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4 women, 6 men charged for meeting at Arab Street club during circuit breaker period

Microphone set up in a club.
Microphone set up in a club. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — Four women and six men were charged on Tuesday (10 November) for meeting at a club along Arab Street during the circuit breaker period in May.

The six men include Club Playground’s legal occupier, Teo Guoshun, 34, who was accused of failing to ensure that his premises were closed to any individual during the day of the alleged incident on 30 May.

The other five men - all Singaporean - are Lai Zhendong, 33; Terence Chong Kaichen, 29; Ang Kok Siang, 32; Tan Whenn, 25; and James Teng Chung Choon, 46.

They each face two charges: meeting others not from the same household to discuss business matters related to Club Playground at its premises at 122 Arab Street, on 30 May at about 12.08am; and leaving their homes at the same date and time for a purpose that was not permitted under reg 4(3) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

Teo is the only one who faces an additional charge for permitting the others into his premises.

The four women are Chinese nationals Luo Wenchan, 34; Zhang Min, 28; and Singaporeans Veronica Ong Xue Yu, 21, and Per Li Min, 26.

Each woman faces two charges of meeting others not from the same household for a social purpose at Club Playground at the same time and date as the men. Each was also given a charge for leaving their home for a purpose that was not permitted under COVID-19 regulations.

All, save for Luo and Lai, indicated their intention to plead guilty and are expected to return to court on 16 December to do so. Luo and Lai will return to court on 24 November and 1 December for further mentions of their cases.

Between 7 April and 1 June, Singapore entered a partial lockdown, or circuit breaker, and individuals were not permitted to leave their homes, except for essential services.

For each breach of the COVID-19 regulations, a person may be jailed up to six months and/or fined up to $10,000 on a first conviction.

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