HDB resident who repeatedly smoked in stairwell allegedly assaults neighbour after police were called

SINGAPORE: A resident complained that his neighbour regularly smokes in the common stairwell, leaving a strong cigarette smell that affects his daily life. The neighbour has even placed a recliner in the stairwell to sit and smoke comfortably.

When the resident confronted him, an argument broke out. The resident claims he was assaulted and called the police. The neighbour denies any assault, counters that the complainant smokes as well, and insists he did nothing wrong.

The 56-year-old resident reported to Shin Min Daily News that the smell of the smoke from the stairwell is unbearable for him. He shared that he moved to the area last October, and at first, he would occasionally smell his neighbours’ cigarette smoke.

However, five months ago, the strange smell began when the cigarette smoke was mixed with the smell of nearby drains and construction sites, and he had to put a fan at his door to disperse the smell. 

The resident tried to persuade his neighbour to stop smoking, but his neighbour just ignored him. In August, the resident, who then reached his limit, angrily hurled the mop at the door of the stairwell entrance, and what happened after shocked him. 

“Unexpectedly, my neighbour came to my door and punched me in the eye!” the resident claimed. He immediately called the police. He also sought help from the councillor. 

“I reported this to the councillor twice, and the authorities notified residents to move their belongings, but the smoking problem persists.” 

The resident’s roommate, a 48-year-old, personally didn’t think that the smell of the smoke was too strong, and that he respected his neighbour’s lifestyle. With this, he said that the problem was between the two of them, and he hoped that they would both understand each other. 

In similar HDB complaints, it was reported that a man armed with three knives attacked a group of residents singing karaoke below an HDB block, stabbing one victim multiple times after a staring dispute.

Read more about the story here.