What is Harassment under Singapore Law?

The end of a romantic relationship is often a painful and emotionally turbulent time. While most people manage to move on, some individuals react in extreme ways, with behaviour that crosses the line from heartbreak into unlawful harassment. This can leave victims feeling distressed, alarmed, and fearful for their safety.

Fortunately, Singapore law provides robust protection for victims through the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA). This article will explore real-life examples of post-relationship harassment and outline the powerful legal remedies available to help you reclaim your peace of mind.

What does Harassment / Stalking Look Like?

The transition from a romantic partner to a harasser can be alarming and dangerous. The following cases, reported in The Straits Times, illustrate how this behaviour can manifest:

1. 4 September 2025 – an aesthetic doctor engaged in a campaign of harassment against his ex-girlfriend. His actions included forcing his way into her apartment, throwing her belongings and pushing her, causing her to hit her head against a wall. He also threatened to share intimate photos of her when she did not respond to his messages. The harassment escalated to physical restraint when he grabbed her in a “bear hug,” forced her into his car, and later tackled her to the ground when she tried to escape. Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to charges including intentional harassment, alarm and distress and was sentenced to a two-year mandatory treatment order after it was found that a major depressive disorder contributed to his behaviour.
2. 19 April 2023 – A 31-year-old woman was unable to accept her break-up and relentlessly stalked her 25-year-old ex-girlfriend for two months. After being blocked on social media and messaging apps, she created new accounts to continue contacting the victim. Her conduct included waiting at the victim’s apartment block, physically restraining her, snatching her phone, and following her into a lift where she became violent. She also sent messages suggesting self-harm, which caused the victim significant alarm. Critically, the offender breached both an Expedited Protection Order and a subsequent Personal Protection Order by continuing to call and email the victim even after both orders were issued. She was eventually fined $5,000 for harassment.

These cases highlight a pattern of controlling, intimidating, and obsessive behaviour that the POHA is designed to address.

Key Offences Under the POHA

The POHA criminalises several types of conduct relevant to post-relationship harassment:

1. Intentionally Causing Harassment, Alarm or Distress (Section 3 of POHA): This offence occurs when a person uses threatening, abusive, or insulting words, behaviour, or communication with the intent to cause harassment, alarm, or distress. The penalty for this offence can be a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both.
   1. The aesthetic doctor’s threat to share intimate photos falls squarely into this category. This also includes “doxxing,” which is publishing someone’s personal information to harass or threaten them.
2. Causing Harassment, Alarm or Distress (Section 4 of POHA): If a person uses threatening, abusive, or insulting communication that is likely to make a victim feel harassed, alarmed, or distressed, it is considered an offence. There is no need to prove that the person intended to cause these feelings. The penalty for this offence is a fine up to $5,000.
3. Causing fear or provocation of violence (Section 5 of POHA): It is an offence to intentionally cause another person to believe that unlawful violence will be used or to provoke the use of unlawful violence. The penalty is a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to 12 months or both.
4. Unlawful Stalking (Section 7 of POHA): This is a critical offence in post-relationship scenarios. Stalking is defined as a course of conduct that involves acts associated with stalking, causes the victim harassment, alarm, or distress, and is done with the intent (or knowledge) that it would likely cause such feelings. The penalty for unlawful stalking can be a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months or both.
   1. Examples of stalking listed in POHA include: following the victim, making or attempting communication, loitering near the victim’s home or workplace, and interfering with their property.
   2. The actions of the ex-girlfriend —repeatedly calling and messaging, creating new accounts, and waiting at the victim’s void deck—are classic examples of unlawful stalking.

Enhanced Penalties for Offences Against Intimate Partners

Recognising the unique vulnerability in relationships, the POHA allows for enhanced penalties. If harassment or stalking is committed against a victim who was or is in an intimate relationship with the offender, the court may impose a punishment of up to twice the maximum penalty. This provision is directly applicable to the cases discussed and underscores the seriousness with which the law treats this form of harassment.

Legal Remedies for Victims

If you are a victim of harassment, the POHA provides powerful civil remedies to stop the conduct and ensure your safety.

1. Protection Order (PO): A victim can apply to the court for a Protection Order. The court can grant a PO if it is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the harasser has contravened the POHA and is likely to continue doing so. A PO can:
   1. Prohibit the harasser from doing anything specified in the order in relation to the victim.
   2. Order the harasser to stop publishing the offending communications.
   3. Refer the parties to counselling or mediation.
2. Expedited Protection Order (EPO): For urgent cases where continued harassment would have a “substantial adverse effect” on the victim or their daily life, the court can grant an EPO. This is a faster, temporary measure to provide immediate protection while the application for a full PO is being processed.
   1. The case of the stalking ex-girlfriend demonstrates that victims can and do use this remedy for urgent protection. When an EPO is made, the court must also consider if a criminal investigation is warranted and can refer the matter to the police.

Breaching a Protection Order is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. This gives the orders legal force and creates serious consequences for non-compliance, as seen in the case where the offender was prosecuted for breaching her orders.

Navigating the legal system while under emotional distress can be overwhelming. Engaging an experienced lawyer provides crucial support and significantly strengthens your case.

No one should have to live in fear of a former partner. The POHA offers a clear path to safety and legal recourse. If you are experiencing any of the behaviours described in this article, we urge you to seek legal advice promptly. Our team is here to provide the expertise and support needed to navigate this difficult time and help you secure the protection you deserve.

This publication is not intended to be, nor should it be taken as, legal advice. It is not a substitute for specific legal advice for specific circumstances. You should not take, nor refrain from taking any action(s) based on this publication. We shall not be responsible for, nor do we accept any responsibility for, any loss or damage that may arise from any reliance on this publication.