A couple was sentenced to three weeks in jail after engaging in a public obscene act at an HDB void deck in Boon Lay during a TikTok live-streaming session. The incident took place on September 27, 2024, when 31-year-old Vietnamese national Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan performed the act while her Singaporean husband, 36-year-old Adrian Ching Kah Siang, kept watch.
Lan, who frequently live-streams on TikTok and Vietnamese platform MMlive, was dressed in a translucent outfit that left her nude body visible. She began her live stream at 11:30 am, engaging with viewers until 2:30 pm. Around 1:30 pm, she accepted a challenge from her viewers to perform explicit acts in exchange for virtual gifts, which could be converted into money.
Residents in the area noticed Lan’s inappropriate behavior. A male resident, who lived in the HDB block, first witnessed the act and informed his wife. They decided to record video evidence before calling the police. Moving to the second floor of their block, they saw Lan had changed into a kimono that barely covered her body. She then carried out the act in full view of the public.
The police arrived shortly after and arrested Lan. When questioned, she initially denied committing any obscene act and claimed she had only been dancing provocatively. However, she admitted to the offense after being confronted with video evidence.
Ching, who was sitting beside his wife during the live stream, was also arrested. He initially denied the accusations, insisting that both he and his wife were fully clothed and that her actions should not be considered obscene.
Both Lan and Ching pleaded guilty in court. Lan admitted to one charge of committing an obscene act in a public place, while Ching admitted to abetting her actions. Another charge for each of them was taken into consideration for sentencing.
During the hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Esther Lim emphasized that the act was performed in a public area with significant foot traffic, including schoolchildren returning home. She noted that pedestrians passing through the void deck were directly exposed to the explicit act.
Lan’s social visit pass had expired at the time of her arrest, and she is now on a special pass while investigations continue. She told the court that she supports her 13-year-old daughter in Vietnam and is in financial distress. Ching, on the other hand, requested a gag order on their identities, arguing that media attention had caused stress to his family and affected his career. However, the judge denied the request, stating that the case was a matter of public interest.
District Judge Jasvender Kaur ruled that Lan’s actions were highly offensive and warranted a jail sentence. Under Singaporean law, committing an obscene act in public carries a penalty of up to three months in jail, a fine, or both.
In their final plea, the couple expressed remorse and apologized to the court. Ching said they deeply regretted their actions and the impact it had on his family. Lan, speaking through an interpreter, reiterated her financial difficulties and the burden of supporting her daughter.
The case highlights the legal consequences of performing obscene acts in public, particularly for financial gain through social media platforms. Authorities continue to enforce strict laws against such behavior to uphold public decency and order.
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