A policeman accused online of illegally
parking at River Valley to buy prata was instead attending to a
case of public nuisance, the police told The Straits Times on
Saturday (Sept 2).
Facebook user Cinorom Elicebmi had posted four photos
and two videos of what he claimed was a police officer illegally
parking near Spize restaurant, at 409 River Valley Road, on Friday
night.
In his post, which can no longer be accessed publicly,
he wrote: "Share if you think Singapore Police Force is not above
the laws... LTA has painted lamp posts and sign posts within
closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring zones with bright
orange vertical strips."
He shared pictures of a police car parked next to a
parking enforcement camera, and videos of a police officer standing
along the row of shophouses.
"In tandem, 'No Waiting' signs at passenger pick-up
points with CCTV cameras are installed to remind we motorists that
we 'commoners' are not allowed to wait at these pick-up locations
other than immediate boarding and alighting of passengers," he
wrote. "Today, this police officer blatantly (flouted) the above
rule to do what? Buy roti prata!"
Another Facebook user YJ C-Yeang shared the post to the
Singapore Police Force's page on Saturday morning.
"This looks bad," she wrote. "Maybe the officer was
rushing and had his valid reasons. I do understand it's a tough
life in enforcement."
The police replied to her, saying: "Hi YJ, our officers
were indeed attending to an urgent case reported at 421 River
Valley Road and had to quickly reach the incident location."
They added that they seek the public's understanding
and urged the public "not to spread unsubstantiated
information".
The police told The Straits Times that the officer
pictured and captured on video was not there to "buy prata".
Instead, he was responding to a case of public nuisance
and police officers attending to cases are allowed to park
their vehicles where required.
TNP