Receiving a medical leave can be bliss for some, but for others, it means less pay and something to avoid. To A Rahim M Taha, 59, a pest control technician, it meant not being able to able to receive a $100 bonus for the month.
The bonus was given on top of his $1,500 salary provided he met the conditions of turning up for work except for when he was on leave, being punctual and not taking medical leave or emergency leave during the month. The last condition proved to be the one Rahim had difficulty fulfilling.
Coughing Yet Refusal to Swab
On 5 October 2020, Rahim consulted a doctor at Yishun Polyclinic after suffering from a three-week-long cough that worsened at night and resulted in him coughing white-coloured phlegm.
At the time, Rahim was suffering from a fever and agreed to go for an X-ray as well as a COVID-19 swab test. However, he later refused, and it was not because he was afraid of his nose being violated. Rather, it was because he would have to take three days’ medical leave and remain at home while waiting for the results aka no bonus.
The Infectious Disease Act, which was established due to the pandemic, states that those with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms are to take a swab test and be on medical leave.
Despite his doctor informing him of this, Rahim was still persistent about not taking the swab test and said he did not mind being reported to the Ministry of Health (MOH). He also explained that he would not qualify for the $100 bonus and asked who would compensate him for the loss.
Eventually, after further failed attempts to persuade Rahim, he left the clinic with his medication and a report was filed with MOH.
Returned to Work but was Sent Home
Rahim was a team supervisor with Verminator Pte Ltd and was deployed to various locations in the eastern region of Singapore to conduct vector control services. His job scope included inspecting rodent and mosquito infestations as well as spraying or applying insecticide and rodenticide.
The day after his trip to the polyclinic, Rahim went back to work and conducted inspections in Tai Keng and Bartley.
However, while on the way to Geylang, he coughed so severely that the National Environment Agency (NEA) officer with his team asked him to return home, fearing that he might have contracted COVID-19.
Earlier that day, Rahim was contacted by a manager of the MOH’s surveillance and enforcement branch and once again reminded of his legal obligations to remain at home. To which he replied that his company would penalise him if he took his medical leave without a medical certificate. Rahim then offered to return to the polyclinic to collect one but continued working after the call ended and did not return home. Truly gungho at its finest.
Later on, the manager’s colleague called Rahim again and spoke to him in Malay, saying it was essential for him to remain at home during the period of his medical leave. He then lied that he was already at home.
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Sentenced to Five Weeks’ Jail
For breaching the Infectious Diseases Act, Rahim was sentenced to five weeks’ jail on 18 January 2022.
He pleaded guilty to one charge of exposing others to the risk of infection while being suspected as a COVID-19 carrier. The authorities could not determine if he had the coronavirus at the time due to his refusal to get a swab test.
Rahim had travelled to five locations in seven hours the day after refusing the swab test. He had also eaten lunch with his colleagues in the van, where he would have removed his face mask. Rahim told the court that he subsequently tested negative in a swab test but did not state when he had taken the test.
Breaching the COVID-19 laws will result in offenders being jailed for up to six months or fined up to S$10,000 or punished with both. Very hard to get a bonus in this period, so just take a swab test or ART when sick and stay at home lah. Don’t put others at risk also.
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