Singapore man to be charged after allegedly pushing and punching temperature screening officer who asked him to wear a mask

Photo courtesy: Google Maps
Photo courtesy: Google Maps

Singapore Police have said that they will be charging a 26-year-old man in court on March 23 for allegedly using criminal force and voluntarily causing hurt after he reportedly punched and pushed a temperature screening officer.

The incident in question took place on September 30, 2020 when the man drove up to a temperature screening point at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre and was approached by a temperature screening officer for temperature taking. 

The man was allegedly not wearing a mask while speaking to the screening officer, who advised him to put on a mask before proceeding with the temperature screening, a Singapore Police release read. 

The man purportedly refused to comply and swung open his vehicle door, which allegedly hit the screening officer’s thigh. The man subsequently alighted from his vehicle and was involved in a dispute with the screening officer, during which he allegedly pushed the screening officer twice and punched him once.

The offence of using criminal force under Section 352 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to 3 months, a fine of up to SGD 1,500, or both. The offence of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term of up to 3 years, a fine of up to SGD 5,000, or both.