On 30 August 2023, Fong Poh Kuen (“Fong”), a 46-year-old man, was convicted and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment for the following offences:
- three counts of illegally obtaining personal information under Section 416A of the Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed);
- one count of public nuisance under Section 268 of the Penal Code 1871 punishable under Section 290(b) of the Penal Code 1871;
- three counts of causing harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act, Revised Edition 2015, punishable under Section 8(1)(b) of the Act; &
- six counts of unlawful stalking under Section 7(1) of the Protection from Harassment Act, Revised Edition 2015, punishable under Section 8(1)(e) of the Act.
Fong consented to having eight other charges, including five counts of causing harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act, Revised Edition 2015, and three counts of unlawful stalking under Section 7(1) of the Protection from Harassment Act, Revised Edition 2015, to be taken into consideration for sentencing.
Fong was previously convicted of similar offences in 2019.Between 2020 and 2022, the Police received multiple reports informing that Fong had either recorded videos of students in the vicinity of educational institutions using his mobile phone or spectacles containing pinhole cameras, or had conducted surveys on female students under false pretenses by claiming that he was a representative of educational institutions or government agencies. Investigations further revealed that Fong had stalked multiple young female students who had provided their personal information in these surveys.
Fong was arrested and remanded on 31 August 2022. On 29 August 2023, Fong pleaded guilty to the thirteen charges in [1] above. He consented for the eight other charges in [2] to be taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing.
The offence of illegally obtaining personal information under Section 416A of the Penal Code 1871, is punishable with an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine up to $10,000, or both. The offence of public nuisance under Section 290 of the Penal Code 1871, carries a fine of up to $2,000, an imprisonment term of up to three months, or both. Those found guilty of causing harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. Repeat offenders under Section 8(1)(b) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 shall be liable on conviction to an imprisonment term not exceeding 6 months, a fine up to $10,000, or both. The offence of unlawful stalking under Section 7(1) of the Protection of Harassment Act 2014 is punishable with an imprisonment term not exceeding 12 months, or a fine up to $5,000, or both. Repeat offenders under Section 8(1)(e) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 shall be liable on conviction to an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine up to $10,000, or both.
The Police take a stern view against any illegal behaviour targeting minors and/or students, and will take firm action against perpetrators of such offences.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
31 August 2023 @ 10:00 AM