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A 31-year-old Singaporean woman was sentenced to a two year mandatory treatment order (MTO) on May 6, for harassing her neighbours, including an incident of leaving raw meat on their doorstep, according to Today.
A mandatory treatment order is a Community-Based Sentencing (CBS) option offered to offenders suffering from certain mental or psychiatric conditions.
Under MTO, one has to undergo psychiatric treatment with a court-appointed psychiatrist for up to three years.
Upon completion, the criminal record associated with the offence will then be cleared.
First offence – Leaving raw meat on neighbour's doorstep
According to court documents seen by Mothership, Farhana deliberately placed raw beef on her neighbour's doorstep on May 20, 2020, at around 11pm. The main door to the unit was open, but the gate was locked.
After leaving raw beef at the doorstep, Farhana had allegedly shouted “wei”, then left.
She later admitted that she had committed the offence as she perceived that her neighbour had "molested" her in 2019.
She thus intended to scare him and give him a warning, believing him to be in the unit at the time of offence.
However, the victim's mother was the one at home and watching television instead.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tin Shu Min said that the victim's mother had felt distressed and angry following the act, as she is Sikh and does not eat or touch beef.
Second offence – Shouted vulgarities and broke neighbour's window
On September 10 2020, close to 5pm, Farhana again approached her neighbour's unit.
She proceeded to shout vulgarities in English and Malay at them.
She also removed five aluminium window panels and three horizontal metal rods from the victims’ living room window, then threw the panels inside the unit.
Farhana later admitted that she was "easily annoyed by noises" and would eventually "explode" in anger.
After hearing a cough from the unit, she felt "disturbed." She subsequently lost her patience upon hearing another sound from the unit and committed the offence.
According to court documents, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) later paid S$82.73 for the window to be replaced.
Could have been jailed
According to Today, Farhana was charged with mischief and using insulting behaviour that caused distress to her neighbour.
A third charge of committing a rash act was also considered in sentencing.
For mischief, she could have been jailed for up to two years, fined, or both.
For using insulting behaviour, she could have been jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$5,000, or both.
Top image via Unsplash