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- Dec 6, 2018
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HIS FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVED HIM AT THE AIRPORT
Ko's wife and son welcomed him at the airport and they took separate transport home. His son stayed overnight with him, in breach of the condition in the declaration form.
The next day, movers went to the condo to transport the Ko family's belongings in. At 2.30pm, two officers from SATS - the airport services firm - who were assigned to carry out house visits on travellers serving their stay-home notice arrived at the condo.
They were surprised to see Ko with his wife and two children in the living room, while house movers were transferring furniture, household items and boxes in.
When the officers asked Ko if he was staying alone, he said he was staying there with his wife and children. The officers took down their names and ordered the movers to cease their work.
Four ICA officers arrived within the hour and saw Ko and his family in the unit along with nine movers. The movers were there for more than two hours. They did not know that Ko was serving stay-home notice, and they would not have accepted the assignment if they did, the prosecutor said.
Ko was escorted to a hotel to serve out the rest of his stay-home notice, and later charged in court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Joshua Lim called for the maximum S$10,000 fine, saying that Ko had planned the move in late October, about a month before he entered Singapore.
He had two chances to come clean, said Mr Lim: First in the online form and second when he signed the physical form at the checkpoint.
He also allowed movers to enter his home, said Mr Lim.
HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED SHN WITH HIS FAMILY: DEFENCE
Defence lawyer Adrian Wee said a fine of S$7,000 would be appropriate. He said Ko had served a stay-home notice before, and it was with his family members at his family home.
"That forms the basis of the accused person's desire or expectation to serve his SHN with his family," said Mr Wee.
"But as it turned out - and this he fully accepts - the rules had changed by the time he returned to Singapore in November," said the lawyer.
He said that Ko took steps to isolate himself behind the sliding doors of his balcony when there were other people in his home, but acknowledged this does not fulfil requirements.
It was not a case where he went out to engage with anyone, and he did not have COVID-19 nor did he transmit it to anyone, said Mr Wee. He said his client was very sorry and regrets the offence.
The judge agreed with the defence on the quantum of the fine.
Ko could have been jailed up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both for providing false information under the Infectious Diseases Act.
HIS FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVED HIM AT THE AIRPORT
Ko's wife and son welcomed him at the airport and they took separate transport home. His son stayed overnight with him, in breach of the condition in the declaration form.
The next day, movers went to the condo to transport the Ko family's belongings in. At 2.30pm, two officers from SATS - the airport services firm - who were assigned to carry out house visits on travellers serving their stay-home notice arrived at the condo.
They were surprised to see Ko with his wife and two children in the living room, while house movers were transferring furniture, household items and boxes in.
When the officers asked Ko if he was staying alone, he said he was staying there with his wife and children. The officers took down their names and ordered the movers to cease their work.
Four ICA officers arrived within the hour and saw Ko and his family in the unit along with nine movers. The movers were there for more than two hours. They did not know that Ko was serving stay-home notice, and they would not have accepted the assignment if they did, the prosecutor said.
Ko was escorted to a hotel to serve out the rest of his stay-home notice, and later charged in court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Joshua Lim called for the maximum S$10,000 fine, saying that Ko had planned the move in late October, about a month before he entered Singapore.
He had two chances to come clean, said Mr Lim: First in the online form and second when he signed the physical form at the checkpoint.
He also allowed movers to enter his home, said Mr Lim.
HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED SHN WITH HIS FAMILY: DEFENCE
Defence lawyer Adrian Wee said a fine of S$7,000 would be appropriate. He said Ko had served a stay-home notice before, and it was with his family members at his family home.
"That forms the basis of the accused person's desire or expectation to serve his SHN with his family," said Mr Wee.
"But as it turned out - and this he fully accepts - the rules had changed by the time he returned to Singapore in November," said the lawyer.
He said that Ko took steps to isolate himself behind the sliding doors of his balcony when there were other people in his home, but acknowledged this does not fulfil requirements.
It was not a case where he went out to engage with anyone, and he did not have COVID-19 nor did he transmit it to anyone, said Mr Wee. He said his client was very sorry and regrets the offence.
The judge agreed with the defence on the quantum of the fine.
Ko could have been jailed up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both for providing false information under the Infectious Diseases Act.
