Causing a Public Nuisance in Singapore: What are the Penalties?

Last updated on July 1, 2022

two women arguing in the park

You may have come across a 2017 video circulating online, of a young couple quarrelling with an elderly man over the use of a table at a hawker centre in Toa Payoh. The couple even verbally abused and shoved the man.

The video was met with shock and condemnation from netizens, who demanded that action be taken against them. The couple was eventually arrested by the police for causing public nuisance, as well as for other offences.

This article aims to explain:

What Does It Mean to Cause a Public Nuisance?

Causing public nuisance

A person commits an offence of causing public nuisance under the Penal Code if he causes either common injury, danger or annoyance to the public or people within a vicinity.

Public nuisance can be contrasted with that of private nuisance. The former refers to acts of nuisance committed against any class of the public or community, while the latter generally refers to acts committed against one or a limited number of individuals. 

What are considered acts of public nuisance?

Given that public nuisance has been defined in a broad manner, consisting of acts that could cause injury, danger or annoyance to the public, such acts run the gamut from loud shouting in a public setting to gesticulations and even to obstructions of people or traffic. However, whether an act falls within the definition of public nuisance under the Penal Code ultimately depends on the individual facts of the case.

Bad hygiene practices that pose a health risk to the public could also fall within the ambit of public nuisance. In fact, there was an increased incidence of acts of public nuisance in Singapore in 2020-2021 amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. In July 2021, a man was charged with causing public nuisance for refusing to wear a mask on a train and for speaking to other commuters without putting on a mask. 

One may also alternatively be charged with causing nuisance under section 11 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act (MOPONA), if he commits any of the following specific acts:

  • Putting up any advertisements against or on any public spaces without consent;
  • Bathing or washing oneself or any other person, animal or thing on any public space or by the side of any water areas.
  • Wilfully intruding into a bathing place to cause trouble or inconvenience to a person bathing there, or by washing any animal at or near that place
  • Disposing a pet’s carcass in a way as to be a common nuisance;
  • Placing any dead animal on or near a public road;
  • Spitting in public areas; and
  • Leaving a ferocious dog or animal unmuzzled, or urging any dog or animal to attack, worry or put in fear any person or animal

What are the Penalties For Causing a Public Nuisance in Singapore?

A person charged with causing public nuisance under the Penal Code may face a fine of up to $2,000. If the offender had known that he will or will probably cause common injury, danger or annoyance to the public, or if he is a repeat offender, he may face imprisonment of up to 3 months, or a fine of up to $2,000 or both.

A person charged with causing nuisance under section 11 of the MOPONA is liable to a maximum fine of $1,000.

You may wish to note that a person may, in the course of causing public nuisance, commit other offences. Therefore, he may also be charged and punished for any other additional offences committed.

Examples of incidents involving public nuisance and other related offences are described below:

Refusal to wear a mask and to comply with COVID-19 regulations

As mentioned in the section above, the man who was charged with public nuisance for refusing to wear a mask on the train during the COVID-19 pandemic was separately charged with using threatening words towards on-duty police officers. He was also found to have flouted the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations for not wearing a mask in public.

Uttering of racist remarks and assault

Next, the police arrested a man in July 2021 for allegedly shouting racist remarks against two groups of men and also assaulting one of them. His acts were likely to have caused annoyance to the public and disturbed the public peace.

The man was subsequently investigated for not only the offence of causing public nuisance, but also for 3 other offences, namely uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the racial feelings of any person, voluntarily causing hurt and intentional harassment. 

Flipping a signboard which hit a child

Turning to another case, a group of teenagers were investigated by the police in November 2021 for causing public nuisance and dishonest misappropriation of property. They had flipped a yellow “wet floor” sign, causing it to hit a child, and had therefore likely injured and caused annoyance to the child.

How are Young Offenders Sentenced For Causing a Public Nuisance in Singapore?

At times, a young person may cause a public nuisance in a moment of folly. Where the offender is young, the courts will prioritise rehabilitation when sentencing young offenders. This means that the court will aim to pass a sentence that helps the offender reform.

However, this does not necessarily mean that a young offender will get off lightly. In deciding the appropriate sentence to be meted to a young offender, the court will take into account the relevant facts and circumstances of the case.

Probation

Young offenders may be sentenced to probation for causing public nuisance. A probation order, which is usually ordered for offenders aged 21 and below, is a non-custodial punishment where the offender is allowed to remain in the community while being supervised by a probation officer for a time period of 6 months to 3 years. Several conditions may be imposed under the probation order, such as the offender being required to perform community service, to be placed under electronic monitoring and to be subjected to a curfew.

