Neighbours Went to Court Over Smoking That Led to Multiple Claims

Back in the day, we had kampong spirit, where neighbours were friendly with each other and shared food and drinks.

Since houses on stilts were replaced with tall and cold concrete buildings, neighbours seem to have lost the incentive to socialise with one another.

In certain instances, tense relationships between neighbours over each other’s unsavoury behaviour could lead to both sides seeing each other in court.

A neighbour who smoked incurred the ire of her neighbour living above her, who retaliated by throwing items into the lower flat and making loud noises.

This dispute is now before the courts.

Here is what happened.

The Dispute Started With One Woman Smoking in Her HDB Flat

The catalyst of an ugly dispute was one woman and her male companion smoking in her HDB flat. This woman was Ms Pua Siew Yok.

Her smoking behaviour incurred the ire of those living in the flat directly above her. A couple, Mr Ng Kok Hwee and Mdm Chua Kim Choo did not like how the smoke wafted into their apartment.

However, since Ms Pua did not stop smoking in her flat despite the latter expressing dissatisfaction over this incident, the duo decided to take things into their own hands.

The Upstairs Neighbour Retaliated by Throwing Rubbish and Making Loud Noises

Mr Ng and Mdm Chua decided to throw liquids, wet food, and baked watermelon seeds and hang their laundry in a way which interfered with Ms Pua’s life.

They allegedly threw cracked eggs, cooked rice and other food debris onto her air-con ledge. The baked watermelon seeds were also found on Ms Pua’s air-con compressor.

The laundry was hung so low that Ms Pua’s window was covered.

The duo also allegedly started banging and knocking in their unit. They also dragged furniture across the floor to annoy Ms Pua.

The Dispute Is Now Before the Courts

Eventually, Ms Pua took the duo to court for trespassing on her flat and private nuisance. In her claim against them, she sought damages of S$60,000.

This sparked a counterclaim from Mr Ng and Mdm Chua, who sued Ms Pua for trespass and private nuisance over the latter’s smoking and installing a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera.

The case went to court, and a magistrate’s court found in favour of Ms Pua, awarding her S$17,000 in damages. It also granted Ms Pua an injunction restraining her neighbours from throwing objects or liquids onto any part of her property.

Mr Ng and Mdm Chua’s counterclaim was dismissed.

The case is currently wrapping up at the interests and costs stage.