Repeat offender fined $27,600 for illegal hawking of roasted chestnuts at various locations

A man was fined $27,600 on Wednesday (May 3) for the illegal hawking of roasted chestnuts in public places.

Tan Hee Meng, 62, committed a total of 19 counts of illegal hawking of food in various locations in Singapore from May 2019 to March 2023, said the Singapore Food Agency.

According to The Straits Times, he mostly peddled in the eastern part of Singapore, including near bus stops in Ubi and Bedok, as well as other locations in East Coast Road, Onan Road and Marine Parade Central.

"Despite numerous enforcement actions taken against Tan, he continued to engage in illegal hawking activities, demonstrating a clear disregard for the law," SFA added.

"Unregulated street hawking poses a risk to food safety. Food sold may be unsafe as SFA is unable to assure that they meet our food safety requirements."

"In addition, such vendors are transitory and cannot be traced if buyers face problems with their purchases. Through such modes of sales, these illegal street hawkers are in effect passing risks to the unsuspecting consumer to bear."

Repeat offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to three months, or both.

SFA also advised members of the public who come across any illegal hawking of food not to patronise them and make a report via its online feedback form for follow-up investigations.