In February 2020, two teenagers were charged with causing public nuisance at a supermarket, for drinking from two bottles of fruit juice on a refrigerated shelf and then placing them back. This act was considered a form of public nuisance as it was committed around the time when Singapore was on alert for the COVID-19 disease and hence the act posed a serious public health threat.

The two teenagers were eventually sentenced to 9 months’ probation and had to perform 60 hours of community service.

A few months later, in August 2020, another incident of public nuisance involving a young offender was reported. An 18-year-old student spat over a fourth storey railing at a shopping mall, towards several diners at the ground floor, causing a public health risk. He was eventually charged for causing public nuisance and similarly sentenced to 9 months’ probation and 60 hours of community service.

Is Causing a Public Nuisance an Arrestable Offence?

The act of causing public nuisance is an arrestable offence in Singapore. An arrestable offence is one for which the police can arrest a suspect without a warrant. 

Therefore, if a police officer arrives at a scene and determines that an act of public nuisance has occurred, or reasonably suspects an individual of causing a public nuisance, that individual can be arrested without a warrant. 

Will People Convicted of Public Nuisance Have a Criminal Record?

If you have been convicted of public nuisance under the Penal Code or the MOPONA, you will not have a criminal record, as the offence is not one that will leave a criminal record.

If you commit an offence of causing public nuisance under the Penal Code in Singapore, you may be liable to a fine of up to $2,000 and potentially an imprisonment term of up to 3 months. For public nuisance punishable under the MOPONA, you may be liable to a maximum fine of $1,000.

Unlike the MOPONA, there are no prescribed circumstances under which an act would be deemed to be a form of public nuisance under the Penal Code and hence whether an act attracts liability is highly dependent on the facts of the case.

It is likely that the offence of public nuisance has been defined broadly to provide law enforcement agencies with extensive powers to arrest and charge people who misbehave in public. This in turn helps to maintain the peace and stability of our society.

If you have been charged with causing public nuisance in Singapore, you may wish to consult a criminal lawyer. He or she may be able to advise you on the possible defences you could raise and the likely sentence you might face if you are found guilty.

Should you eventually be convicted of committing a public nuisance offence, a lawyer may also be able to prepare a mitigation plea and seek a lighter sentence for you.

You may get in touch with experienced criminal lawyers in Singapore here.

