Yishun harassment case: ‘We are scared she will take revenge’

Ms Lee’s family erected a “wall” lined with cacti in an attempt to stop a woman from harassing them. (Photo: Gabriel Choo/Yahoo Singapore)
Ms Lee’s family erected a “wall” lined with cacti in an attempt to stop a woman from harassing them. (Photo: Gabriel Choo/Yahoo Singapore)

A Yishun resident whose family erected a fence lined with cacti to prevent a woman from repeatedly harassing them is still afraid despite an arrest being made over the incidents.

“We are scared she will take revenge and do it again,” the resident, who only wanted to be known as Ms Lee, told Yahoo Singapore on Wednesday (31 May). A 63-year-old woman was arrested on Saturday (27 May) for causing public nuisance after the police received reports about the incidents at Block 112 Yishun Ring Road, Yahoo Singapore understands.

Neighbours have claimed that the woman often splashed oil and tar-like substances on their corridors and grill doors. She would also leave sanitary pads and balls of toilet paper outside their flats.

The woman speaks Teochew and has been living with her daughter in their Yishun flat since 2013, said Lee, adding that the woman began harassing her family last year. But the woman is not the only person who has been harassing the neighbours. “Her daughter is also known to provoke people for no reason,” said Lee, who is in her twenties.

When Yahoo Singapore visited the affected units over several floors on Wednesday afternoon, black stains were seen along the corridors. The cacti-lined fence had been moved to the side of the corridor. Lee explained that her family had to do so as the town council deemed it a fire hazard.

Black stains were seen along some of the corridors at Block 112 Yishun Ring Road. (Photo: Gabriel Choo/Yahoo Singapore)
Black stains were seen along some of the corridors at Block 112 Yishun Ring Road. (Photo: Gabriel Choo/Yahoo Singapore)

Several affected neighbours said they were not aware of the woman’s arrest. They added that they were puzzled as to why she would only harass the units on the floors above and below hers.

A 50-year-old cleaner, who only wanted to be known as Mr Ow, claimed that he was a victim of harassment by the woman. “I don’t know why she attacked my unit. I have never offended or even seen her before,” said Ow, who stays by himself two floors directly above the woman’s unit. Yahoo Singapore observed black marks on the floor outside Ow’s flat. The town council helped replace his grill door as it was badly stained, Ow said.

Ms Dila, 35, who stays in the same block with her husband and 10-year-old daughter, said the woman often harassed her neighbours, which prompted her husband to call the police.

Another neighbour, Mdm Goh, 68, hopes that the harassment by the woman will end soon. “Such a neighbour would pose a danger to others. I am glad she has been arrested,” said Goh.

Yahoo Singapore understands that the woman is out on bail pending investigations. One neighbour living a floor below the woman went to confront her at around 6am on Wednesday but she did not open her door. Incessant clanking was heard coming from the woman’s flat, according to the neighbour.