Chinese Woman Jailed and Fined for Verbally Abusing Singapore Hospital Staff
A Chinese national, Han Feizi, has been sentenced to five weeks and five days in jail and fined S$600 for verbally abusing a hospital staff member at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). The incident took place on October 10 and gained attention when Han filmed herself arguing with a police officer at the hospital. Han pleaded guilty to charges involving two separate incidents of using abusive language against security officers and a staff member at SGH, as well as for contravening manpower laws.
Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan pronounced the sentence in a packed courtroom, emphasizing that the hospital staff member whom Han had abused had been trying to help her. Judge Tan condemned her behavior as loutish and belligerent, stating that there was no excuse for her shouting abusive words at the victim.
Han faced a total of eight charges, including being a public nuisance, using abusive language against a public servant, using abusive words and using criminal force on a security officer, and lying in her work permit application. Three additional charges were taken into consideration, including using criminal force on a security officer, using abusive language against a public servant, and moonlighting as a freelance hostess without a valid work pass.
Following her conviction, Han’s work pass will be revoked, and she will be permanently barred from working in Singapore, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
The court heard that on October 10, Han arrived at SGH’s accident and emergency department around 2.15 am, claiming that a Grab driver had run over her foot. She became unruly and verbally abusive when a hospital staff member explained the administrative registration process and advised her to wear a mask. Han refused to comply, threw the mask on the floor, and shouted an abusive remark. The police were alerted to the verbally abusive patient.
The police interviewed Han at around 3.15 am, but she was uncooperative and refused to provide a statement. Han allegedly used vulgarities in Mandarin against one of the officers, and she later posted segments of the interaction on social media platform Douyin, which went viral.
In a separate incident on October 3, Han became aggressive towards a male security supervisor at The Sail at Marina Bay condominium. She pointed her finger threateningly at him, hurled vulgarities, and even pushed him. Han admitted to being intoxicated at the time.
The MOM initiated an investigation into Han after her social media post about the SGH incident and found that she had possibly violated manpower laws. Han had falsely applied for a work permit, stating that she would be employed as a clerk for a firm called KDL Elements. Her true intention was to circumvent the rejection of her student pass application and enter Singapore solely for pleasure.
During her mitigation plea, Han expressed remorse and acknowledged that she should have exercised tolerance and a greater understanding of the law. She stated that she was unfamiliar with Singapore’s laws as it was her first time living overseas, although prosecutors pointed out that she had entered Singapore on multiple occasions since 2019.
Han concluded by apologizing for causing inconvenience and promising not to reoffend in the future.
The sentence handed down to Han serves as a reminder that abusive behavior towards hospital staff and law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Singapore. It also highlights the consequences of providing false information in work permit applications. The case underscores the importance of respecting the law and the efforts of those who seek to assist and serve the public.
