Esther Tan Blows a Wedge on Singapore’s Stay‑at‑Home Rules
You’ve probably seen the headlines: a young student returning from Britain with a “flu‑like” riddle, ends up breaking her stay‑home notice (SHN) by grabbing a quick bite at the Terminal 1 foodcourt. Then she goes to a clinic to lie about her travel background. Yikes.
What Went Down?
- Return & SHN – Esther tossed out a passport on March 23 last year, got her 14‑day SHN, and had to stay put at her residence.
- Foodcourt Fiasco – Before she could set her sleepy hand down, she snuck off with her parents, grubbed on fries and coffee at the Changi Airport foodcourt.
- Clinic Confab – Later that day, she slides into a doctor’s office in Clementi and tells the tale of “just a cough” to disguise her real reasons.
- Covid‑19 Check – The very next day, a swab comes back green‑lit: she’s definitely “Covid‑positive.”
The Court’s Reaction
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sanjiv Vaswani fired shot after shot. “Remember, folks, we’re all in this together, but a few of us think the rules are optional.” He called Esther’s play “absolutely no excuse.”
Seeing whether the SHN counted day zero or day one, the trial turned into a legal detective story:
- ICA officer said: “Day zero = you’re home, and the 14th day kicks off on day one.”
- Defence counsel attempted to pull the “day‑one starts first” angle.
- Judge’s verdict: “No, the first day is from day zero to day one, the second from day one to day two. That’s 14 days, period.”
What’s the Penalty?
Shift the scales, and Esther could face:
- Up to $10,000 fine… or
- Six months behind bars… or
- Both tacked on together.
While the case adjourns on Tuesday, the courtroom’s filled: parents, friends, and the rest of the staff nervously waiting for the next witness slot.
In Short
Esther Tan had a good excuse? Nope. She ate at a terminal foodcourt and tried to fool a doctor while the virus was in the air. Courts demand rule‑on‑rule compliance; a potential jail or fine is what’s on the table.
