SINGAPORE — Four men, aged between 24 and 61, are being investigated for separate incidents of alleged abusive behaviour towards enforcement officers and for breaching safe distancing measures.

The police in a press release on Tuesday (Nov 2) said the incidents occurred at Teck Ghee Market and Food Centre, Golden Mile Food Centre, Sims Vista Market and Food Centre, and Redhill Food Centre.

In one incident, the police said that a 24-year-old man allegedly hurled vulgarities and flung a bowl of noodles towards an National Environment Agency (NEA) officer at Teck Ghee on Sept 15 when told that he and two other friends should not be dining in a group of three.

The officer did not sustain any injuries but his clothes were stained.

The 24-year-old man was arrested for allegedly using criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of duty and for using abusive words against a public servant.

His two friends are being investigated for alleged non-compliance with safe distancing measures.

The police gave the following details for the other three cases:

• A 30-year-old man allegedly behaved aggressively and hurled vulgarities towards an officer at Golden Mile Food Centre on Oct 1 after the officer asked for the man’s friend’s particulars. His friend ignored the officer who told him to stop intermingling across three tables.
• A 61-year-old man allegedly hurled vulgarities and threatened an officer with a beer bottle at Sims Vista Market and Food Centre on Oct 2 after being told to pull-up his mask. The man was arrested for public nuisance and will be investigated for allegedly using abusive words against a public servant and for non-compliance with safe distancing measures.
• A 53-year-old man allegedly punched two officers at Redhill Food Centre on Oct 23 after being advised to leave the food centre after he was found to be unvaccinated.

Police investigations into all the above cases are ongoing.

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

Those found guilty of public nuisance, may be fined up to S$2,000, jailed up to three months, or both.

The police urged members of the public to abide by the prevailing safe distancing measures.

Abusive acts against enforcement officers are taken seriously and offenders will be dealt with in accordance with the law, added the police.

For using abusive words against a public servant or public service worker, an offender may be fined up to S$5,000, jailed up to 12 months, or both.

Individuals convicted of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty may be fined or caned, jailed up to four years, or both.

For using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty, an offender may be fined, jailed for up to four years, or both.