HSA fines man caught on Stomp video using e-vaporiser on MRT: He says he found it on street
Ong Su Mann
Posted on 26 February 2023 | 7,154 views | 46 comments
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA), with the assistance of the police, has identified and taken enforcement action against the barefoot passenger caught on video using an e-vaporiser on the MRT.
Stomper Foong shared the video of the man seated cross-legged with his shoes off on the floor of the East-West Line train, rubbing his foot and vaping on Feb 4.
SMRT told Stomp it reported the incident to the police.
HSA said in a press release on Feb 15: "HSA was alerted to a Stomp article on Feb 14, which showed a video of a man using an e-vaporiser in the MRT cabin.
"On Feb 22, HSA conducted a check at his residence. The 45-year-old Chinese man claimed that the e-vaporiser he used was a discarded e-vaporiser found on the streets and he has since thrown it away.
"After further investigations, he was issued with a composition fine for the illegal use of an e-vaporiser."
HSA added: "For this case, the man had blatantly flouted the law by using an e-vaporiser in plain sight of commuters on the train. His illegal act was featured in a Stomp article after a member of the public sent his vaping video to the Stomp Facebook page."
The purchase, possession and use of e-vaporisers are prohibited in Singapore under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. This includes purchases made through the Internet and from overseas. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000.
Under the Act, the import, distribution, possession for sale, sale or offer for sale of such products are also prohibited. Offenders can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to 6 months or both for the first offence and fined up to $20,000 or jailed up to 12 months or both for subsequent offences.
If you who have information on illegal activities involving e-vaporisers and under-aged smokers, contact the Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).