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Former NTU researcher fined for stalking PhD student she developed feelings for, sent him 116 emails
The victim obtained a protection order against the 34-year-old woman, but she kept sending him emails and even visited his workplace.
File photo of a student entering the Nanyang Technological University. (Photo: Calvin Oh/CNA)
Lydia Lam
21 Aug 2024 12:34PM (Updated: 21 Aug 2024 06:52PM)
SINGAPORE: A researcher at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) developed feelings for a PhD student who was helping with her project.
She began sending him long messages, persisting in sending him 116 emails and stalking him despite the man obtaining a protection order against her.
The woman also visited the man's workplace in Fusionopolis and asked to see him.
Han Xiaobing, a 34-year-old Chinese national who is no longer a researcher at NTU, was fined S$8,000 (US$6,124) by a court on Wednesday (Aug 21) for her actions.
She pleaded guilty to two charges under the Protection from Harassment Act of unlawful stalking and contravening a protection order, with a third charge taken into consideration.
The court heard that the victim, a 29-year-old Chinese national, got to know Han while he was obtaining a PhD degree at NTU. A software developer and analyst, he assisted Han on a research project.
Han began having personal feelings for the victim, which he rebuffed.
In February 2021, after the victim grew uncomfortable with Han sending him long messages and repeatedly expressing her feelings for him, the victim blocked all electronic communications from Han.
However, Han still tried to contact him, and the victim eventually obtained a protection order under the Protection from Harassment Act against Han on Oct 25, 2023.
The order prohibited Han from stalking the victim through any means, making any communication to him or attempting to do so. It also barred Han from entering or loitering in any place near the victim's workplace or any other place he frequents.
Between Oct 25, 2023 and Dec 12, 2023, Han sent 116 emails to the victim's NTU email account. In them, she demanded to see him and speak to him in person.
On Dec 7, 2023, she went to the victim's workplace and asked the counter staff at the lobby if she could see him. However, he was not there.
Han returned five days later and asked to see the victim again.
The victim made a police report later that day, saying Han was not abiding by the terms of the protection order and that her actions were making him "extremely stressed".
The police questioned Han about a week after this, and she admitted to stalking the victim. She promised to adhere to the protection order conditions and cease all communications with him.
However, she visited the victim again on Jan 3 this year, when the victim was working in a school laboratory at NTU as part of his research.
Han approached his office and saw him through the window. The victim registered her presence and left his office to tell Han that he would be calling the police.
Han then left the university without saying a word to the victim.
The prosecution sought a fine of S$7,500 for Han, saying her actions affected the victim emotionally. The frequency of her stalking was also high, he said.
Han was not represented. She told the court through an interpreter that she had been jobless for a year and eight months because of this incident and asked for leniency.
The judge said the victim had gone to the extent of obtaining a protection order, but Han failed to stop her conduct.
In response to queries from CNA, a spokesperson for NTU said Han's employment at NTU ended in December 2022, adding that all employees are "expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct".
For unlawful stalking, she could have been jailed for up to 12 months, fined up to S$5,000, or both.
For contravening a protection order, she could have been jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$5,000, or both.
