Man organised gathering with over 150 cars in breach of Covid-19 rules

A man organised a "street cars meet-up" just before the circuit breaker last year, resulting in more than 150 cars showing up in East Coast Park, with the drivers and passengers mingling there.

Car dealer Yeo Jing Cheng, 31, then arranged for the cars to be driven in a convoy to Jalan Buroh in Boon Lay. Some drivers had an illegal street race later in Tuas, where more than a hundred of the cars were gathered.

On Thursday, Yeo pleaded guilty to one charge each of breaching a Covid-19 control order, dangerous driving, organising an event for more than 10 people and obstructing the course of justice. Two other charges, of giving false information and taking part in the event he organised, will be taken into consideration for sentencing.

Yeo wanted to organise the event on March 28 last year to network for his car-dealing business.

He made a poster as an open invitation to gather at around 11pm at the carpark of the McDonald's outlet in East Coast Park. He sent the poster to WhatsApp group chats.

Four days before the event, on March 24, the Government announced stricter Covid-19 measures, including the prohibition on gatherings of more than 10 people for non-essential purposes.

But Yeo did not cancel the event.

More than 150 cars showed up, with the drivers and passengers mingling for about an hour.

Yeo then shared information on how to drive to Jalan Buroh, and they drove in a convoy to a petrol kiosk in Boon Lay.

Yeo heard there was another gathering at Tuas and he, along with several others, joined a convoy that drove there. They gathered in Tuas South Boulevard, where a few of the drivers had an illegal street race.

The Traffic Police received information about the illegal racing and illegally modified cars and found more than 100 cars there at about 2.30am. The roads were blocked and those involved stopped for questioning.

Yeo later thanked those who came via a post on Facebook. To avoid liability, he told members of his chat group to exit and delete the invitation from the chat, Facebook and other social media platforms.

During the circuit breaker period, which was from April 7 to June 1 last year, Yeo was also involved in another car-related incident.

In the early hours of May 16, he was part of a convoy of cars that sped along an 11km stretch of the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) and Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE), including the tunnel.

Yeo admitted to have been driving at about 100kmh.

The group was captured speeding by the camera of another car and the footage uploaded on social media went viral. Yeo saw the video and wanted to avoid being identified, so he removed his car's spoiler.

When he was called in for questioning by the police two days after the incident, he denied being involved and claimed his spoiler had been "removed long ago".

He later came clean and admitted his involvement.

On Thursday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Stephanie Koh told the court Yeo had a list of antecedents dating back to 2007, when he was caught for theft and driving illegally.

He also had previous run-ins with the law for obstruction of justice and substance abuse.

DPP Koh said the event he organised was frivolous and had a high potential for harm.

"(The event) had the capacity to spread Covid-19 although it did not," she said. "The court should send a strong signal to the public to remain vigilant and adhere strictly to the prevailing regulations as the pandemic continues."

She added that the video of the convoy of cars speeding down the MCE and KPE tunnel during the circuit breaker period had also caused "public disquiet".

She urged the court to jail Yeo for five weeks, fine him $5,000 and disqualify him from driving for two years.

Yeo's case has been adjourned and he is out on $15,000 bail.

He is expected to be back in court on May 25 for sentencing.

For organising the event which was attended by more than 10 people, he can be jailed for up to six months, fined up to $10,000, or both.

For obstructing the course of justice, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined, or both.