NSF Sentenced to Jail for Going to Bugis Junction When He Has an MC

By
Shawn Ambrose
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If you hung out with your friends and they found out that they had gotten sick because of you, they’d be pretty upset.

If you went outside while you were sick during a pandemic that has claimed millions of lives around the world, that would be unforgivable.

But that’s exactly what many people have done time and time after being given stay-home notices.

This time, it was a full-time national serviceman (NSF) who turned out to be COVID-19 positive.

Went to Kallang & Bugis Junction While Sick & On MC

At the time of the offences, Fathullah Abdul Rahman was 21-years-old and serving national service.

On 2 September last year, Fathullah visited the Civil Defence Academy Complex Medical Centre as he had been vomiting and developed a sore throat.

A doctor diagnosed him with an upper respiratory tract infection and gastritis, and he underwent a COVID-19 swab test.

He was then issued a medical certificate (MC) which required him by law to stay at home for three days. He could only leave his home once his swab test result came back negative.

Despite this, Fathullah left his house that very morning just to meet a friend at Bedok MRT Station. They then travelled to Kallang and he only returned at around 8pm.

The next morning, he received news that he had tested negative for COVID-19.

The story should have ended there, but unfortunately for the NSF, his sore throat persisted, and he developed a runny nose and cough as well.

So, he visited the medical centre again on 17 Sep and was given another swab test. He was once again issued a three-day MC and informed of its requirement: don’t leave your home until you get a negative test result.

At this point, the NSF had two options:

  1. Stay at home
  2. Literally anything but leave his home

So, naturally, Fathullah left his home to visit a skate park at 1 Somerset Road, taking the train there.

He then visited Bugis Junction and walked around the area.

That day, he had spent around 10 hours outside his home, coming into contact with the public, and returned home at around 10pm.

But he would soon come to regret his actions.

Tested Positive For COVID-19, Caught Breaching Stay-Home Notice

Just two days later, Fathullah learnt that his test result had come back positive; he had COVID-19.

He was taken to the hospital and warded for four days before being quarantined at the D’Resort in Pasir Ris until 27 Sep that year.

The NSF might have gotten away with his offences were it not for an officer from the Ministry of Health (MOH)’s contact tracing centre.

The officer discovered that Fathullah had left his home while on MC, and informed the health ministry.

Sentenced to 18 Weeks’ Jail

Yesterday, the 22-year-old was sentenced to 18 weeks’ jail after pleading guilty to two charges of leaving home while under the conditions of a medical certificate.

Another two charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

In his defence, Fathullah’s lawyer said that he lived in a three-room flat with several other people and felt a lack of space, which is why he left his house.

The prosecution, however, noted that his outings weren’t urgent in nature, and were purely social and recreational.

It could have been a lot worse for the NSF, as he could have been sentenced to six months in prison for his crime, with a fine of up to S$10,000.

So, if you’re asked to stay at home, please stay at home. Forget breaking the law, you’re putting others at risk of infection too.

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]