Vietnamese woman fined for Singapore virus rules breach

JAKARTA, Indonesia

A Vietnamese woman has been fined over $2,200 for flouting Singapore’s coronavirus rules, authorities said on Friday.

Luong Thi Thu Ha, 31, will pay 3,000 Singapore dollars ($2,250) for meeting a large group on Lazarus Island despite restrictions on public gatherings.

The validity of her re-entry permit will also be reduced on her next renewal, Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said in a statement.

Luong pleaded guilty to one charge of gathering with 11 more people – 10 British nationals and one Singaporean – for a non-permitted purpose.

Seven members of the group have been given the same fine, while cases of the remaining four are pending.

“Singapore permanent residents who have been convicted of an offence will have their permanent residence (PR) status reviewed,” read the statement.

Singapore, which has nearly 60,000 virus cases and 29 fatalities to date, implemented a partial lockdown in June that prohibits gatherings of more than five people.

* Writing by Maria Elisa Hospita from Anadolu Agency's Indonesian-language service in Jakarta.