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SINGAPORE: A man who co-hosted an illegal gathering of 18 people at his Sengkang apartment during the “circuit breaker” period was fined S $ 5,000 on Friday (September 11) for violating a COVID-19 regulation.
Leong Chee Mun, 37, received a heavier fine than his co-host and then fiancée, as he had lied to the police when they knocked on his door, saying that only he and his then-fiancée were home.
He pleaded guilty to one count of allowing people from outside his home to enter his apartment for a social gathering. A second charge of meeting the 16 guests for a social gathering was considered.
The court heard that Leong was engaged to co-defendant Cassie Ong Shi Hong at the time. She was fined S $ 4,000 last month.
They agreed to have a social gathering at her Compassvale Crescent apartment after a friend suggested it, and 16 guests came to her apartment on May 8.
They were in close contact during the meeting: they ate, drank alcohol, played games and watched Netflix.
This continued until a neighbor called the police at 2 am saying there were “a lot of young people” coming and going from the apartment.
When the police arrived, an officer heard noise inside the apartment and saw many pieces of footwear outside. He also heard silent noises from inside the apartment when he called.
Finally, Leong opened the door, who said he had been sleeping and lied that he and his then-fiancée were the only ones inside. He later said that there were between eight and ten people on the floor, but police entered and found 16 people inside.
THE FISCAL ASKS FOR A HIGHER FINE FOR LYING TO THE POLICE
Deputy Prosecutor Lee Wei Liang requested a fine of at least S $ 5,000 for Leong. He said most of the guests had been fined between S $ 2,500 and S $ 3,000, while Ong was fined S $ 4,000.
READ: 10 fined for gathering on Sengkang’s flat during the circuit breaker to eat, drink, play games and watch Netflix
“We are requesting a higher fine as there is a serious aggravating factor, which is that he knowingly lied to the police officer at the driveway,” said Mr. Lee.
He said the lie was given “in order to hide the wrongdoing”, and that Leong did not immediately confess, saying at first that there were only eight to ten people inside.
Defense attorney James Ch’ng said a fine of S $ 4,000 would be sufficient, noting that his client was not the organizer of the event.
“The choice of venue was for sheer convenience,” he said, adding that it was to avoid a public meeting.
“This was a private event. It was not held in public view. There was no intention to disregard COVID-19 regulations,” said Mr. Ch’ng.
He said Leong was stressed at the time due to his work situation. He was unemployed during the breaker period and took delivery jobs to support his then fiancee and his son from a previous marriage.
HAS ALREADY BEEN PUNISHED IN ONE SENSE: DEFENSE
“Ultimately, the defendant had a lapse in trial and regrets his actions. Even without punishment from this court, in a sense he has already been punished,” he continued.
He said Leong’s relationship with his former girlfriend and co-host was broken in the aftermath.
“Ultimately, you submit to the mercy of this court,” said Mr. Ch’ng.
In response, the prosecutor said: “They were not supposed to have met. They simply should not have seen each other, whether in private, public or anywhere else, because the purpose of this meeting was completely frivolous.”
He added that “it was not strange at all” that Leong received a higher fine than Ong’s, as there was a distinguishing factor in his lies to the police.
The judge agreed that a higher fine was warranted for Leong and fined him S $ 5,000, with two weeks in jail in arrears if he failed to pay.
For violating a COVID-19 regulation, you could have been jailed for up to six months, fined up to S $ 10,000, or both.
