[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Singapore authorities have invalidated the passport of a citizen who violated the self-quarantine measures for COVID-19, effectively preventing him from leaving Singapore. Singapore authorities have continued to implement strict measures, including announcing that violating social distancing of more than 1 meter in public places can result in up to 6 months imprisonment.
According to local Singaporean media such as The Straits Times on the 29th, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore recently announced that it had invalidated the passport of a Singaporean man. The man whose passport was invalidated left Singapore on the 3rd of this month to visit Batam Island, Indonesia, and returned to Singapore via the ferry terminal on the 19th, about two weeks later, and was immediately notified to self-quarantine.
However, on the same day, he left for Indonesia again, ignoring warnings from ICA officials that failure to comply with self-quarantine measures could result in punishment. In Singapore, if notified to self-quarantine, one must stay only at home or residence for 14 days, and violating this can result in up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of 10,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 8.5 million KRW).
When the man re-entered Singapore through the Singapore Cruise Centre on the 24th, Singapore authorities issued a second self-quarantine order. ICA stated in a press release, "Considering the deliberate violation of government guidelines, the passport has been invalidated. We have also requested an investigation from the Ministry of Health."
Due to the passport invalidation, the man is now unable to leave Singapore. The Singapore government has continued to enforce strict measures, including announcing that violating social distancing of more than 1 meter in public places can also result in up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of 10,000 Singapore dollars.
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