SINGAPORE: Anti-masker Phoon Chiu Yoke, who is now incarcerated for her most recent offenses of failing to wear a face during the COVID-19 crisis, was able to get away with more time in prison after the judge accepted her justification for why she hasn’t paid half of her good.
Phoon, 56, was given a nine-week prison sentence on September 11 for four offenses, including failing to appear at the Singapore Tourism Board’s research and refusing to wear masks along Orchard Road.
She was fined S$ 3, 000 ( US$ 2180) as part of her sentence. She would have to offer 10 days in jail in definition if she failed to pay the fine.
But, Phoon claims that the court clerk agreed to her advice to give her fine in two equal installments when she appeared in court on September 18 to assist her jail sentence.
On September 18, she paid half of the great, or S$ 1,500, with the intention of paying the remaining third after her release.
She was, however, taken to court on Wednesday, October 4, to pay the remaining amount of her paid good.
District Judge Tan Jen Tse was informed of what transpired by Phoon, who appeared in court on Zoom while wearing a bright shirt from her place of captivity.
She claimed that she requested S$ 1,500 on the day of her surrender and the remaining amount upon her release from custody from the court assistant.
She asserted that the cashier concurred with her.
Phoon was corrected by Judge Tan, who also stated that the secretary had consented to the repayment of the balance being judged.
Although the attorney claimed to be unaware of what had occurred, she stated that she would” oppose any postponement to pay the fine.”
This is based on the fact that Phoon had seven days to increase the full amount of Entropy$ 3, 000 but was unable to do so after now receiving a deferment of her jail sentence.
She should therefore provide the five-day in-default sentence, according to the prosecutor.
The judge was then informed by Phoon that she could have paid S$ 3, 000 on the day itself if the clerk had replied” no” to her request for installment payments.
Therefore, this arrangement was made with the judge clerk’s approval. My recommended design, Your Honor, is that I should be able to go to the State Courts to pay the remaining good once I serve until the earliest launch deadline, which is six months.
She said she could make the payment whenever she had access to her pocket or credit cards and estimated that she would be released on October 28 or October 29.
She was informed by Judge Tan that the court clerk had not informed her that you could spend in two installments.” I just want to make it obvious ,” he said. In essence, I was on left and was not informed of the case. You can give S$ 1,500 up front, the secretary said, and I’ll take care of the rest. I see the DPP objecting, but I’ll provide you some time to pay. Can you give by November 15th?
This would be” no trouble at all ,” according to Phoon.
Judge Tan stated,” I want to make it clear to you that if you don’t pay by therefore, an arrest warrant will be issued against you.”
She reassured the prosecutor that she was aware.