53-year-old Phoon Chiu Yoke has been arrested on May 25 for breaching Covid-19 measures several times.

She failed to wear her mask in public on five separate occasions, and left her hotel during her 14-day Stay Home Notice (SHN) as well.

Left hotel room during SHN

On June 28 last year, Phoon arrived in Singapore from the United Kingdom and was served with a 14-day SHN from June 28 to July 12, 2020.

As she was required to serve her SHN at a dedicated facility, she was brought to a hotel in the downtown area after immigration clearance.

Investigations showed that she allegedly left her hotel room during the SHN period on several occasions and did not wear a mask while outside her hotel room.

Phoon also failed to wear her mask in public on at least four other occasions:

• On Dec. 2, 2020, at a shopping mall along Eu Tong Sen Street.
• On May 15, 2021, at a shopping mall along Bayfront Avenue despite repeated advice from Safe Distancing Ambassadors (SDAs) to do so.
• On May 18, 2021, at a shopping complex along Bain Street.
• On May 24, 2021, outside the State Courts.

On May 24, Phoon arrived outside State Courts without a mask on, and only put a mask on at the entrance of the court.

At the start of the trial proceedings, Phoon also removed her mask, but put it back on when instructed to do so by the judge.

Reoffended despite ongoing investigations

Investigations for her alleged involvement in several cases of failing to wear her mask are ongoing.

The police previously interviewed Phoon in relation to these investigations on May 15.

In spite of this, she allegedly reoffended, including the incident on May 24.

Phoon will be charged in court today for exposing others to the risk of infection under the Infectious Diseases Act and failing to wear a mask outside her ordinary place of residence under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

The police said they will be charging Phoon "with a view to seeking an order from the Court to remand her for psychiatric assessment."

Those who fail to comply with SHN requirements can be fined up to S$10,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

Meanwhile, those not wearing a mask can be fined up to S$10,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

Background information

Videos of a maskless Phoon talking back to a Safe Distancing Ambassador (SDA) at MBS circulated online recently.

When asked to wear her mask the woman questioned if the SDA had a badge and demanded to know "Who are you representing?"

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Top photo by Syahindah Ishak & Prince Shawn via Facebook.