Singapore: Elderly Man on Trial for Allegedly Breaching Neighbor's Protection Order

An 69-year-old Singaporean man, Heng Choo Hwi, is facing trial for allegedly breaching a protection order granted to his neighbors in Yishun. The couple, Alvin Chan and Sheryl Seet, initially had a cordial relationship with Heng after moving into their flat in late 2022. However, the relationship deteriorated, with the couple accusing Heng of constant and aggressive harassment.

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Initially it was cordial. It was friendly, but eventually it deteriorated. He started becoming very aggressive towards us, started harassing us on a very constant basis, and since then we have stopped engaging with him.

After a cease-and-desist letter from their lawyers failed to stop the alleged behavior, Chan and Seet obtained an expedited protection order against Heng in January. The order stipulated that Heng must not discharge liquids in the common corridor, make abusive gestures, or create deliberate loud noises near their flat. The order took effect on January 19.

Heng is contesting a charge of breaching the order by singing and striking metal outside his neighbors' flat for 11 minutes. He faces additional charges for pouring liquid outside their flat and kicking an item towards it, as well as making threats. Heng denies breaching the order, asserting he was not properly shown the protection order, despite video footage appearing to show a man serving it to him on January 19.

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So in August, we actually got our lawyers to issue a cease-and-desist letter to Mr Heng, then subsequently because the harassment did not stop, it continued, so we sought an expedited protection order against Mr Heng in December for our own safety.

During the trial, Alvin Chan testified that Heng's harassment became particularly aggressive in mid-2023. He stated that he and his wife sought the protection order for their safety after the harassment continued following the cease-and-desist letter. The prosecution presented video evidence from January 19, which they claim shows the process server delivering the order to Heng outside his unit.

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This was a 'simple case' where Heng breached the expedited protection order against him.