Remember the infamous “Badge Lady” who refused to wear a mask at Marina Bay Sands?
Over the course of the past few months, we all followed her bizarre court case, all the while not knowing whether to laugh or feel frustrated at said woman’s ridiculousness.
Today, we get yet another update on her case.
Badge Lady Faces Additional 14 Charges
On Tuesday (6 July), Phoon Chiu Yoke, also known as “Badge Lady”, was handed an additional 14 charges. This brings the total amount of charges she faces to 21.
The 14 charges comprise of 10 counts of failing to wear a mask at public places, as well as four charges for breaching her 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) last year.
Phoon’s earlier charges were for various offences, such as failing to wear a mask outside the State Courts.
As you can imagine, most of her earlier charges all concern failing to wear a mask in various places.
On 8 May last year, between 7.20pm and 8pm at Newton hawker centre, the 53-year-old also allegedly failed to wear a mask over her nose and mouth “at all times”.
Reportedly, from 8 May last year to 24 May this year, she also failed to wear a mask in places such as Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Tiong Bahru Market on numerous occasions.
On top of that, despite being required to serve a 14-day SHN at MBS from 28 June to 12 July last year, Phoon allegedly breached her SHN on five different occasions. She had reportedly left her room once each on 28 June and 5 July, twice on 8 July, and once again on 9 July.
For first-time offenders who breach laws under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, once can be sentenced to up to six months’ jail and fined up to $10,000. For repeat offenders, one can be sentenced to up to one year of jail and fined up to $20,000.
Refused to Cooperate with ICA
Phoon’s case has been adjourned to 23 July, with her bail increasing from $8,000 to $12,000.
The prosecution had requested for Phoon’s bail to be increased on Tuesday, saying that she had failed to reply to calls and an e-mail by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) requesting for her to assist in investigations.
Phoon had also refused to speak to an ICA officer who approached her before the court hearing.
Anyone knows the myth of an ostrich burying its head into the ground and pretending its problems don’t exist just because it can’t see anything?
Yeah, that’s exactly what she’s reminding me of now.
Phoon is also being investigated for an offence she allegedly committed after her previous appearance in court on 15 June this year.
The offence?
What else could it be but failing to comply with COVID-19 measures? Complying with COIVD-19 measures is a condition for Phoon to be released on bail, but she had allegedly failed to do so.
During the court hearing, Phoon, who was unrepresented, defended herself by saying that she would have responded to the ICA’s request if the agency had sent her a written letter or registered mail to her residence.
She also added that she had not given her e-mail address to any ICA officer, saying that she did not speak to the ICA officer outside the courtroom because he was “very aggressive”.
I have to say, these days it’s rare to meet people who have the time to open their letterbox but no time to check their e-mail.
Cites Eczema and Breathlessness in Defence
Citing a condition of eczema and breathlessness as reasons for her to not wear a mask, Phoon urged the prosecution to drop the new charges against her.
For someone who suffers from “breathlessness”, she sure does have a lot of energy to go around arguing with a safe distancing ambassador about whether or not they have a badge.
In the viral video clip, where she was captured not wearing a mask in MBS, Phoon questioned the safe distancing ambassador who confronted her, asking whether she had a badge and who she represented.
“If you have no badge, why are you asking me to do something? Who are you representing?” Phoon can be heard asking the ambassador.
After the ambassador replied that she represented MBS, Phoon then commented, “That’s what you say, I can say that I’m a police (officer).”
The safe distancing ambassador and her colleagues can be seen trying to get Phoon to put on a mask in the rest of the clip, but unfortunately failed in doing so.
Featured Image: Facebook