4 men pick rambutans in Clementi using long pole

The fruits were ripe for the picking.

Lean Jinghui | July 12, 2021, 06:44 PM

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Four men were seen harvesting rambutans in the Clementi area over the weekend, according to Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao.

Using a long pole

Wanbao reported that the four men used a long pole to whack the rambutan tree's branches, which were full of fruit ripe for the picking.

The incident happened near Block 101 Clementi Street 14, at around 6:30pm on July 10.

In one photograph, one of the men was seen waving the long pole around to dislodge the rambutans from the tree's upper branches, while the remaining three men scrambled to pick up the fruits that had fallen to the ground.

Several members of the public stopped to take photos of the scene unfolding before them.

According to Wanbao, other residents were subsequently also seen harvesting rambutans from two other trees at a neighbouring block in the area.

Not allowed

According to the Ministry of National Development, it is illegal to harvest fruit from trees or pick up fruit that has dropped from trees on state land, without the permission of the National Parks Board (NParks).

Then-minister for national development explained in parliament in 2019 that this was because trees located on state land belong to the state (so NParks, or the Singapore Land Authority), and the state's ownership of trees includes ownership of their fruit as well.

Under the Parks and Trees Act, those found guilty of harvesting fruits without permission in a public park can be fined up to S$5,000.

If found guilty of doing the same thing in a nature reserve or national park, the fine can go up to S$50,000, or warrant a jail term of up to six months.

Top image via Lianhe Wanbao Facebook