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SINGAPORE – Britain’s Paul Jonathon Gold was fined $ 3,000 for disobeying safe distancing measures and participating in an illegal gathering on Lazarus Island amid the Covid-19 outbreak on August 8.
The 32-year-old man was part of a 12-person gathering on the island that violated Covid-19 regulations that prohibit social gatherings of more than five people who do not stay in the same place of residence. The fine was imposed instead of six days in jail.
According to court documents, the illegal meeting took place between 11 am and 6 pm on August 8.
Gold and the other 11 people in the meeting were charged on October 2 with a crime under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act.
The others are Natalie Joanna Sarkies, 29; Helen Ann Sullivan, 30 years old; Zoe Louise Cronk, 30 years old; Jeff Richard Alexander, 31; Joshua Adam Roth, 31; Lowri Mair Jeffs, 31 years old; James Riby Oram Trimming, 31 years old; Richard Henri Lagesse, 31 years old; Luong Thi Thu Ha, 31; William Edwin Dunford, 32, and Edward John Joseph Lee-Bull, 32.
They are all British except Sarkies, who is from Singapore, and Ha, who is Vietnamese and has been a permanent resident of Singapore for 11 years.
The court heard that the group had taken a ferry from mainland Singapore to St John’s Island around 11am on 8 August.
After reaching the island of San Juan, they walked to the beach of Lazaro Island, where they did various leisure activities. The group then took a ferry from St John’s Island back to mainland Singapore around 6pm on the same day.
Gold was seen in a photo posted by Sarkies on Instagram.
“The defendant knew, but did not care, that he was breaking the law. His conduct belittles the tremendous efforts and sacrifices of the vast majority who, among many things, have given up the joys of social interaction with family and friends for the public. “. good for containing the spread of Covid-19, “Deputy Attorney General Timotheus Koh said.
“The court must use this opportunity to send a clear deterrent message that we must remain vigilant and that retribution against violators during this time of crisis will be swift and secure.”
In his allegation of mitigation, defense attorney Anil Singh asked for leniency, as Gold has since been fired from his job at real estate investment firm Jones Lang Lasalle and will likely “not be able to re-enter Singapore.”
He also noted that Gold had pleaded guilty at an early stage, and adhered to social distancing rules after this “single offense.”
The cases involving the remaining 11 people will be heard on October 23.
If found guilty of the crime under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, first-time offenders can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $ 10,000.
Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to one year and fined up to $ 20,000.
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