Arrest and Investigation
  1. Singapore’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction: What Does It Mean?
  2. Your Right to a Lawyer After Being Arrested in Singapore
  3. What to Do If Your Loved One is Under Police Investigation
  4. How to Write a Letter of Representation to AGC in Singapore
  5. What is Entrapment and is It Legal in Singapore?
  6. What Happens When You Voluntarily Surrender to the Police
  7. Juvenile Crime: What If Your Child is Arrested in Singapore?
  8. Seized Assets in Money Laundering Investigations: What Happens To Them?
  9. Tasers, Batons, Shields & Firearms: When Do the Police Use Them?
  10. Stopped by the Singapore Police For Spot Checks, Etc: What to Do
  11. What is the Appropriate Adult Scheme in Singapore?
  12. Police Investigation Process for Crimes in Singapore (4 Steps)
  13. Arrest Warrant Issued Against You in Singapore: What to Do
  14. Police Arrest Procedure in Singapore
  15. Arrestable and Non-Arrestable Offences in Singapore
  16. What Should You Do If You Witness a Crime in Singapore?
  17. Can the Public Make a Citizen's Arrest in Singapore?
  18. What to Do If You’re Being Investigated for a Criminal Offence in Singapore
  19. "Right to Remain Silent" to Singapore Police: Does It Exist?
  20. Police Custody in Singapore: What You Should Know
  21. Search Warrant: The Issuance and Execution of It in Singapore
  22. Penalties for Lying to the Authorities in Singapore
  23. Can You Say No to a Lie Detector Test in Singapore? And Other FAQs
  24. Surrender of Passport to the Police and How to Get It Back
  25. Extradition: What If I Flee After Committing Crime in Singapore
Bail
  1. The Essential Guide to Bail and Personal Bonds in Singapore
Prosecution
  1. What is Private Prosecution?
  2. Magistrate’s Complaints, Private Summons and Private Prosecutions in Singapore
  3. Prosecutorial Discretion in Singapore
  4. Composition Offers and Fines for Criminal Offences in Singapore
  5. Plea Bargaining in Singapore: All You Need to Know
During Criminal Proceedings
  1. Making Objections at Trial in the Singapore Courts
  2. When is a Witness Testimony Unreliable in Singapore?
  3. Burden of Proof in Criminal and Civil Cases in Singapore
  4. Falsely Accused of a Crime in Singapore: Your Next Steps
  5. What is Acquittal & How Can One Be Acquitted in Singapore?
  6. Using the Defence of Diminished Responsibility in Singapore
  7. Death of a Party in a Legal Case in Singapore: What Happens?
  8. The "Unusually Convincing" Test in "He Said, She Said" Cases
  9. How to Adjourn or Postpone a Criminal Court Hearing
  10. TIC: Guide to Charges Taken Into Consideration in Singapore
  11. Can I Use the Defence of Intoxication in Singapore?
  12. When Can I Raise the Defence of Provocation in Singapore?
  13. Writing Character References For Court: What’s Their Purpose?
  14. Giving False vs. Wrong Evidence: What’s the Difference?
  15. Can I Represent Myself in a Criminal Court Case in Singapore and How?
  16. Claiming Trial as an Accused
  17. Pleading Guilty in Singapore: Consequences & Withdrawal of Plea
  18. The Defence of Unsound Mind in Singapore: What is It?
  19. Gag Orders in Singapore: Whose Identity Can be Protected?
  20. Mitigation Plea: How to Plead for Leniency in Court in Singapore
After Criminal Proceedings
  1. Recidivism: What Happens If You Reoffend in Singapore?
  2. Guide to Filing a Criminal Appeal in Singapore
  3. Criminal Motion: What is It and How to File One in Singapore
  4. Guide to Filing a Criminal Revision in Singapore
  5. Presidential Clemency in Singapore
  6. Repatriation or Deportation from Singapore: How Does It Work?
  7. Criminal Records in Singapore
  8. Visiting a Loved One in Prison or On Death Row in Singapore
  9. Getting Parole (Early Prison Release) in Singapore
Types of Sentences After Committing an Offence
  1. Fined for an Offence: What to Do If I Can't Afford to Pay Them?
  2. How Long Is Life Imprisonment in Singapore? And Other FAQs
  3. Corrective Training and Its Consequences in Singapore
  4. Consequences of Receiving a Stern Warning in Singapore
  5. Probation: Eligibility and Whether It Leaves a Criminal Record
  6. How Can Adult Offenders Get Probation in Singapore?
  7. Reformative Training in Singapore: When Will It be Ordered?
  8. Are You Eligible for a Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO)?
  9. Caning in Singapore: Judicial, School & Parental Corporal Punishment
  10. 7 Detention Orders in Singapore: When Will They be Ordered?
  11. Day Reporting Order: Eligibility and Offender's Obligations
Being a Victim
  1. Ragging and Bullying: Their Penalties and What Victims Can Do
  2. Laws Protecting Informers/Whistleblowers in Singapore
  3. Counterfeit Medicine/Health Products: Redress for Victims in Singapore
  4. Breach of Protection Orders: What Can Victims Do?
  5. Using Your Right to Self-Defence When Attacked in Singapore
  6. Compensation for Crime Victims in Singapore: How to Obtain
Offences Against the Human Body
  1. Voluntarily Causing Hurt Penalties in Singapore (Non-Arrestable)
  2. Murder vs Culpable Homicide in Singapore (and Penalties)
  3. Is Suicide Illegal in Singapore? Will I Be Punished for Trying?
  4. Kidnapping Scam: Penalties & Responding to a ‘Kidnap Call/Text'
Sexual Offences
  1. Rape Laws in Singapore and How Offenders Can Be Punished
  2. Sexual Misconduct in Singapore: Offences and What Victims Can Do
  3. Falsely Accused of Rape in Singapore: What to Do
