After pleading guilty to one count of violating Covid-19 regulations, a 55-year-old Briton was fined $8,000 for repeatedly refusing to wear a mask in public when it was required to do so.
Mockridge Philip Richard, a Singapore permanent resident, refused to wear a mask in City Square Mall on May 16 of the previous year.
On Thursday (Aug. 18), his punishment was based on two related allegations that he failed to wear a mask on two different times, in the Sengkang MRT station in November 2020 and the Serangoon MRT station in December of that same year.
The court heard that when police officers approached Mockridge at MOS Burger in City Square Mall, he was hostile.
His mask was pulled down over his chin, despite the fact that he was neither eating or drinking.
When advised to mask up, Mockridge said: "Are you certain about that? I'm not so sure ", and asked them to present identification.
Unmasked, he then moved away from the officers to collect his lunch from the restaurant counter.
Sergeant Shawn Ang Yi Xiang, one of the officers, asked Mockridge whether he had a problem with wearing a mask, to which Mockridge responded, "Which law are you referring to?"
He then pulled out his cell phone and began recording the conversation.
After Sgt. Ang read the legislation, Mockridge said, "What will you do if I don't?"
Sergeant Ang then advised him that first- and second-time offenders often get composition penalties, but future repeat offenders are punished in court.
Mockridge said, "So you're threatening to cage me?"
Throughout the argument, he insisted that the officer was threatening him while remaining uncovered.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wu Yu Jie sought a $10,000 punishment, claiming Mockridge was uncovered for at least 15 minutes at the mall and had no justification for not wearing one.
"The defendant was already under investigation for the two incidents (in 2020). Despite having been arrested twice for not wearing a mask, he remained obstinate and committed this third violation "he stated.
Mockridge stated in mitigation that he lacked complete knowledge of the law.
For each violation of Covid-19 regulations, he could have been fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to up to six months in jail.
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