SINGAPORE: After being jailed in 2021 for flouting several pandemic-era regulations, a Singaporean woman who shot to online infamy for repeatedly not wearing a mask returned to court on Friday (Feb 24) to contest another three charges of the same nature.
Phoon Chiu Yoke, 55, is also accused of failing to show up for an investigation last year by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for not wearing her mask.
She faces four charges in total, including for failing to wear a mask twice along Orchard Road – outside Mandarin Gallery mall and outside a Victoria’s Secret store – on Mar 6 last year; and for failing to wear a mask in ION Orchard in August last year.
The alleged incident at Orchard Road was captured by social media personality Xiaxue, who was filming on the street outside Mandarin Gallery when Phoon appeared in the video frame behind her.
Xiaxue – whose real name is Wendy Cheng – and her cameraman Kent Lee Chee Hao, were adduced as prosecution witnesses on Friday, the first day of Phoon’s trial.
Phoon appeared in court without a lawyer and represented herself.
Opening the trial before District Judge Tan Jen Tse, Deputy Public Prosecutor Heershan Kaur said the prosecution would call seven witnesses, including officers from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
According to Ms Kaur, after Phoon was spotted not wearing a mask, she was served three orders to attend an investigation with STB, with the last session being on Mar 31, 2022. Phoon did not attend to any of these orders, said the prosecution.
Mr Lee, a student, testified that he was recording Xiaxue and members of the public on a camera when the alleged incident occurred on Mar 6, at around 3pm.
Mr Lee said he was looking out for people who might walk into his shot when he noticed Phoon and alerted Ms Cheng, who was speaking to a member of the public in front of the camera.
He said Phoon appeared without a mask but was not drinking, eating or consuming medication.
Cross-examining Mr Lee, Phoon repeatedly challenged how he could identify himself in CCTV footage played in court and objected to video footage admitted in court as evidence.
She said the figure in the CCTV footage appeared to be an “average-size human being” which “could be a man or woman”.
“If the mask is covering your face, how (do I) confirm it is you?” said Phoon, who also asked Mr Lee why he was wearing a mask.
Mr Lee replied that they all had to wear a mask at that time. He also maintained that he could reproduce the clothing he was wearing and camera he used.
