Singapore
By Lydia Lam 02 Jul 2021 10:29AM (Updated: 02 Jul 2021 10:40AM )
SINGAPORE: A man seen in a viral video without a mask , saying he will never wear one, was given multiple charges in court on Friday (Jul 2).
Benjamin Glynn, 39, was given one count each of failing to wear a mask without reasonable excuse, public nuisance and using threatening words towards a public servant.
He turned up at court without a mask and put one on only after court officers spoke to him. He was reminded twice by the judge to wear his mask properly.
"Can I ask you to wear your mask again properly thank you," said District Judge Lorraine Ho. "I do not want to repeat this again."
Glynn submitted a stack of papers to the judge, and claimed he had legal counsel but that the man was not allowed into the court due to improper attire.
In a video posted on social media in May, Glynn was seen in exercise wear on an MRT train. He did not have a mask on and was speaking to other commuters about masks.
Screengrabs of a video in which Benjamin Glynn was seen refusing to wear a mask on a train. (Video: Facebook/Keefe Chan)
He told one commuter: "Just wear your mask, it's fine. I will never wear a mask.
"I'm very religious and I love human beings," Glynn said in the video. "And I hate seeing uncles, granddads with the mask on.”
When someone offered him a mask, he reacted with an expletive and said he was not going to put it on.
SMRT later lodged a police report.
The police said on Thursday that Glynn also "threatened to knock down" police officers when they showed up at his home on May 9, two days after the video was filmed.
If convicted of failing to wear a mask, Glynn can be jailed up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.
For the offence of public nuisance, he could be jailed up to three months, fined up to S$2,000, or both.
If guilty of using threatening words towards a public servant in relation to the execution of their duty, he could be jailed up to a year, fined a maximum of S$5,000, or both.
Glynn is the latest in a series of people hauled to court for not wearing a mask.
Phoon Chiu Yoke, a 53-year-old woman who was seen without one at Marina Bay Sands, was given multiple charges in May . She has asked the Attorney-General’s Chambers to drop the charges, citing "serious errors" in the investigation.
Paramjeet Kaur, who caused a commotion at a market during the “circuit breaker” period by refusing to wear a mask and calling herself a “sovereign”, was given jail and a fine in May .
Mohamed Ali Ramly, who was also caught in a viral video without a mask at a minimart, was fined S$4,000 in December .
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Source: CNA/ga(cy)
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Man seen without mask on train handed multiple charges after showing up at court unmasked
Benjamin Glynn at the State Courts on Jul 2, 2021. (Photo: Jeremy Long)By Lydia Lam 02 Jul 2021 10:29AM (Updated: 02 Jul 2021 10:40AM )
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SINGAPORE: A man seen in a viral video without a mask , saying he will never wear one, was given multiple charges in court on Friday (Jul 2).
Benjamin Glynn, 39, was given one count each of failing to wear a mask without reasonable excuse, public nuisance and using threatening words towards a public servant.
He turned up at court without a mask and put one on only after court officers spoke to him. He was reminded twice by the judge to wear his mask properly.
"Can I ask you to wear your mask again properly thank you," said District Judge Lorraine Ho. "I do not want to repeat this again."
Glynn submitted a stack of papers to the judge, and claimed he had legal counsel but that the man was not allowed into the court due to improper attire.
In a video posted on social media in May, Glynn was seen in exercise wear on an MRT train. He did not have a mask on and was speaking to other commuters about masks.
Screengrabs of a video in which Benjamin Glynn was seen refusing to wear a mask on a train. (Video: Facebook/Keefe Chan)
He told one commuter: "Just wear your mask, it's fine. I will never wear a mask.
"I'm very religious and I love human beings," Glynn said in the video. "And I hate seeing uncles, granddads with the mask on.”
When someone offered him a mask, he reacted with an expletive and said he was not going to put it on.
SMRT later lodged a police report.
READ: Woman seen on video not wearing mask asks AGC to drop charges, claims errors in investigations
The police said on Thursday that Glynn also "threatened to knock down" police officers when they showed up at his home on May 9, two days after the video was filmed.
If convicted of failing to wear a mask, Glynn can be jailed up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.
For the offence of public nuisance, he could be jailed up to three months, fined up to S$2,000, or both.
If guilty of using threatening words towards a public servant in relation to the execution of their duty, he could be jailed up to a year, fined a maximum of S$5,000, or both.
Glynn is the latest in a series of people hauled to court for not wearing a mask.
Phoon Chiu Yoke, a 53-year-old woman who was seen without one at Marina Bay Sands, was given multiple charges in May . She has asked the Attorney-General’s Chambers to drop the charges, citing "serious errors" in the investigation.
Paramjeet Kaur, who caused a commotion at a market during the “circuit breaker” period by refusing to wear a mask and calling herself a “sovereign”, was given jail and a fine in May .
Mohamed Ali Ramly, who was also caught in a viral video without a mask at a minimart, was fined S$4,000 in December .
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Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Source: CNA/ga(cy)
Continue reading...