  4. Incest and Family Sexual Abuse: Penalties and Victim Protection
  5. How are Sexual Offenders with Special Needs Penalised?
  6. Cybersexual Crimes in Singapore and Their Penalties
  7. Legal Age for Sex in Singapore and Common Sexual Offences
  8. Consent in Sexual Offences in Singapore and What Victims Can Do
  9. Accused of Molest: Outrage of Modesty in Singapore
  10. What Can Victims of Sexual Harassment in Singapore Do?
  11. What is the Law on Sexting in Singapore?
  12. Revenge Porn: What If Your Nudes are Leaked in Singapore?
  13. Crime of Voyeurism in Singapore (Penalties and Defences)
  14. Date Rape: What to Do If Your Drink Has Been Unlawfully Spiked?
  15. STDs: Can I Go to the Police If a Partner Infected Me in Singapore?
Vice-Related Offences
  1. Alcohol Breathalyser Test in Singapore: Can You Refuse it?
  2. Are Sex Toys and Sex Dolls Legal in Singapore?
  3. Singapore's Legal Smoking Age & Common Smoking Offences
  4. Is Vaping Illegal in Singapore?
  5. Legal Drinking Age and Drinking-Related Laws in Singapore
  6. Is Watching, Downloading or Filming Porn Illegal in Singapore?
  7. Child Pornography in Singapore: Offences and Penalties
  8. Laws on Procuring Sex Workers & Sexual Services in Singapore
  9. Singapore's Drug Laws: Possession, Consumption and Trafficking
  10. Gambling Legally (at Home, in Public or Online) in Singapore
  11. The Offence of Human Trafficking in Singapore and Its Penalties
Property Offences
  1. Penalties For Buying Stolen Goods in Singapore
  2. Penalties for Committing Theft in Singapore
  3. Committing Robbery in Singapore: What are the Penalties?
  4. Penalties for Dishonest Misappropriation of Property in Singapore
  5. Vandalism Laws: Penalties for Damaging Property in Singapore
  6. Criminal Trespass in Singapore: What Happens If You’re Caught?
  7. Penalties for Littering Offences in Singapore
Cybercrime
  1. What is a POFMA Correction Direction and How to Appeal
  2. Penalties for Cheating/Scamming and What Victims Can Do
  3. Penalties for Impersonating Someone and Victim Redress
  4. Singapore Fake News Laws: Guide to POFMA (Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act)
  5. Laws and Penalties for Doxxing in Singapore (With Examples)
White-Collar Crimes
  1. Tax Evasion in Singapore: Penalties and Examples
  2. Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT) in Singapore: What is It?
  3. All You Need to Know About Corruption in Singapore
  4. Anti-Money Laundering Laws and You
  5. 5 Things You Need to Know about Insider Trading
  6. Dishonest Assistance and Knowing Receipt: The Case of David Rasif
Road Offences
  1. Charged with a Traffic Offence in Singapore: What to Do
  2. DUI: Here are the Penalties for Drink-Driving in Singapore
  3. What Happens If You’re Caught Speeding in Singapore?
  4. Road Rage: What is It and How are Offenders Sentenced in Singapore
  5. Penalties for Dangerous Driving for Singapore Drivers
  6. Fatal Traffic Accidents: Are Drivers Always Punished?
  7. Guide to E-Scooter and PMD Laws for Singapore Riders
  8. Is it Legal for Drivers to Carpool in Singapore?
Animal-Related Offences
  1. Taxidermy of Animals in Singapore: Is It Legal?
  2. Legal and Illegal Pets in Singapore (HDB/Private Property)
  3. Is It Illegal to Feed Stray Animals in Singapore?
  4. Singapore Animal Abuse Offences, Penalties & How to Report
Offences Relating to Public Peace and Good Order
  1. Radicalisation and Terror Attack-Related Penalties in Singapore
  2. Causing a Public Nuisance in Singapore: What are the Penalties?
  3. Causing Public Alarm in Singapore: Examples & Penalties
  4. Public Assemblies and Processions in Singapore
  5. Misbehaving in Public: 5 Things You Need to Know
  6. Racial Enmity: Sections 298 and 298A Penal Code Explained
  7. Religious Cults in Singapore: Are they Illegal? Penalties & More
  8. Penalties for Financing Terrorist Operations in Singapore
Gang and Riot-related Offences
  1. Penalties for Unlawful Assembly and Rioting in Singapore
  2. Is Joining a Gang Illegal in Singapore?: Being Recruited and Penalties
  3. Organised Crimes: Penalties/Orders Syndicates Face in Singapore
Marriage-Related Offences
  1. Bigamy: Is It Legal to Marry a Married Person in Singapore?
  2. Marriage Offences in Singapore Involving Minors, Same-Sex, Etc.
  3. What are Sham Marriages and Are They Illegal in Singapore?
Certificate of Clearance
  1. How Do You Apply for a Certificate of Clearance in Singapore?
Other Criminal Offences
  1. Penalties for Abetting Minors or Committing Crimes Against Them
  2. Misusing the Singapore Flag and Other National Symbols
  3. Here are the Penalties for Committing Forgery in Singapore
  4. Arson and Fire-Related Offences and Their Penalties in Singapore
  5. Offences Against the Dead and What Family Members Can Do
  6. Laws on Prohibited, Replica and Self-Defence Weapons
  7. Laws to Tackle High-Rise Littering in Singapore
  8. Penalties for Attempting to Commit a Crime in Singapore
  9. Penalties for Assaulting a Person in Singapore
  10. Expats Charged With Offences in Singapore: What to Expect
  11. What are the Penalties for Hiring Phantom Workers in Singapore?
  12. What Are Ponzi Schemes? Are They Illegal in Singapore?
  13. Modification of Cars, Motorcycles, Etc: Is It Legal in Singapore?
  14. Penalties for Illegal Immigration and Overstaying in Singapore
  15. Criminal Intimidation: Penalties for Making Threats in Singapore