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SINGAPORE: Ten people were charged in court on Friday (February 5) of violating COVID-19 regulations by meeting on a yacht on Boxing Day last year.
This comes after a video of a group of 10 people partying on a white yacht near Lazaro Island went viral, drawing criticism from netizens.
The defendants are: British citizens Mark Alexander Bellamy, 29, Annabelle Morgan Duke, 26, Holmes Philip Edward Knatchbull, 27, Amy Alexandra Stewart, 32, Amy Georgina Hunt, 30, Amy Grace Ropner, 28, Oliver Francis William Campbell, 31, Thomas Cuthbert Williams-Jones, 30, Benjamin David Waters, 32, and Mark Lau San Mao, permanent resident of Singapore, 30.
Each of them was charged with boarding the ADVANT pleasure boat between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on December 26 of last year with nine other people outside their homes for a social purpose without a reasonable excuse.
They are accused of violating COVID-19 regulations that control large concentrations to prevent the spread of the virus.
Most of them will return to court on February 26, while Ropner and Lau will plead guilty next month.
At the time of the crime, Singapore was in Phase 2 of its reopening, with a maximum limit of five people imposed on gatherings outside the home.
Singapore entered Phase 3 on December 28, and social gatherings of up to eight people are now allowed in public.
The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority said last month that the ADVANT ship would be suspended for 30 days for the incident.
Photos and videos of the incident circulating on social media showed about 10 people in the pleasure boat, dancing and wearing Santa hats.
Under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act of 2020, individuals who have committed a crime can be fined up to S $ 10,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both, for their first conviction.
Subsequent offenses carry a maximum fine of S $ 20,000, a prison term of up to 12 months, or both.
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