25-10-2023 In a recent courtroom verdict that has drawn considerable attention, a Chinese national, Han Feizi, aged 29, has been sentenced to five weeks and five days in jail, along with a fine of $600. The verdict came as a result of Han Feizi’s involvement in two separate incidents where she was charged with using abusive language against security officers and a staff member at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). In addition to these charges, Han Feizi was also found guilty of contravening manpower laws.
The incidents that led to the legal proceedings began on October 10, 2023, when Han Feizi was involved in an altercation at the SGH. The situation escalated quickly when she filmed herself arguing with the police after verbally abusing a hospital staff member. The video of this incident subsequently went viral on social media.
Courtroom Drama and Online Controversy
Han Feizi appeared in court via a video-link from prison, as she had been in remand for 13 days leading up to the proceedings. During the hearing, she did not have legal representation but was assisted by a Mandarin interpreter.
In the courtroom, Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan pronounced the sentence, emphasizing the gravity of Han Feizi’s actions. He noted that the hospital staff member whom she had verbally abused was merely trying to assist her. Judge Tan described Han’s behavior as “loutish” and “belligerent,” emphasizing that there was no justification for her to shout abusive words at the victim.
The charges against Han Feizi were brought forward by prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Manpower. They included allegations of public nuisance, using abusive language against a public servant, using abusive words, and using criminal force against a security officer. Furthermore, Han was found guilty of providing false information in her work permit application.
Alcohol-Related Altercations and Online Fame
One of the two significant incidents that led to the legal proceedings occurred on October 10, when Han Feizi was brought to SGH’s accident and emergency department by a Grab driver. She claimed that the Grab driver had run over her foot, causing her pain. Medical staff attended to her and offered her a wheelchair. However, Han started screaming for the Grab driver and accused him of abandoning her. When a staff member instructed her on the hospital’s administrative registration process and suggested she wear a mask, Han refused, threw the mask on the floor, and shouted abusive remarks. She also made a threatening move while seated in the wheelchair, causing alarm to the staff member. Han later admitted to being intoxicated during this incident.
In an earlier police statement, it was revealed that a call was made at approximately 2.35 am on October 10 regarding Han Feizi’s verbally abusive behavior at SGH. When two investigation officers attempted to interview her around 3.15 am, she was uncooperative and refused to provide a statement. Han allegedly used vulgar language in Mandarin against one of the officers. She also recorded segments of her interaction with the officers using her mobile phone, and the video went viral on social media after she posted it on the Chinese platform Douyin.
The second incident took place on October 3 at The Sail at Marina Bay, a condominium in Marina Boulevard. A male security supervisor at the condo spotted Han Feizi squatting at the condo’s first-floor lift lobby at around 9 pm. With the assistance of a female colleague, he decided to escort her to her unit on the 44th floor. However, Han Feizi turned aggressive during their journey in the lift, shouting vulgarities and even using physical force against the security supervisor. Han admitted to being intoxicated during this incident as well.
Misrepresentation in Work Permit Application
The Ministry of Manpower initiated an investigation into Han Feizi after she posted about the SGH incident on social media. It was discovered that she had potentially contravened manpower laws. In her work permit application on August 11, 2023, Han had declared that she would be employed as a clerk for a firm named KDL Elements and was subsequently issued a work pass on August 12. However, it was revealed during the proceedings that she never intended to work for the firm and had applied for the permit only as a means to bypass the rejection of her student pass application. Han Feizi clarified that her primary purpose for entering Singapore was for leisure.
A Lesson Learned
During the sentencing hearing, Han Feizi expressed her remorse and offered an apology to everyone. She acknowledged that she should have exercised tolerance and better understanding of the law and circumstances. In her mitigation plea, which was read aloud by the interpreter, she stated that this was her first time living overseas and that she was unfamiliar with Singapore’s laws. However, prosecutors clarified that Han had visited Singapore on at least four occasions since 2019, although Han insisted that these visits were for short holidays.
After the sentencing, Han Feizi expressed her apologies once again, acknowledging the lesson she had learned from this experience and assuring that she would not reoffend in the future.
