Singapore — A 53-year-old man who allegedly punched two National Environment Agency (NEA) officers who asked him about his vaccination status while he was dining out has been arrested.

He is set to be charged with two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty on Friday (Jan 14) over the incident, which occurred at Redhill Food Centre on the evening of Oct 23 last year.

During the course of questioning and as the man was discovered to be unvaccinated, he grew agitated and began throwing punches at the officers, who were carrying out routine checks at the food centre, a report in The Straits Times says.

Since Oct 13, 2021, people who are unvaccinated have not been allowed to dine hawker centres and coffee shops.

Police received an alert that a fight had broken out at the venue at around 8 o’clock that night.

The man faces a jail term for as long as seven years, as well as a fine or caning if he is convicted for the offence of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty.

He also faces another charge for entering a food centre without having a cleared status. For this charge, he could be fined as much as $5000, or be jailed for a maximum of six months.

CNA quotes the police as advising the public “to take the prevailing safe management measures seriously.” The police also said it takes a “stern view” of abusive behaviour against public servants or public service workers who are carrying out their duties and of those who practise irresponsible behaviour in connection to flouting of safe distancing measures.

Netizens commenting on The Straits Times Facebook page showed a degree of compassion toward the man, given the stresses brought on by the pandemic.

Screen Shot 2022 01 14 at 11.01.43 AM