‘Badge Lady’ Tried to Take Off Mask in Court & Removed Her Mask Once Outside Court

Last Updated on 2021-07-25 , 1:09 pm

By now, you’d have seen this video at least two times:

Now, if you’re one of the six people in Singapore who’ve not seen the video, here’s a bit more context: the video that went viral wasn’t her first maskless act.

She had failed to wear a mask at Newton Hawker Centre on 8 May 2020.

This was during Singapore’s circuit breaker period last year, which took place between 7 April and 1 June 2020.

Therefore, she was charged with an offence under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act.

Unlike many of us who would apologise and pay the composition fine, the woman, Phoon Chiu Yoke, 53, decided to contest the charge, and the trial took place today (24 May).

And if you thought she’d just say that she’s a Sovereign, think again: she’s even more badass than that.

Maskless ‘Badge Lady’ Removed Mask in Court & Even Took Off Her Mask for Photographers Outside Court

For a start, she’s representing herself instead of engaging a lawyer.

Given that the composition fine is mere $300, I’m 98% sure that’s because she can’t find a lawyer whose fee is less than $300.

In case you’re confused, here’s how composition fine works: when you’re caught littering, you are technically breaking the law, so you actually need to attend court. But if everyone attends court for minor charges, courts will be as crowded as COURTS outlets in shopping malls, so you can usually pay a composition fine and you won’t need to go to court.

But…technically speaking, you’re admitting wrongdoing when you pay the fine, so if you feel unjust, you can go to court to contest the charge.

Which is what Ms Phoon has done.

For different offences, the prosecutors (Government’s lawyers) would be from different Government agencies: for example, traffic offences will be prosecuted by prosecutors from the Land Transport Authority.

And in this case, Ms Phoon is charged by the National Environment Agency (NEA) prosecutors.

Today, she was reportedly seen and photographed without mask while walking to the States Courts, and had only put on a mask after a security guard told her to do so.

Maybe the guard had a badge lah I don’t know.

But her bochup attitude didn’t end there: while in court, she even tried to remove her mask before addressing the court. The judge had to tell her to keep her mask on.

The trial didn’t exactly happen, though: the NEA prosecutor said that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (i.e. erm…head of Government’s lawyers) had asked him to postpone the trial as it was investigating her case further.

Ms Phoon asked why they had wanted to adjourn the matter, and wondered who would pay for the additional administrative costs.

Pretty sure the prosecutor wasn’t wearing a badge.

But she did not object to the request, and the case has been adjourned for a status pre-trial conference on 23 June 2021.

That wasn’t the end of the drama.

Badge Lady then removed her mask when she was out of court.

Sovereign Lady is nothing compared to her.

To know why everyone has to wear masks so that we won’t face a second Circuit Breaker, watch this video to the end:

Featured Image: Facebook (AlEx ThAm)