Three men between the ages of 46 and 63 are set to be charged today (20 January) for allegedly chanting gang slogans at a funeral.
The police said in a press release on 19 January that the trio allegedly chanted gang slogans during a funeral along Havelock Road on 26 May 2021, at about 3.30pm.
They were seen chanting gang slogans believed to be from the secret society, 18 Sio Yi Ho.
The group was also seen clustered together and not conforming to the prevailing social distancing measures at the time.
A video of the alleged incident was then uploaded onto social media and widely shared, and the trio were then investigated by officers from the CID and subsequently arrested.
Potential penalties
Members of unlawful societies
It is an offence to be a member of an unlawful society under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act 1966 and Section 34(7)(a) of the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.
Anyone found guilty of being a member of an unlawful society can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$5,000, or both.
The Police have zero tolerance towards secret society activities and will not hesitate to take strong actions, including invoking the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act that provides for detention without trial, against anyone involved in secret society and criminal activities that threatens the public safety, peace and good order.
Members of the public are advised to steer clear of secret society activities and to report those engaging in such unlawful activities to the Police immediately.
Breach of safe distancing measures
First-time offenders who breach safe distancing measures are fined $300.
For non-compliance with safe management measures under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, offenders may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.