• Kaiser Sow’s friend from school days was serving a stay-home notice at a hotel after returning from abroad
• Sow decided to visit her hotel room to surprise her on her birthday even though he knew this was not permitted
• He was sentenced to 15 months’ probation and 80 hours of community work after pleading guilty to a breach of Covid-19 rules

SINGAPORE — While his friend was serving a stay-home notice in a Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore hotel room, Kaiser Sow went over to surprise her for her birthday.

They spent an hour in the room and he was almost caught by a hotel staff member as he left, but he managed to flee.

The 20-year-old Singaporean, who is now a full-time national serviceman in the Singapore Armed Forces, was sentenced to 15 months’ probation on Wednesday (Sept 8).

He had pleaded guilty in July to abetting Teo Yue Qi in breaching her stay-home notice, which she had to serve in line with regulations to curb the spread of Covid-19.

District Judge Tan Jen Tse took into consideration another charge of criminal trespass for sentencing.

Teo was given a composition fine for breaching her stay-home notice requirements.

As part of his probation conditions, Sow has to remain indoors from 10pm to 6am unless he is complying with the orders of his National Service superiors.

He also has to perform 80 hours of community service, which District Judge Tan Jen Tse said was imposed to reflect the severity of his actions.

Sow’s parents posted a bond of S$5,000 to ensure his good behaviour during the probation period.

Probation, which is usually offered to first-time offenders aged 16 to 21, does not result in a recorded criminal conviction and allows them to continue with their education or employment while serving their sentences.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Timotheus Koh told the court that neither Sow nor Teo ultimately tested positive for Covid-19.

The prosecutor had asked for between 14 and 18 months’ probation, rather than the 12 months recommended by the probation officer, and 80 hours of community service rather than the 40 hours recommended.

DPP Koh added: “While we appreciate the predominant sentencing principle is rehabilitation, we cannot ignore the element of deterrence. Like-minded accused persons should look at the order being made and still be deterred from committing similar offences.”

WHAT HAPPENED

The court earlier heard that Sow and Teo knew each other from their school days.

Teo, who is now aged 20, returned to Singapore from abroad on Nov 22 last year and was ordered to stay alone in her hotel room from then until Dec 6. She was also barred from coming into close contact with others during this period.

On Nov 28, which was Teo’s birthday, Sow entered the hotel to see if he could surprise her by visiting.

Sow knew her room number as they had been in contact. He also knew that he was not supposed to come into close proximity with her, DPP Koh told the court.

However, Sow later realised that he could not access the 17th floor where Teo’s room was. He then followed some guests to the 30th floor and exited the lift with them, before finding a service elevator and taking it down 13 storeys.

When he rang Teo’s doorbell, she was surprised to see him but did not stop him from walking into the room.

He spent about an hour there, from 3pm to 4pm. Upon leaving, he went down 17 flights of stairs to the ground floor of the hotel.

He fled when a hotel staff member tried to detain him but he managed to find an exit and took a taxi home.

Those convicted of breaching Covid-19 laws can be jailed for up to six months or fined up to S$10,000, or both.