Singapore man, 72, charged with harassment over abusive emails sent to MP and town council staff
Manickam Manohar appeared in court over messages sent to Marsiling-Yew Tee MP Hany Soh and a town council employee, telling the judge he has since written an apology.
A 72-year-old Singaporean man has been charged with harassment after sending emails containing abusive language to a member of parliament and a town council staff member, in a case that highlights concerns about the treatment of public servants and elected officials.
Manickam Manohar faces charges related to the messages directed at Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Hany Soh and at least one employee of the constituency's town council. The charges relate to conduct that falls under Singapore's Protection from Harassment Act.
Police noted that Manohar had previously been investigated over similar offences, suggesting the case is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of behaviour that authorities had been monitoring over time.
In court, Manohar told the judge that he had written an apology letter to MP Hany Soh and the town council employee in question — a disclosure that may factor into subsequent proceedings as the case moves forward.
Channel NewsAsia's report placed emphasis on Manohar's courtroom disclosure of the apology, framing it as a notable development in his response to the charges. The Straits Times, meanwhile, highlighted the police's statement about his prior investigations for similar conduct, underscoring the repeated nature of the alleged behaviour.
Singapore's Protection from Harassment Act covers a range of conduct including the sending of threatening or abusive communications, and has been used in cases involving harassment of both private individuals and public figures. MPs and civil servants have increasingly reported instances of hostile or threatening correspondence.
The case drew attention to the pressures faced by those in public-facing roles, including elected representatives and frontline town council staff who handle resident feedback and complaints on a daily basis.
No sentencing date has been set, and the outcome of Manohar's apology — whether it is accepted or carries legal weight in mitigation — remains to be determined as the case proceeds through the courts.