Healthcare worker fined for using niece’s TraceTogether to check into malls, library while on leave of absence

SINGAPORE: A patient provider affiliate at the Nationwide Neuroscience Institute (NNI) utilised her niece’s TraceTogether token to verify into malls and a library though on a leave of absence.

That was in April final yr, when COVID-19 cases were noted in Tan Tock Seng Healthcare facility (TTSH) where NNI is found. The cluster would ultimately mature to 48 situations, with a few fatalities. 

Priscilla Tan Siew Sin, 34, experienced been traced as a speak to of a physician who contracted COVID-19. She did not exam beneficial for the coronavirus.

Tan was fined S$10,000 on Monday (Apr 25) after pleading guilty to a person count of fraud by generating a phony representation. Two a lot more fees had been considered for sentencing.

On Apr 28, 2021, the Ministry of Wellness declared that a nurse doing work in Ward 9D of TTSH experienced examined favourable for COVID-19.

The future working day, Tan’s reporting officer was educated that a physician in NNI experienced also examined good.

Interior make contact with tracing showed that Tan was just one of the doctor’s clinic assistants on Apr 23, 2021. She underwent a COVID-19 swab examination, was put on a go away of absence and advised to continue to be home.

The court docket listened to that a leave of absence intended that Tan was to continue being in her dwelling as considerably as achievable and minimise social call.

She was however authorized to leave her home for everyday requirements or to show up at to important matters, but was to minimise the time she put in in general public areas.

On Apr 30, 2021, Tan desired to go outside the house to purchase foods.

“Having said that, as her swab exam success had been not still out, she was afraid that she would get into additional problems if she was found to have COVID-19 but had left her home,” said court files.

She was also concerned that “if there was a person with COVID-19 at the area that she was scheduling on likely to, she would be call-traced and get into hassle for leaving the property”.

Tan consequently asked her 12-year-outdated niece if she could use her TraceTogether token, and the woman agreed.

Tan left her dwelling and walked to The Poiz Centre, checking in applying her niece’s TraceTogether token at about 7.50pm.

She recurring this two additional times on Could 2 that calendar year, traveling to library@esplanade before heading to Marina Sq..

On Sep 3, 2021, Tan’s reporting officer submitted a police report that she experienced checked into The Poiz Centre with one more person’s token.

This was immediately after an inside disciplinary board encouraged the matter be claimed to the police.

UNDERMINED Call TRACING Efforts

Deputy Public Prosecutor Wu Yu Jie sought a fantastic of at least S$10,000, contacting Tan’s actions irresponsible.

He argued that she took the hazard of exposing other folks to COVID-19 though recognizing there was a possibility that she experienced contracted the health issues.

Tan’s steps drastically undermined make contact with tracing attempts implemented to keep the inhabitants safe, added the prosecutor.

“The integrity of the data collected for the purposes of contact tracing should be taken care of. False entries and assumed identities can hinder get in touch with tracing attempts,” claimed Mr Wu.

Defence lawyer Joyce Khoo sought a fine of no more than S$5,000.

She contented that the want to prevent other possible offenders was decreased presented modern variations to phase down the use of SafeEntry and TraceTogether from Tuesday.

However, District Judge Ronald Gwee rejected this argument, declaring: “Tomorrow getting the easing of steps does not essentially necessarily mean the close of the scenario as we know it.

“Authorities have warned that at any time should really there be a variant that comes in, specified measures have to be reversed. I really don’t see that as a mitigating factor at all.”