Image credits - The Straits Times
Han Xiaobing, a 34-year-old former researcher at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), has been fined S$8,000 (US$6,124) for unlawfully stalking a PhD student she developed feelings for. The fine, imposed on August 21, 2024, follows Han’s guilty plea to two charges under the Protection from Harassment Act: unlawful stalking and contravening a protection order.
The 29-year-old PhD student was approached by Han, who is no longer employed at NTU, the court was told, after he helped her with a research project. Despite the student’s rejection of her advances, Han persisted in sending him long messages and eventually sent 116 emails to his NTU account between October and December 2023.
The student, uncomfortable with Han’s repeated communications, blocked her from contacting him electronically in February 2021. In response to Han’s continued attempts to reach him, the student obtained a protection order on October 25, 2023. This order prohibited Han from contacting him or loitering near his workplace or any location he frequented. However, Han disregarded the order and visited the student’s workplace at Fusionopolis on December 7 and again on December 12, asking to see him. The student reported Han’s non-compliance to the police, citing significant stress caused by her actions.
On January 3, 2024, Han visited NTU again while the student was working in a school laboratory. She approached his office, saw him through a window, and left after he indicated he would call the police. During sentencing, the prosecution argued for a fine of S$7,500, highlighting the emotional toll on the victim and the frequent nature of Han’s stalking. Han, who was not represented by a lawyer, claimed financial hardship and job loss due to the incident, requesting leniency from the court.
The judge noted that despite the protection order, Han’s conduct persisted. A spokesperson for NTU confirmed that Han’s employment ended in December 2022 and emphasized the university’s commitment to high standards of ethical and professional conduct.
Under the Protection from Harassment Act, Han faced potential penalties of up to 12 months in jail and S$5,000 in fines for unlawful stalking, and up to six months in jail and S$5,000 in fines for contravening a protection order.