Teo Kok Leong Kevin v Public Prosecutor: House-Trespass and False Information Charges
Teo Kok Leong Kevin appealed to the High Court of Singapore against his sentence for two charges of house-trespass and one charge of providing false information to a public servant. The charges arose from incidents at Bethesda Church Bukit Arang, where Teo used the male toilet and showered without permission, and subsequently filed a false police report. The High Court, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, reduced Teo's total sentence from ten weeks to six weeks imprisonment, allowing for his immediate release.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Appeal allowed in part.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Teo Kok Leong Kevin appeals against his sentence for house-trespass and providing false information. The High Court reduced his sentence from ten to six weeks.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teo Kok Leong Kevin (alias Muhammad Ridwan Teo) | Appellant | Individual | Appeal allowed in part | Partial | |
| Public Prosecutor | Respondent | Government Agency | Appeal partially successful | Partial | Tan Kiat Pheng |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | J | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Tan Kiat Pheng | Attorney-General's Chambers |
4. Facts
- The appellant, a Muslim convert, used a male toilet at the Bethesda Church Bukit Arang on 20 May 2010.
- On 27 May 2010, the appellant returned to the Church and showered using the Church's soap and shampoo.
- The senior pastor of the Church confiscated the appellant's Muslim Conversion card.
- On 18 June 2010, the appellant lodged a police report claiming he had lost his Muslim conversion card.
- The appellant was charged with two counts of house-trespass and one count of giving false information to a public servant.
- The judge at first instance sentenced the appellant to a total of ten weeks imprisonment.
5. Formal Citations
- Teo Kok Leong Kevin (alias Muhammad Ridwan Teo) v Public Prosecutor, Magistrate's Appeal No 301 of 2010 (DAC No 37972 of 2010 and MAC Nos 3539-3540 of 2010), [2010] SGHC 281
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Appellant used a male toilet at the Bethesda Church Bukit Arang. | |
| Appellant went to the Church again and had a shower. | |
| The senior pastor lodged a complaint against the appellant. | |
| Appellant lodged a police report claiming that he had lost his Muslim conversion card. | |
| High Court decision. |
7. Legal Issues
- House-trespass
- Outcome: The court considered the nature and circumstances of the trespass, including the lack of threat or alarm, the type of property, and the appellant's motive, in reducing the sentence.
- Category: Substantive
- Giving false information to a public servant
- Outcome: The court considered the appellant's false police report in relation to the overall sentence.
- Category: Substantive
- Sentencing
- Outcome: The court reduced the sentence, taking into account the nature of the trespass, the lack of sinister intent, and the appellant's prior convictions.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Appeal against sentence
9. Cause of Actions
- House-trespass
- Giving false information to a public servant
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
- Appeals
11. Industries
- Religious Organization
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed) s 448 | Singapore |
| Penal Code s 182 | Singapore |
| Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act (Cap 184, 1997 Rev Ed) s 27(2) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- House-trespass
- False information
- Muslim convert
- Church
- Sentencing
- Previous conviction
15.2 Keywords
- House-trespass
- False information
- Criminal law
- Singapore
- Appeal
- Sentencing
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Sentencing
- Trespass
17. Areas of Law
- Criminal Law
- Penal Code
- House-Trespass
- False Information