-19 laws. They are:

• Annabelle Morgan Duke, 26,
• Philip Edward Knatchbull Holmes, 27,
• Mark Alexander Bellamy, 27,
• Amy Georgina Hunt, 30,
• Thomas Cuthbert Williams-Jones, 30,
• Oliver Francis William Campbell, 31,
• Benjamin David Waters, 32, and
• Amy Alexandra Stewart, 32

The group had intermingled without masks at that time when it was against the law to gather in groups of more than five.

On May 20, MOM said that these individuals are permanently banned from working in Singapore for breaching regulations under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act.

Their work passes have been cancelled by their former employers.

Remaining two

The eight who pleaded guilty today were part of a group of 10 during the yacht outing on Dec. 26, 2020.

According to ST, the other two participants were fined $3,000 each after pleading guilty to breaking Covid-19 laws earlier in March.

They are Briton Amy Grace Ropner, 28, and Singapore permanent resident Mark Lau San Mao, 30.

Ropner has been banned from working in Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said they will shorten the validity of Lau's re-entry permit upon his next renewal.

What happened?

Hunt had contacted a booking agent, Marine Bookings, last October to charter a yacht for 10 people on Dec. 26, 2020.

The yacht, named Advant, was owned and operated by Beyond Luxury

The 10 individuals met two crew members of the yacht at the Cove Avenue marina in Sentosa around 11am on Dec. 26.

In a pre-departure briefing, the participants were told to maintain two groups of five at each end of the yacht with no intermingling between groups.

They were also reminded to wear a mask when not in the water or eating or drinking, and to comply with safe management measures on the yacht.

The group did not comply with the instructions and was subsequently spotted dancing and intermingling on the yacht without masks. Onlookers uploaded pictures and videos of the gathering on social media.

On Jan. 23, the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) suspended Advant's licence for 30 days.

For violating Covid-19 laws, individuals can be liable to imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to S$10,000 while repeat offenders can be liable to imprisonment of up to a year and a fine of up to S$20,000.

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Top images from Bu Hui Yan/FB.