COVID-19: Man allegedly visited Geylang and Orchard Plaza without mask during circuit breaker
SINGAPORE — A man accused of leaving his residence without excuse to visit Geylang and Orchard Plaza and failing to wear a mask while there was charged in court on Thursday (28 May).
Larionov Andrei, a 40-year-old Russian, faces a total of 12 charges.
Andrei supposedly visited Lorong 32 Geylang and Lorong 28 Geylang on 22 April where he was found without a mask.
While in the area, Andrei allegedly caused annoyance to a person - stated in charge sheets as Xia Jing Hong - by shouting indiscriminately while he was drunk. He then allegedly verbally abused a police officer. For these alleged offences, he is charged under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act and the Protection from Harassment Act.
Andrei’s alleged offences date back to 7 December 2019, when he was accused of molesting a woman by grabbing her buttock outside Club Le Noir at Clarke Quay. He also supposedly threatened a police officer at the same area, telling the officer “I am ****ing going to kill you”.
After Singapore imposed its circuit breaker on 7 April, Andrei is said to have breached enhanced regulations by leaving his place without reasonable excuse to visit Orchard Plaza on 20 April. While there he allegedly used criminal force on a person known as Koh Aik Koon by spitting saliva at his body. He is also believed to have threatened to grievously hurt Koh by telling him, “If this is Russia, I will shoot you”. He also failed to wear a mask on that occasion.
On 2 May, Andrei caused annoyance to two other police officers while drunk at the guard house of Tanglin Police Divisional Headquarters. Andrei also stripped in front of the guard house, which is an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.
A police prosecutor sought two weeks adjournment to bring five additional charges against Andrei. These involve alleged vandalism, affray, and charges related to further circuit breaker-related breaches, liquor consumption and harassment.
Through a Russian interpreter, Andrei said via video link that he was remorseful and did not intend to offend as he was under the influence of drink.
However, District Judge Terence Tay stopped him from revealing more details about his case, saying that it was not the appropriate forum for him to do so and advised him to cooperate with the authorities.
His case will be mentioned again on 11 June.
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