In Singapore, the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) helps protect people from harassment, bullying, and threats, both offline and online.
While most of us are familiar with general harassment laws, Section 6 of the POHA focuses specifically on offences against public servants or public service workers.
This section addresses situations in which individuals abuse, insult, threaten, or harass a public servant while carrying out official duties. Such behaviour, whether verbal abuse, vulgarities, intimidation, or aggressive conduct, can amount to a criminal offence.
Who is a Public Servant or Public Service Worker?
Public servants and public service workers are individuals who work for the government and perform official duties. They can include, but are not limited to, police officers, LTA officers, NEA officers, healthcare workers (including private healthcare workers), bus drivers, and taxi drivers.
In recent years, there has been an increase in cases involving abuse of frontline officers, including situations where members of the public shout at nurses, threaten enforcement officers, or insult police officers conducting investigations.
What Does Section 6 of the POHA Protect?
Section 6 of the POHA safeguards public servants or public service workers when they experience harassment in connection with their official duties.
Harassment under this section is not limited to physical threats. It can include repeated offensive messages, vulgarities, threatening behaviour, or any actions that cause alarm, distress, or fear.
The important factor is that the harassment must be related to the individual’s role as a public servant and not based on personal reasons.
Examples of such harassment include threatening a police officer during an investigation, sending abusive messages to a government officer performing inspections, or intimidating a civil servant while carrying out official work.
These actions can interfere with public duties and pose risks not only to the public servant but also to the wider community. Singapore courts take cases involving abuse of public officers seriously, especially when the harassment takes place in hospitals, nightspots, enforcement operations, or emergency situations.
Case Scenario
John, a 25-year-old university student, sustained a foot injury while out drinking with friends and decided to go to the Accident & Emergency Department at the National University Hospital to seek treatment.
Upon arrival, medical staff assessed him and determined that his condition did not constitute an emergency. He was informed that he would need to wait to be attended to by a nurse, as other patients with more urgent medical needs were being prioritised.
After waiting for approximately 30 minutes, John grew increasingly frustrated at the perceived delay in his care. Feeling upset and impatient, he approached the nurses’ station to inquire about when he would be seen.
When the nurse explained that he would have to wait his turn in accordance with hospital procedures, John reacted angrily. He began shouting vulgarities, including statements such as, “f*** you, who are you to treat me like this? You are not even a doctor, just an overpaid servant.”
His frustration escalated into aggressive behaviour as he continued shouting at the nurse, raising his voice and using increasingly offensive language.
John told the staff they would pay for treating him this way and insisted he was a very important person, implying he deserved immediate attention regardless of hospital procedures.
John was charged with Section 6 of the POHA.
This example demonstrates how verbal abuse towards healthcare workers, even without physical violence, can result in a criminal charge.
Punishment Under Section 6 of the POHA
Under Section 6 of the POHA, a person found guilty of an offence is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both.
Based on past cases, the typical sentence for an offence, particularly where abusive language is directed at a victim, is a fine. Courts have generally imposed fines ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, reflecting the seriousness of using offensive or threatening language towards public servants while performing their official duties.
There are also cases where the offender was sentenced to an imprisonment term of between 1 week to 15 weeks. The sentence depends on several factors of the case, such as whether the accused is a:
- recalcitrant offender,
- whether the behaviour involved repeated verbal abuse,
- whether threats were made, and
- the level of aggression shown toward the public officer.
Examples of Cases Involving Fines
In PP v N. Moses s/o Krishna [2021] SGDC 110, the accused shouted “f*** you lah” at a police officer after enforcement officers asked his group to lower their volume during a party, resulting in a $2,000 fine.
In PP v Leong Yin Teng Coretta and ors [2020] SGDC 154, the accused screamed vulgarities at a police officer during a routine raid, leading to a $2,500 fine.
In PP v Gavin Liang Shaohui and another [2022] SGDC 84, the accused refused to cooperate with police, stepped close to an officer challengingly, and used vulgarities such as “f*** you” and “who the f*** do you think you are”, resulting in a $3,000 fine.
In PP v Chua Kok Thye [2019] SGDC 125, the accused repeatedly uttered Hokkien expletives at an ASP despite warnings, resulting in a $5,000 fine.
Examples of Cases Involving Imprisonment
In PP v Ng Eong Chien [2019] SGDC 16, the accused shouted vulgarities like “shut the f*** up” and other offensive insults at police officers trying to assist him, and was sentenced to one week’s imprisonment.
In PP v Rasaruddin Bin Abdul Rahaman [2017] SGDC 205, the accused directed the vulgarity “Puki Mak” at a public servant preparing his release documents, resulting in a one-week sentence.
In Public Prosecutor v Chong Sem Fook [2021] SGDC 37, insulting halfway-house staff with vulgarities led to a two-week sentence.
In Public Prosecutor v Kajayendran Krishnan [2024] SGMC 52, repeated verbal abuse of the police hotline and SCDF paramedics, after prior imprisonment, resulted in a 15-week sentence.
These cases show that insulting a public servant, using vulgarities, or behaving aggressively towards frontline officers can lead to harsh penalties, especially when the offender is a repeat offender or uncooperative.
Pleading Guilty or Not Guilty to a Section 6 POHA Charge
If you are charged under Section 6 POHA, one of the first decisions you must make is whether to plead guilty or plead not guilty. This decision carries serious consequences and should not be made without legal advice.
If you intend to plead guilty, our criminal defence team can help you prepare detailed mitigation to show the court your personal circumstances, remorse, emotional state, and any misunderstandings that contributed to the incident. Strong mitigation can help reduce the sentence and, in some cases, secure a lighter fine instead of imprisonment.
If you choose to plead not guilty, we will assess whether the evidence supports your defence, for example, whether the alleged words were accurately recorded, whether the conduct truly amounted to harassment, whether it occurred “in connection with official duties”, and whether provocation or miscommunication played a role. We will defend you through investigations and trial, ensuring your account is accurately presented.
Early advice is crucial. Many people damage their own case by making statements without legal guidance or by pleading guilty too quickly without understanding the long-term consequences of a criminal conviction.
How Gloria James-Civetta & Co Can Help You
If you are facing a charge under Section 6 of the POHA, it is important to act quickly and get proper legal advice.
At Gloria James-Civetta & Co., our criminal defence team includes a former prosecutor and a senior lawyer with decades of experience.
Together, we bring a strong understanding of how cases are built, assessed, and prosecuted. We work closely with clients to protect their rights and minimise the impact of criminal proceedings at every stage.
In addition, we have represented many expatriates who were investigated for abusing a public servant, insulting frontline officers, or getting into disputes with enforcement personnel.
Where necessary, we also work with embassies to ensure foreign nationals receive clear communication, guidance, and support throughout the legal process.
A POHA Section 6 charge can escalate quickly; even a moment of anger or a few harsh words may lead to fines, imprisonment, and a permanent criminal record.
Before speaking to investigators or entering any plea, get proper legal advice.
Contact Ms Gloria James and the Criminal Defence Team at GJC Law for immediate, confidential help.
We provide strategic representation for:
- Abuse or harassment of public servants
- Verbal or online threats
- POHA investigations
- Representing expatriates and embassy-referred clients
- Police interviews, charging decisions, and mitigation
Your rights and future deserve careful protection. Speak to us early; we are here to help.
