S'pore man, 69, allegedly breaches protection order by singing & banging cans outside neighbour's Yishun flat

An elderly man accused of harassing his neighbours has gone on trial for allegedly breaching a protection order by singing and striking metal outside their flat for about 11 minutes.

69-year-old Heng Choo Hwi is contesting one charge of breaching the protection order by allegedly making deliberate loud noises outside his neighbours’ home on Feb. 5, 2026.

According to a report by CNA, Heng was initially on cordial terms with the neighbours, a married couple, but their relationship later deteriorated and they alleged that Heng had repeatedly harassed them.

A cease-and-desist letter issued by the couple's lawyers failed to stop the alleged behaviour, prompting them to apply for an expedited protection order in December 2025.

Among other things, the order prohibited Heng from discharging or placing liquid in the common corridor, making abusive or insulting gestures towards the couple, and making deliberate loud noises in the immediate vicinity of their flat.

However, he allegedly breached the order weeks later.

Heng denied that the order was properly served on him, despite prosecution footage appearing to show a man handing him documents outside his unit.

He also faces two other charges relating to the alleged breach of the order, including pouring liquid outside his neighbours’ flat and kicking an item towards their flat.

He is also accused of making threats if the town council staff removed items outside his unit.

These charges have been stood down temporarily while the trial proceeds.

Became "very aggressive" towards the couple

The couple, Alvin Chan and Sheryl Seet, live at Yishun Street 51.

According to CNA, Chan told the court that he and his wife first got acquainted with Heng in late 2022, when they were preparing to renovate their new home.

Their relationship was initially cordial, he said.

However, Chan alleged that Heng later became "very aggressive" towards the couple and began harassing them repeatedly.

The alleged harassment continued throughout 2025, particularly around the middle of the year, according to Chan.

As such, in August that year, the couple engaged lawyers to issue a cease-and-desist letter to Heng, he said.

However, the harassment did not stop, prompting them to seek an expedited protection order in December 2025.

The order was granted on Jan. 12, 2026, and prohibited Heng from singing or making deliberate loud noises in the immediate vicinity of the couple’s flat.

The order took effect on Jan. 19, 2026.

The prosecution also showed the court footage dated Jan. 19, showing Heng seated outside his unit with several items as a man approached him and showed him some documents.

Chan said the man was a process server who had gone to serve Heng with the protection order.

The footage was recorded by a camera outside Chan’s flat.

Loud banging and singing

According to court documents seen by Mothership, at about 5:35pm on Feb. 5, 2026, Chan called the police to tell them that Heng was singing and striking metal objects outside his flat, breaching the protection order.

Chan told the court that when he returned home from work, Heng saw him and began banging cans loudly and singing.

The noises continued even after Chan entered his flat, he said.

The prosecution played several video clips in court in which loud metal noises and banging, as well as singing or chanting, could be heard.

Heng was usually seen seated outside his flat in the footage.

Chan told the court Heng's actions made him and his wife feel "very unsafe within [their] own home".

He added that they were considering moving back in with his parents because of their concerns for their safety.

"Do I not have the liberty to sing or do my own things?"

According to CNA, Heng was unrepresented in court and cross-examined Chan through a Mandarin interpreter.

He asked Chan where in the footage it could be seen that he had harassed him, to which Chan pointed to the loud banging, chanting, and singing.

"During the day, do I not have the liberty to sing or do my own things?" Heng was quoted as asking.

In response, Chan said Heng’s liberty should not come at the expense of others.

Heng also questioned why Chan and his wife had applied for a protection order, saying the two sides had not communicated or quarrelled since the couple moved into their flat.

Chan said the application was based on what he described as "sustained harassment", which did not involve direct confrontation.

The couple also had evidence of what was described as Heng’s "persistent harassment", including incidents involving liquid being poured outside their flat, litter being left there, and a metal pole being struck outside their unit.

When Heng asked whether there had been "any real situation" in which Chan felt harassed, the judge asked him to be more specific.

Heng said he could not remember the exact day or month, as it was Chan who felt that way.

He also denied harassing Chan on Feb. 5, saying he had been cleaning his cans and clearing his belongings as usual.

He added that he had attended mediation with Chan on Mar. 27, 2026, after which the dispute was resolved and the protection order was withdrawn.

The prosecution said it would rely on CCTV footage, a letter containing signed proof that the protection order had been served, and other testimonies to prove the charge.

The trial continues.

If convicted of breaching the expedited protection order, Heng can face up to six months' imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.