A 64-year-old Singaporean of Indian descent, Tamilselvam Ramaiya, has been sentenced to two week’s imprisonment for breaching COVID-19 regulations in 2021. Tamilselvam, who had tested positive for COVID-19, intentionally lowered his mask and coughed at his colleagues while at work, exposing them to the virus.
The incident occurred while Tamilselvam was employed as a cleaner for Leong Hup Singapore. After feeling unwell and testing positive for COVID-19 on October 18, 2021, he was instructed to return home and inform his assistant logistics manager about the test result.
Instead of going home, Tamilselvam went to the company’s logistics office, where he interacted with colleagues who were unaware of his positive test. Despite being told not to approach him, he deliberately coughed at his colleagues multiple times, even lowering his mask to do so. Security cameras in the office captured the incident.
One colleague, a 56-year-old clerk with health issues, administered an antigen rapid test on herself after being coughed at but did not contract COVID-19.
Tamilselvam eventually visited a polyclinic, where he received another COVID-19 test and a medical certificate. He was instructed to quarantine at home. The incident was reported to the police by the assistant logistics manager.
During the investigation, Tamilselvam claimed he coughed at his colleagues as a joke and did not take his positive result seriously. The Deputy Public Prosecutor argued that his actions were a serious matter, as they occurred during a surge in COVID-19 cases that prompted stricter restrictions in Singapore.
For violating COVID-19 regulations, Tamilselvam could have faced up to six months in jail, a fine of up to SGD10,000, or both.
