Drama, Dengue, and a Dangerous Trip Back Home
Esther Tan Ling Ying, 24, could look forward to finishing her acting diploma in London, but a sudden return to Singapore made her headline‑grabber, not for her talent, but for a … Covid‑19 crime.
What the Court Will Remember
- Back to Changi with a sniffle – She left London in March, feeling “flu‑like” and with a vanished sense of taste and smell. At the airport she made a spontaneous stop at the food court, a clear breach of her Stay‑Home Notice.
- More trouble in Clementi – At about 5:30 pm the same day, Esther pulled her mother into a family clinic. She went on the pretext that she was a drama student, “just back from China’s Chinese New Year,” and under the mask coughing in front of the doctor.
- Fake travel story – The doctor heard that a classmate from Spain might have been sick, and that the teacher who returned from Spain could have the virus. The little girl painted herself as a risk‑free actress who had “dodged a bullet” because her parents were worried.
- Proof in a video – In court, a video of her coughing with the mask down at the clinic was shown to her.
- Positive test – She finally tested COVID‑19 positive on March 30.
The Court’s View
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Lim hammered home the point that Esther knew the rules. “She was fully aware of the stay‑home notice and that she might be a carrier,” he said. “She began with a bit of disbelief, but it turned into a clear violation.”
The district judge, Ng Peng Hong, had no time for sentiment. After acquiring the facts, he sent her verdict: one count of exposing others to risk.
Sentencing Date
The judge set August 30 for mitigation and sentencing. The law says: jail up to six months and a fine up to $10,000.
What’s Up for the Future?
- Esther’s drama journey has adrift… but she may still finish the course in London once the pandemic settles.
- Her parents are likely perplexed; “We just wanted to keep her safe,” they say. But now they have a courtroom record instead.
- And sprucing up her online presence: from performing for tuition in the UK to performing on a Singapore court‑room stage.
So, folks, the takeaway for the next time you fly back is: if you’re a “potential carrier” in an “interesting” situation, maybe just skip the food court and stick to the instructions. At least then you’ll avoid a courtroom drama that could be one page shorter than a theatre script.
