Chinese Woman Faces Charges after Viral Hospital Confrontation with Public Servant
A Chinese woman is set to face charges in Singapore after a heated argument with police officers at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). The incident, which occurred in the early hours of October 10th, was recorded and posted on the popular short video platform TikTok, quickly gaining widespread attention.
The charges against the woman, a 29-year-old Chinese national, include offences related to public nuisance, verbally abusing a public servant, and assaulting or using criminal force against a security officer. The videos of her confrontations with the investigating officers sparked discussions and reactions online.
According to the woman, she had been waiting at the hospital for three hours due to her involvement in a car accident. She alleged that a nurse told her she couldn’t receive medical treatment because she wasn’t a Singaporean citizen. When the police officers tried to record her statement regarding the use of inappropriate language towards the nurse, she refused to provide a clear response.
Instead, she insisted that the officer question the nurse and demanded to be taken to the police station while requesting the female Investigation Officer (IO) reveal her identity. She even attempted to seize the officer’s identification card while continuing to document the incident, which resulted in a stern warning from the officer.
In a follow-up post, the woman disclosed that she is a long-term pass holder. She mentioned undergoing an X-ray examination and receiving medication. She claimed that the driver who hit her fled the scene, leaving her to deal with the aftermath alone. She insisted on the officers identifying themselves to prevent the driver from providing evidence that might diminish the impact of the car accident on the driver.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) responded to media inquiries by stating that they received a report at approximately 2:35 am on October 10th regarding a 29-year-old Chinese national seeking medical attention for an injured foot. The woman allegedly caused a disturbance and verbally abused a nurse before the arrival of the police.
During their conversation, she declined to provide a statement and used strong language in Mandarin towards one of the investigating officers. She also attempted to take one of the officer’s security passes while being recorded, prompting a firm warning from the officer. Due to her need for medical treatment, the officers decided to allow her to complete her treatment before following up on the situation.
This incident wasn’t the first one involving the woman. On October 3rd, the police received a call for help from the security team of a condominium. The woman was allegedly intoxicated and pushed one of the security officers and used insulting and abusive language towards him. The police initiated an investigation into the alleged offenses committed against the security officer and found reason to suspect that the woman may have violated the conditions of her work permit.
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) clarified that the medical staff noticed the woman was not wearing a mask and handed one to her. However, she not only refused to wear the mask but also allegedly began verbally abusing the medical staff.
Assoc Prof Dr Kenneth Tan, Head and Senior Consultant at the Emergency Medicine Department of SGH, stated that approximately two hours after the woman arrived at the Emergency Department, she was thoroughly examined by medical staff and subsequently discharged to return home. Dr. Tan emphasized that every individual seeking care at the Emergency Department will receive the necessary treatment and stressed the hospital’s zero-tolerance policy for harassment.
The woman is now set to face charges for her actions, and the Singapore Police Force has emphasized its commitment to taking strict action against abusive behavior directed at public servants and public service workers. Firm actions will be taken to deal with such offenders in accordance with the law, the police stated.
This incident has raised discussions about patient behavior and the treatment of foreign nationals. As the case progresses, it will be interesting to see how the legal system in Singapore handles this matter.
