Man accused of throwing urine and faeces in Hougang lift lobbies
A man has been accused of repeatedly throwing urine and faeces in lift lobbies in Hougang.
According to Shin Min Daily News, residents of Block 552 Hougang Street 51 have frequently been detecting foul smells in the area over the past year. One person was allegedly even splashed with urine.
While the accused man has denied the allegations, the town council and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have stepped in to investigate, installing surveillance cameras on the affected floors.
Person splashed with urine
A Xiaohongshu user recently posted that her worker was passing through the block when someone suddenly splashed urine on her while she was walking up the stairs. The worker subsequently lodged a police report.
The police received the report and sent officers to investigate.
When Shin Min visited the block, the lift lobbies from the fifth floor down had a strong smell of urine.
A resident who declined to be named said the problem of dirt and filth in the lift lobbies and corridors had been ongoing for some time.
“Sometimes, there would be a urine smell for almost five days a week. It’s really unbearable when we smell it on our way home. To prevent the smell from entering our homes, we have no choice but to keep our doors and windows shut,” they said.
Another female resident, who also declined to be named, said the problem has been ongoing for nearly a year.
“Once, when I stepped out of the lift, I noticed brown stains that looked like faeces on the floor and walls, accompanied by a strong stench. There was also a small plastic bag nearby. I don’t know if the person put the waste in the bag and brought it there to throw it,” she said.
Residents have reported the matter to the NEA and town council several times, but the problem has persisted.
Resident’s son accused of throwing urine and faeces
A family member of a resident suspected of being involved in the incidents said there was no evidence linking his son to the matter.
A retiree who wished to be known only as Chen (transliterated), 82, who lives in the unit in question, said several people had recently come to the unit to ask about the incidents and accuse his son of being responsible.
“Police officers also came to our home one or two mornings ago. It made me feel like everyone was targeting our family. But the police said they were only conducting routine inquiries, so I told them what I knew,” he said.
Chen said he had asked his son about the matter, but his son became angry and denied having anything to do with the incidents. He added that he did not dare ask further.
“He is under a lot of stress and also has to take care of the two of us elderly people. If there is really evidence, then we will ask him again,” he said.
Residents on higher floors affected
Residents on higher floors have also been affected, with one resident claiming that urine was splashed onto her bicycle.
Although the incidents involving urine and faeces have occurred frequently in the lift lobbies on the lower floors, residents on the seventh and 10th floors have also been affected.
Zhou (transliterated), 41, a housewife living on the 10th floor, said someone splashed urine on her bicycle, which she had left in the lift lobby, several months ago.
The strong smell subsequently wafted into her living room, leaving her with no choice but to clean the bicycle herself.
Dai (transliterated), 37, a healthcare worker living on the seventh floor, has also been affected.
She said there had been more than 10 incidents of urine being splashed on her floor since the start of the year.
“At first, we would complain to the town council, but later we chose to contact the cleaner ourselves to clean it up,” she said.
Town council, NEA investigate
A spokesperson for the Ang Mo Kio Town Council told Shin Min that it was aware of the feedback.
The town council has since put up educational posters in the lift lobbies of the affected block, reminding residents not to engage in such inconsiderate and unhygienic behaviour.
The NEA also installed surveillance cameras on the fifth floor from May 28 to June 2.
The town council, likewise, installed a dummy surveillance camera on the seventh floor to deter people from urinating in the area. After it was installed, the person responsible stopped urinating there.
The town council and NEA conducted a joint inspection on July 3 and advised households suspected of being involved in the incidents.
The town council has also instructed cleaners responsible for the area to step up cleaning efforts and promptly clean any soiled areas to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the common areas.
Multiple agencies need to work together: MP
Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Darryl David confirmed that he had been receiving feedback from residents since the end of last year, while the NEA received related complaints earlier this year.
He said incidents like this can be complex and require multiple agencies to work together to address the root of the problem.
He stressed that this was not simply a case of littering, as public defecation or urination could indicate that the person involved may be facing mental or psychological health issues.
“If the person is of sound mind and doing it deliberately, the enforcement authorities will take the appropriate action,” he said.
“But if the person genuinely has health issues, then we have to take a different approach and involve social service offices, social service agencies and the family to provide support and assistance.”
He added that the NEA is currently the lead agency for the case and is responsible for case management, implementing surveillance strategies and gathering evidence.
“The town council, as a supporting agency, is fully cooperating with the investigation and handling the day-to-day cleaning and maintenance,” he said.
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