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Man who threw masks at officer on safe distancing duties jailed

Surgical mask on white background
Photo from Getty Images

SINGAPORE — Upon being confronted by an enforcement officer and a safe distancing ambassador for not wearing a mask, a 30-year-old man grew angry. He threw a popsicle stick at the ambassador twice and flung a packet of newly bought masks at the officer’s face.

Muhammad Adimin Kemton, 30, was jailed for four weeks for his abuse of the officer, a 29-year-old man from the Ministry of Health, and the ambassador, a 46-year-old woman from the Singapore Food Agency. Both had been performing safe distancing enforcement duties on 26 April when they confronted Adimin.

Adimin, a food deliveryman, pleaded guilty to one count each of using vulgarities and criminal force on the officer, who is a public servant. Two remaining charges of a similar nature against the ambassador, and one charge of failing to wear a mask over his nose and mouth while outside of his residence, were taken into consideration for his sentencing.

On 26 April, at about 5.10pm, the ambassador and officer were performing patrol duty around Block 18 Upper Boon Keng Road when they saw Adimin exit a shop without a mask. Adimin was with two friends then.

When approached by the duo, Adimin said that he was only buying a few items and would return home. He then said he would wear his friend’s mask, but the officer replied that Adimin’s friend would not have a mask to wear.

Angered, Adimin began hurling vulgarities. He stormed back into the store to buy disposable masks. After purchasing a packet of masks, he confronted the pair, shoving a single mask from the packet into the officer’s face.

He then charged towards the ambassador and threw a used ice cream popsicle stick at her, which hit her left arm. He picked up the stick and again threw it at her while scolding profanities.

He also threw the remaining disposable masks left in the packet at the officer’s face while uttering vulgarities at him.

After a while, Adimin left the area with his friends while still shouting at the duo. A few bystanders later approached the victims and told them the direction where Adimin was headed.

Mitigating through an interpreter, Adimin said his children had been under foster care for three years.

He said that he had “alot of problems” and was unable to focus, adding that he sometimes became agitated over simple matters.

“My wife is in the family way. (I would) like to make arrangements (on) care for her before commencement of sentence,” he added.

For using abusive words on a public servant, Adimin could have been jailed up to a year and/or fined up to $5,000. For using criminal force on a public servant, Adimin could have been jailed up to four years and/or fined.

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