A 62-year-old Singaporean man has been sentenced to 15 months’ jail after sending pork slices in envelopes to seven mosques across Singapore in what the court described as a “deeply offensive” and inflammatory act.
The accused, Bill Tan Keng Hwee, carried out the acts after becoming upset over the non-renewal of his work contract. According to court proceedings, he believed a woman was responsible for the decision and wanted to harass her through the mosque mailings, reported CNA.
Tan pleaded guilty to three charges of wounding religious feelings under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and one charge under the Protection from Harassment Act. Another five charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
The case has drawn attention due to its religious element, with prosecutors stressing that acts involving race and religion threaten Singapore’s social harmony and multicultural stability.
Pork Slices Mailed To Seven Mosques Across Singapore
Court documents revealed that Tan had been working as an operations support officer at a location that was not publicly disclosed.
On Sept. 11, 2025, he was informed by an operations manager that his employment contract would not be renewed. Prosecutors said Tan became angry and later devised a plan involving mosques and pork products, which are prohibited in Islam.
He allegedly purchased pork, envelopes and foolscap paper before using his laptop to print offensive phrases, including the words “halal babi chop”.
The printed slips were cut into smaller pieces and inserted into envelopes alongside pork slices and information linked to the woman he blamed for losing his job, CNA wrote.
According to the court, Tan intended for mosque staff to contact the woman after receiving the letters, effectively dragging her into the incident and causing distress.
Mosques Alerted Police After Discovering Envelopes
The envelopes were mailed to seven mosques on Sept. 15, 2025. Court records stated that at least three of the mosques had been selected randomly.
Staff members later discovered the envelopes in their mailboxes on Sept. 19 and contacted the police.
On the same day, the targeted woman reportedly received a phone call from mosque personnel informing her about the parcel containing meat and offensive notes. She subsequently lodged a police report as well.
The incident triggered concern due to the sensitive nature of religion in Singapore, where authorities have consistently taken a tough stance against acts that could undermine racial and religious harmony.
Judge Says Religious Harmony Is Singapore’s Foundation
During sentencing, prosecutors argued that the offences were serious because they involved religion and social cohesion.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Selene Yap reportedly told the court that Tan had “weaponised religion” in an attempt to harass the woman.
The prosecution sought between 15 and 18 months’ jail, arguing that a strong deterrent sentence was necessary to send a clear message.
Tan’s lawyer argued in mitigation that his client had not intended to target the Muslim community directly and that his main objective had been to harass the woman he blamed for his employment issues.
However, the district judge rejected that argument.
The judge said Singapore’s social stability depends heavily on peaceful coexistence among different races and religions. She described Tan’s actions as “calculated, deeply offensive and inherently inflammatory”.
The court further stressed that offences involving race and religion must be dealt with firmly to protect public order and national unity in Singapore’s multicultural society.