MPA Investigating Images of Group of 10 Partying on a Yacht at Near Lazarus Island

Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s Christmas party was a rather subdued affair.

With only five visitors allowed in households at the time, Christmas just wasn’t as merry this year, no matter how much cake and alcohol we consumed.

One group of merrymakers found a simple solution to this annoying problem: disregard all the rules in place and do whatever the heck you want. 

Group of 10 Spotted Partying on Yacht at Lazarus Island

A video of 10 men and women partying on board a yacht at Lazarus Island has been circulating on Facebook, with netizens lambasting the group’s indifference to social distancing rules.

At the time of the incident, Singapore was still in Phase 2 of its safe recovery, meaning social gatherings were limited to five participants.

But this group clearly didn’t care about this rule, as the 10 of them could be seen dancing in swimwear close to each other.

They were equally unconcerned about the face mask mandate, as none of them was seen wearing a mask.

Another Group Punished For Gathering on Same Island

This calls to mind an incident in August, where 12 people were caught island-hopping after one of them shared pictures of the trip on Instagram.

The group, which comprised 10 Britons, a Singaporean, and a Singapore permanent resident, was later charged in court.

They received a $3,000 fine each for taking part in an unlawful gathering on Lazarus Island, and five of them were even permanently banned from working in Singapore.

MPA Investigating Incident

Speaking to AsiaOne, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Wednesday (30 Dec) that it’s investigating the incident.

“MPA takes a serious view of any breach of COVID-19 regulations and will not hesitate to take action against such breaches,” a spokesperson added.

“MPA regularly patrols our waters. We urge the public, as well as vessel owners and operators, to be responsible and comply with all COVID-19 safe management measures including wearing a mask, and adhering to passenger limits onboard pleasure crafts.”

For simply putting on their Christmas hats and dancing their 2020 troubles away, these 10 individuals could soon find themselves in a world of trouble.

Under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, first-time offenders can be fined up to $10,000, and even jailed for up to six months.

Repeat offenders face a fine of up to $20,000, a year in prison, or both.

So, if the thought of potentially infecting your fellow residents in Singapore doesn’t deter you from flouting Covid-19 rules, maybe a large fine and a stint in jail will.

Featured Image: Facebook (Bu Hui Yan)