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Singapore jails ‘sovereign’ woman who spat at police, resisted arrest: ‘I was molested, kidnapped!’

  • Tarchandi Tan, formerly known as Lee Hui Yin, claimed she was not obliged to obey any of the orders given to her and did not have to attend court
  • The judge rejected her argument, calling it ‘misconceived’, adding that picking and choosing what laws to obey was ‘a recipe for anarchy’

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The Merlion statue and Singapore’s financial district as seen from Marina Bay. The judge in Tan’s case advised her to “be careful of what you say” or she may face further legal action. Photo: AFP
A woman in Singapore who defied police instructions when she was being investigated for contempt of court has been sentenced to eight weeks’ jail and fined S$4,200 (US$3,155).
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Tarchandi Tan, who changed her name from Lee Hui Yin last year, was previously convicted of five charges, including refusing to attend police investigations or turn up in court and for spitting at the police.

The 53-year-old woman’s troubles began when she allegedly made a ruckus in the trial of anti-masker Briton Benjamin Glynn in August 2021.

She is accused of saying “this is ridiculous kangaroo court” and “I do not respect the judge”.

Tarchandi Tan was sentenced to eight weeks’ jail and fined S$4,200 (US$3,155) by a court in Singapore for refusing to attend police investigations or turn up in court and for spitting at the police, after claiming to be a “sovereign individual”. Photo: Facebook/Tarchandi Tan
Tarchandi Tan was sentenced to eight weeks’ jail and fined S$4,200 (US$3,155) by a court in Singapore for refusing to attend police investigations or turn up in court and for spitting at the police, after claiming to be a “sovereign individual”. Photo: Facebook/Tarchandi Tan

About a year later, when asked to, she did not show up at a police station for related investigations. She returned all letters sent to her address by mail and refused to engage with police when they knocked on her door.

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