1 Sep 2021 wasn’t just the day where PM Lee was awarded damages for defamation.
It was also the day when a 22-year-old lady found out that going out while on MC because she exhibited acute respiratory infection symptoms is a serious matter.
So serious that you can go to jail for it.
Here’s what happened.
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
On 24 Oct 2020, Ang Siu Yen, a Singapore PR from Malaysia, reportedly visited Healthway Medical Clinic along Yishun Avenue 11.
She had a runny nose, cough with phlegm and sore throat.
The doctor who attended to her diagnosed that she had an upper respiratory tract infection.
He instructed her to go for a COVID-19 swab test and stay home until the results are out.
The instructions were acknowledged and the doctor gave Ang a four-day MC.
So, did the lady stay home? Apparently not.
Met Boyfriend & Went Shopping Instead
According to TODAYonline, the lady promptly forgot the instructions and spent her bonus “off days” doing what she wants.
Ang had returned home after the swab, but left hours later.
She shopped at the Sheng Siong supermarket outlet at Junction Nine with her boyfriend, Song Mun Jian, before returning home once again.
The next day, she went to the National Library in Bugis, shopped with her boyfriend at Bugis Junction mall, walked dogs with her friend, and had dinner with her boyfriend at Yew Tee Point mall.
In the midst of her outing on the second day, a doctor had come to her home to inform her that her first swab test was rejected, and she had to go for a swab again.
When he found out that he wasn’t at home, he managed to get into contact with her and reminded her about the requirement to stay home.
Ang, despite knowing that, stayed out until 8pm at night.
Throughout the two days, Ang took public transport to get to her destinations.
It was reported that Ang’s steps were traced through her EZ-Link records.
Sentenced to 3 Weeks’ Jail
The prosecution had initially asked for a four-week jail term.
He pointed out that there was no need for her to leave her home, and she wasn’t taking the MC seriously.
Her lawyer, however, argued for a shorter term of 3 weeks.
She had left only after her symptoms had subsided, and she has apologised for not taking the MC seriously.
On 1 Sep 2021, Ang was sentenced to 3 weeks’ jail for breaching COVID-19 laws.
Principal District Judge Victor Yeo, during sentencing, pointed out that it wasn’t relevant whether Ang was showing symptoms or not as there are asymptomatic COVID-19 cases out there.
For breaking COVID-19 laws, she could’ve been jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.
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Feature Image: TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock.com (Image for illustration purpose only)