Police break into Lengkok Bahru flat after resident deemed to 'pose danger to himself', man dealt with under Mental Health Act
Screenshots from a video by TikTok user "zailia7276" showing police officers using a saw to breach a residential unit's main gate before entering.
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- A 59-year-old man was taken in by the police after he locked himself in his Lengkok Bahru flat
- Police officers broke into the flat after assessing that the man might pose a danger to himself
- He was dealt with under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act
- The law was recently amended to allow the police to apprehend someone with a mental disorder who may pose a danger to themselves or others
- The man is also being investigated by the Central Narcotics Bureau for a drug-related offence
BY SHYNN ONG
Published April 19, 2024
Updated April 19, 2024
SINGAPORE — A 59-year-old man was apprehended on Wednesday (April 17) after he locked himself in his Lengkok Bahru flat, prompting police officers to break into the unit because they feared that he might put himself in danger.
In response to TODAY's queries on Friday, the police said that the man was taken in under Section 7(1) of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008, which provides for the admission, detention, care and treatment of mentally disordered persons in designated psychiatric institutions.
The man is also being investigated by the Central Narcotics Bureau for a drug-related offence.
Amendments to the Act were passed in Parliament on April 2, allowing police officers to apprehend a person with a mental disorder if they have a "reasonable belief" that danger to the person or people around him is "reasonably likely to occur".
The changes also provide police officers with powers of search and restraint of subjects who are apprehended, similar to what they have when arresting criminal suspects.
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In a response to TODAY, the police said that they received a call for assistance at Block 57 Lengkok Bahru in the Redhill area at about 7.50am on Wednesday.
"When police officers arrived, it was established that a 59-year-old man had locked himself in his residential unit. As it was assessed that the man might pose a danger to himself, officers from the Special Operations Command, Crisis Negotiation Unit and Singapore Civil Defence Force responded to the incident," the police added.
The officers managed to gain entry into the unit at about 10.50am. No injuries were reported.
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In a video posted on TikTok by user "zailia7276" on Thursday, several police officers wearing black body armour and carrying rifles are seen standing outside a residential unit.
Then, another two officers use an electric saw to breach the unit's main gate, releasing a shower of sparks.
Several police officers holding riot shields proceed to enter the unit after the gate was opened.
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Police to be allowed to forcibly enter premises without warrant during emergencies under proposed Bill amendments
In the parliamentary session on April 2, Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo spoke about the difference between an apprehension and an arrest in relation to the law.
When people are apprehended, they will be taken to a medical practitioner who will determine the likely medical causes of their behaviour.
However, when people are arrested, they will be placed in a lock-up instead, Mrs Teo said
