Briton breaks S’pore quarantine order

Singapore, Feb. 15: A British citizen pleaded guilty on Monday to violating a coronavirus quarantine order in Singapore by visiting his fiancée several times in another hotel room. They are to appear in court for sentencing on February 26, and face a possible sentence of up to six years in jail and a fine of 10,000 Singapore dollars ($7,500) on each charge. Skea Nigel left his room at The RitzCarlton, Millenia Singa pore hotel on three occasions in Septem ber, according to the charge sheets. He was not wearing a mask.

Nigel climbed an emergency stairwell and entered a room that his Singaporean fiancée had booked. The two spent nine hours together. Most travellers have to stay in an assigned hotel room or at home for 14 days after arriving in Singapore under Coron avirus quarantine ru les. They receive meals and regularly record their temperatures.

Nigel arrived at the State Courts on Monday with Agatha Maghesh Eyamalai, whom he has since married. The Briton said he was guilty of two charges for flouting the rules. Four other charges against him were temporarily withdrawn. The prosecution asked that Nigel be jailed for four weeks and fined 1,000 Singa pore dollars ($750). Defence lawyer Dhillon Surinder Singh, who is also representing Eyamalai, asked for a fine or a one-week jail term “to give him a slap on a wrist.” Eyamalai also pleaded guilty to one charge of aiding Nigel. No Briton has been jailed in Singapore for breaking coronavirus rules. A handful have had their work passes revoked and paid fines.