S'pore man, 69, convicted of breaching protection order by singing & banging cans outside neighbour's flat

A 69-year-old Singaporean man, Heng Choo Hwi, has been found guilty of violating a protection order imposed by his neighbors. The trial commenced in August 2026, and he was convicted on September 28, 2026. Heng contested the charge, which stemmed from an incident on February 5, 2026, when he allegedly sang and banged cans outside his neighbors' flat for approximately 11 minutes. Sentencing has been postponed to October 21, 2026.

The neighbors, Alvin Chan and Sheryl Seet, had initially maintained a cordial relationship. However, their relationship deteriorated, with the couple alleging that Heng had been harassing them. In December 2025, they sought an expedited protection order against Heng, which became effective on January 19, 2026. The order restricted Heng from various activities, including making loud noises near their flat.

Heng claimed that the protection order had not been properly served on him. However, CCTV footage contradicted his claim, showing him outside his unit holding various items as a process server delivered the documents. Heng maintained that he had left the protection order in a basket of old newspapers, which was later cleared by the town council, thus not having the opportunity to read it. The judge dismissed Heng's arguments, stating that an individual's freedom is subject to the law, including court orders.

The prosecution sought a sentence of two to three weeks in jail, citing the neighbors' extreme discomfort and fear for their safety. Heng, who was not represented in court, sought a fine instead, citing his part-time job as a potential loss if convicted. The judge rejected this request, imposing a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.