A 36-year-old Singaporean man has been sentenced to 14 weeks’ imprisonment after deliberately smearing pork luncheon meat along the common corridor of his HDB block in Woodlands. The unusual act, which took place during Deepavali, was meant to target his Malay-Muslim neighbours following a long-running dispute over noise caused by their children.
Court proceedings revealed that the man had become increasingly frustrated with the sounds of two young children, aged four and seven, playing outside their flat. Although mediation efforts had previously involved the Community Policing Unit, tensions resurfaced on the evening of the festive holiday when he claimed the noise disrupted his celebration plans.
In a moment of anger, he emptied a can of pork luncheon meat onto the shared corridor and spread it across the floor. Prosecutors stated that he was aware his neighbours were Muslim and that contact with pork is religiously prohibited. His intention, according to court documents, was to create what he described as a “physical barrier” and to cause the family “bad karma”.
Religious Feelings Wounded In HDB Corridor Dispute
The court heard that the children and other members of the household unknowingly walked across the smeared meat the following morning before it was cleaned. A town council cleaner was eventually called in after the accused refused to remove the mess when instructed by police officers.
The incident left the family distressed. When they later discovered the substance was pork, they felt their religious beliefs had been deliberately disrespected. In Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society, acts that inflame religious sensitivities are treated seriously under criminal law.
The man pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct that wounded the religious feelings of others, an offence that carries a potential jail term of up to five years, a fine, or both. He also admitted to verbally abusing a public servant in a separate incident earlier in the year, after making repeated non-emergency calls to the police while intoxicated and using vulgar language towards an emergency communications officer.
Previous Conduct And Court Apology
Further details presented in court showed that he had prior convictions involving nuisance calls and the use of abusive language towards law enforcement officers. Following his arrest over the luncheon meat incident, he was remanded for psychiatric assessment at the Institute of Mental Health before being released on bail. He later asked for his bail to be revoked and remained in remand until sentencing.
During mitigation, he expressed remorse and apologised for his behaviour. He informed the court that he had since participated in programmes aimed at improving emotional regulation and conflict management, and had applied for a work-study diploma to better himself.
Prosecutors argued that his actions were immature and disgraceful, emphasising the importance of safeguarding racial and religious harmony in Singapore. The district court ultimately imposed a 14-week custodial sentence, underscoring that disputes between neighbours — particularly in high-density HDB living environments — must be resolved through lawful and respectful means rather than acts that risk deepening communal tensions.