Phoon Chiu Yoke Faces Increased Bail and Additional Charges for Covid-19 Violations
Phoon Chiu Yoke, the woman infamously known as the “MBS badge woman,” now faces 14 new charges in court. The 53-year-old, who gained attention for repeatedly failing to wear a mask at public places, has been charged with 10 counts of mask-related violations and four charges for breaching her Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in 2020. These charges bring her total to 21.
Appearing in court on July 6, Phoon’s bail was increased from S$8,000 to S$12,000, following the prosecution’s request due to the new charges. Authorities are also investigating a new offense Phoon allegedly committed after her previous court session.
In her defense, Phoon, who represented herself in court, claimed that she is unable to wear a mask due to medical reasons, including worsening of her eczema and breathlessness. She questioned, “If I’m breathless, would you expect me to collapse?” Phoon further urged the court to drop her charges on grounds of ethical and medical considerations.
In addition, Phoon reportedly ignored multiple calls and emails from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) regarding her behavior.
