In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic, scientists are concerned with an equally disturbing phenomenon: a small minority of Singaporeans are regressing to teenagers.
As any frustrated parent would know, teenagers have a strong distaste for rules and authority and usually end up doing whatever the heck they want to.
Their only goal in life seems to do stupid things and rebel against authority figures.
Sound familiar?
This regression is the only possible explanation as to why some residents here are acting as if they were moved to Changi Prison for the circuit breaker period.
Otherwise, it’d mean that they’re just, well, pricks.
But it turns out that it’s not just teenagers who’re rebellious.
Man Charged With Leaving House Without Reason & Not Wearing Mask Properly
A 56-year-old man has been charged with leaving his house without a reasonable excuse during the circuit breaker period, not wearing his face mask properly, and attacking a police officer who spoke to him.
But that’s not all Christopher Amurutham did.
In fact, it’s almost like the 56-year-old had a checklist of safe distancing offences he wanted to tick off throughout the day.
It all started with him leaving his home at Block 15, Toa Payoh Lorong 7 around lunchtime on 18 Apr.
According to CNA, he then ate and drank at a public bench at a nearby block without a reasonable excuse.
Officer: You know you’re not allowed to eat in public, right?
Man: Well, my doctor says I shouldn’t eat Chendol either but the world’s a funny place.
Obviously we made up their conversation.
Or did we?
In addition, Amurutham did not wear his mask properly at all times while at the public bench, instead wearing the mask so that it covered only his chin.
Unless both his mouth and nose are conveniently located on his chin, this was pointless.
Attacked Officer
Then came the opportunity to apologise and atone for his offences. A simple “I’m sorry officer, and I accept my punishment” would have been nice, but no.
He decided to take out his frustrations on the officer instead.
When approached by the officer, the man allegedly shouted several vulgarities including “bloody fool”, “f*** you” and “f*** yourself”.
Eight minutes later, he allegedly raised his right hand and used it to push the officer’s hand away while she was trying to arrest him, reported CNA.
Why are people like this?
Charged
Amurutham was charged today (22 Apr) with two counts under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 and its regulations, along with two charges of verbally abusing and using criminal force on a police officer.
He is set to plead guilty on 6 May.
If convicted, Amurutham could be in a world of trouble.
If you’re caught wearing a mask incorrectly (i.e. might as well be considered as not wearing lah), you could receive a fine of up to S$10,000 or even a maximum of six months’ jail. And both are for the first offence.
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The penalties are the same for leaving your house without a reasonable excuse.
Plus, if he’s convicted of cursing at a police officer, Christopher faces a maximum of 12 months’ jail, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.
And he used force on a public servant carrying out his duty, so he could get another fine, four years’ jail, or both for that.
So all in all, he’s facing $6 trillion worth of fines and 8,218 years of imprisonment.
Is It Worth It?
That’s the question that pops into our heads whenever we come across an individual blatantly breaking the law.
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Is eating a bowl of Wanton Mee really worth a hefty fine or even a jail term?
Reader: The one near my house is.
Of course it’s not.
Reader: Then why did you ask me?
Because I thought highly of you, that was my mistake.
Reader: OK, we have a difference of opinion, there’s no need to be mean.
But it’s not just our own freedom and money that we’re risking here. We also have to consider that the lives of our fellow Singaporeans are at stake.
We could all be asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus, and when we go outside and break the safe distancing rules, we could spread the virus to someone who’s more vulnerable to the disease.
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This won’t last forever, guys. Just make a few sacrifices and follow the rules during this critical period.
