S'pore influencer Naomi Neo makes police report after being touched inappropriately at Aperia flea market

Singaporean content creator Naomi Neo posted on Instagram, alleging that she was touched inappropriately at the Hammock Market in Aperia Mall on Apr. 4.

Neo, who has over a million followers, was one of the vendors featured at the weekly flea market from 12pm to 7pm that day.

The event typically draws large crowds to shop pre-loved clothes and accessories from the vendors.

Unwanted encounter

The evening after the market ended, Neo wrote in an Instagram story that a man had touched her inappropriately and then ran away.

Her friends, who witnessed the incident, ran after the man and managed to catch him, she said.

Man had followed her around the market

Speaking to Mothership after the incident, Neo said he had been lingering around her booth, and had approached her for a photo.

Later around 4pm, he was following her around the venue when he touched her from behind.

She initially considered letting it go because the man was a fan who looked "very young", and she did not want to cause a scene.

"But thinking about the number of girls at the event and even my own daughter, I felt that I had the responsibility to stand up for myself," she told Mothership.

Neo is a mother of two — a seven-year-old boy, Kyzo, and a five-year-old girl, Zyla.

"If I don't pursue the matter, what's gonna stop him from doing it again?" she wrote on Instagram.

The perpetrator was handed over to the police shortly afterwards, according to Neo, who added that she has given a statement to the police.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed that a report was lodged. Investigations are ongoing.

Should not be normalised

Neo shared that she was safe and okay, but did not expect an incident like this to happen.

"Situations like this shouldn’t be brushed off or normalised, especially in public spaces where many others are present," she said.

Neo added that she hoped more people with similar experiences will also feel empowered to speak up, no matter how small the incident may seem to them.

"It’s not just about protecting ourselves, but others around us too," she said.

Top images from Greg Cinco/Google Maps and Naomi Neo's Instagram