A woman punched a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedic last year after he told her to keep her hands off the equipment inside an ambulance.
Retana Rose Gracielle De Gracia, a 32-year-old Filipino national, was drunk at the time of the incident, which occurred early on the morning of Nov 19, 2021.
De Gracia had been out with friends at Yishun the night before and was discovered unconscious at around 5:30 am by a taxi driver in front of his car.
Noticing that she reeked of alcohol, he alerted the paramedics for help.
An SCDF paramedic, Mr Muhammad Izzuddin Mohamad Sapri, 30, responded to the call in an ambulance along with two colleagues.
Mr Muhammad woke de Gracia up by squeezing her shoulder.
After she awoke, she stood up, and they walked toward the ambulance together, with the paramedic supporting de Gracia.
When they got to the vehicle, de Gracia touched the door handle and attempted to pull out a stretcher from the ambulance.
Mr Muhammad then told her not to touch the stretcher.
She responded by slapping his right thigh and then punching him on his right shoulder.
De Gracia then walked away in the direction of Block 120 Yishun Ring Road.
But she was found by the police at around 7 am.
On Tuesday (Sept 6), she pleaded guilty to using criminal force on a public servant and was given a one-week jail sentence.
Her lawyer told the court that de Gracia could not remember the incident but admitted that it was “wrong for her to even touch the ambulance staff”, The Straits Times reported.
“My client is not a heavy drinker… She did not know her limits at the time and did not decline additional drinks,’ the lawyer added.
Netizens, however, upset at the Filipina’s actions, said that she had gotten off lightly.
Others said her work pass should be suspended or that she should be sent home.
/TISG