A 49-year-old woman, Gan Hui Ling, has been sentenced to three months and two weeks in jail for causing a nuisance at home, assaulting two police officers, and using abusive language towards them. The incident occurred on July 8, 2022.
The Incident
Gan was convicted on four charges related to the incident. Two of these charges were for voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant, while the other two were for using abusive words towards a public servant.
The incident began when Gan, who had consumed whiskey and cocktails at the Tanglin Club, returned home to find her sisters-in-law visiting her mother-in-law. An argument ensued between Gan and one of her sisters-in-law. Gan’s second sister-in-law attempted to intervene and calm the situation, but Gan became aggressive and began kicking on the closed door of her mother-in-law’s room.
Aggression Towards Police Officers
Five police officers arrived at the scene and found Gan lying in her room, reeking of alcohol. When they attempted to interview her about the dispute, Gan turned aggressive and attempted to confront her sister-in-law. The officers separated Gan from her relatives and attempted to restrain her, but she resisted and physically assaulted them.
Gan kicked one male officer in the groin and kicked a female officer twice, once on her left knee and once on her abdomen area. She also hurled vulgarities at the officers, both during the incident and after her arrest.
Sentencing and Mitigation
In their sentencing submissions, the prosecution noted that Gan had little respect for law and authority, as shown by her behavior towards the police officers. They also noted that Gan had engaged in shop theft while she was out on bail over the July 8, 2022 incident.
Gan expressed regret during her mitigation and said she would like to change her future, return to her family, and contribute to society. She also mentioned that she had been under mental and financial pressure. The judge noted that all of Gan’s offences were related to alcohol and advised her to stop drinking.
In addition to the charges related to the July 8, 2022 incident, Gan was also convicted on a fifth charge of stealing wine from a Giant supermarket located at Suntec City on December 25, 2023. Ten other charges were taken into consideration.
This case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of causing a nuisance, assaulting police officers, and using abusive language. It is important to respect law and authority and to seek help if struggling with alcohol or other issues.