Back in Court: The Mask‑less Drama Continues
Phoon Chiu Yoke, 54, has once again found herself in front of a judge—this time via video link—after a series of high‑profile mask‑relapses at Singapore’s most iconic spots. Yesterday, 4 August, the woman asked for her release without any conditions, hoping to walk out before a verdict is handed down. The magistrates, however, called out the “egregious nature” of the offences and denied her request. She remains in custody.
Why the Court Gave Her the Boot
Phoon faces a whopping 22 charges, ranging from public gathering violations to repeated mask‑less incidents. Her current remand status follows a jail stint after a 12‑month suspension of a bail order. The court weighed her “stellar professional record” against the seriousness of the offences, but the balance tipped heavily toward keeping her behind bars.
When it All Started
- May 8: Video clip surfaces of Phoon at the Newton hawker centre, rolling back her mask so her nose and mouth were exposed for a full 40 minutes.
- She leaped from Singapore to Britain shortly thereafter.
- June 28: Phoon returns and is slapped with a 14‑day stay‑home notice at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) resort.
- During her stay, she allegedly stepped out of her hotel room between 8:07 pm and 8:23 pm, loitered around the premises, and—again—did not don a mask.
Mask‑less Mayhem Continues
From December 2 onward, Phoon is accused of walking through multiple public areas without a mask: MBS, the State Courts building exterior, Clarke Quay Central and Bras Basah Complex. The most recent incident—around 3 pm on 25 June at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel—led to a new charge on 24 July, revoking her $12,000 bail and instant remand.
Why the Public Loves the Drama
The first time her antics made headlines, a video of Phoon at MBS showed her sparring with a safe‑distancing ambassador. In the clip, she challenged whether she had a badge or represented any authority, while the ambassador failed to persuade her to mask up. It’s pandemic law for a reason: first‑time offenders may face up to six months in jail and a $10,000 fine; repeat offenders can be jailed for a full year with a potential $20,000 fine.
Get the Full Scoop
This article pulled its details from The Straits Times. If you want to lay down some extra fine‑print legal facts, you’ll need permission from that source. For now, stay tuned—Phoon may plead no contest on 12 August, but whether she gets a 12‑month trial or the lighter touch remains to be seen.