Man Who Removed Mask to Cough at Policeman & Verbally Abuse Authorities Jailed 14 Weeks

Step one: do not threaten your partner with physical violence.

Step two: if you do, expect the police to arrive and do not attempt physical violence in front of the police.

Step three: if you do slap your partner in front of the police, cooperate with your inevitable arrest and do not feign having respiratory difficulties.

Step four: if you do decide to have difficulties breathing and are taken to the hospital, do not take off your mask and cough at a police officer.

Yep, you know what’s gonna happen in this story.

Man Removed Mask To Cough At Policeman After Arrest

On 13 September 2020, Devraj Tamil Selvan, 29, was reported to the police for “using violence” in his girlfriend’s home. Three officers were promptly dispatched to respond to the situation.

Instead of immediately ceasing whatever nonsense he was doing, Devraj decided to slap his girlfriend on her face and gave the police an even bigger reason to arrest him. The police happily complied.

Seriously, what’s with people and slapping people in front of the police? Do they expect the police to #clapfortheslap?

Anyway, as he was escorted to the police vehicle, he claimed he was having trouble breathing. Clearly, breathing is a lot harder than physically abusing someone close to you. Man, I wonder how the rest of us with basic human morals survive.

He was brought to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, as is procedure in a pandemic. As is also the procedure in the pandemic, he should keep his face mask on and, well, not cough at anyone.

Therefore, he proceeded to remove his mask and cough at one of the police officers several times. 

While being assessed by medical professionals, he also called the police officers “stupid idiots” and treated them to certain expletives which TODAYonline has kindly censored. Feel free to fill the blanks with your imagination.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Teh, who was responsible for, well, prosecuting Devraj, argued for 14 weeks of imprisonment based partly on his criminal history. 

That sentence was imposed after Devraj pleaded guilty to four charges, including abusive behaviour towards a public servant and riding a motorcycle under a driving ban. 

The latter charge was because he rode his motorcycle with his girlfriend from Choa Chu Kang to Jurong after receiving a 30-month driving prohibition beginning January 2019.

In Devraj’s defense, his lawyer argued that he was facing difficult family circumstances and developed a drinking habit, which contributed to his offences.

Still not a reason to be violent towards your girlfriend, though.

Take COVID-19 Restrictions Seriously

We all still remember the woman who claimed to be “sovereign” in refusing to wear masks but was charged in court anyway. 

Dramatic cases like hers and Devraj’s are rare, but violations of COVID-19 safety measures are surprisingly common. 

According to The Straits Times, more than 8,600 fines, amounting to more than $2.5 million, were issued last year from April to December. 

Most of these fines were issued for violations of safe distancing measures, with gathering in large groups and intermingling in public spaces the most common offences. 

About 1,700 fines were issued to those not abiding by the compulsory use of face masks in the same period.

The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), and basically every one of us who doesn’t want to get COVID-19, reminds that “COVID-19 remains a serious threat and we must not become complacent” and that “all of us must comply with these measures to avoid a resurgence in community cases.”

According to the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, breaching COVID-19 restrictions can lead to fines or prosecution and imprisonment, depending on the type and severity of the offence. Not wearing a mask, for example, will drill a $300 hole in your wallet.

For a comprehensive rundown, check out the Ministry of Health (MOH)’s website.

Feature Image: Bonma Suriya / Shutterstock.com (Image is for illustration purpose only)