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Man charged for organising illegal car race during social distancing period

Yeo Jing Cheng was charged with organising an illegal race during the COVID-19 social distancing period. (PHOTO: Wan Ting Koh/Yahoo News Singapore)
Yeo Jing Cheng was charged with organising an illegal race during the COVID-19 social distancing period. (PHOTO: Wan Ting Koh/Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE — A man was charged in court on Thursday (9 April) for organising an illegal car race involving more than 50 vehicles along Tuas South Boulevard after social distancing measures were announced to curb the spread of COVID-19, in the first case of its kind.

Yeo Jing Cheng, 30, faces one charge of organising a “street cars meet up” which allowed more than 10 participants at East Coast Park at 11pm on 28 March. He was also charged with one count of taking part in a gathering of motor vehicle drivers one-and-a-half hours later – at 12.30am on 29 March. This gathering also involved more than 10 people.

Yeo’s alleged acts were breaches of the Infectious Diseases (Measures to Prevent Spread of COVID-19) Regulations, which which came into effect on at 11.59pm on 26 March.

57 motorists also being investigated

In an earlier news release, the Traffic Police said that the 57 motorists who were present then are also being investigated for their participation, and for not complying with safe distancing measures under the Infectious Diseases Act.

Yeo will return to court on 8 May.

The Infectious Diseases (Measures to Prevent Spread of COVID-19) Regulations was targetted at curbing the spread of the virus through enhanced social distancing measures.

Yeo’s alleged act fell within the control period of the regulations, during which organising an event of more than 10 individuals to be present is an offence. Taking part in an event of with more than 10 individuals is also an offence.

If found guilty of the breaching the regulations, Yeo can be jailed up to six months and/or fined up to $10,000 on each violation.

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