Man In Singapore Threatened In Prison For Violating Quarantine After Traveling To Indonesia

JAKARTA - An elderly man in Singapore was dragged into court after being caught five times leaving his home during self-quarantine. Now he faces prison terms and fines. Or both.

On March 20, Teo Say Leong (64) returned to Singapore from Indonesia. From that day to April 3, he was ordered to self-quarantine.

According to the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Teo left his home on Jalan Sultan four times between March 23 and March 26. Teo is said to be at risk of exposing the virus to others, given that he has just returned from Indonesia, a country that has now recorded 14,032 positive cases of COVID-19.

Authorities gathered evidence that showed Teo left the house at six to eight in the morning. According to the transaction slip, Teo was called out for "unauthorized purposes."

Teo was arrested the fifth time out of the house. At that time, March 29, law enforcement officers visited his home and found Teo not there. Teo is known to leave the house to buy lunch around 1 o'clock. He goes to an open space to finish the meal.

In court, Teo admitted that he did not mean to endanger other people. Teo pleaded guilty and asked the judge to soften his stance.

"I will plead guilty to everything. I never worked. I am old, I am sick and need to exercise."

According to the Infectious Diseases Law (UU), Teo is now facing a prison sentence of up to six months or a maximum fine of 10 thousand Singapore dollars or both.