Singapore court puts teen on probation after dangerous metro track trespass and high-rise climbing

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean teenager who trespassed onto MRT train tracks and later climbed an HDB block in separate incidents was ordered by a district court on 6 January 2026 to undergo 18 months’ probation.

The teenager, now 17, was also ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.

He must attend all psychiatric or psychological assessments and treatment, and comply with medication requirements where necessary.

His parents were required to furnish a bond of S$5,000 (US$3,905).

The bond is intended to ensure his good behaviour throughout the probation period.

The teenager cannot be named because he is under 18.

The case came to light after SMRT lodged a police report over a video showing a first-person view of someone walking along MRT train tracks.

According to court documents, investigations revealed that the teenager had trespassed onto the tracks between Simei and Tanah Merah MRT stations.

He was also found to have climbed onto the rooftop of a nearby HDB block in a separate incident.

The teenager pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one charge of wilfully endangering safety under the Rapid Transit Systems Act. He also pleaded guilty to one count of criminal trespass.

Two additional charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. These reflected the broader course of conduct uncovered during police investigations.

Trespassing onto MRT train tracks

The court heard that the train track incident stemmed from the teenager noticing two scaffolding structures leading towards the tracks at Upper Changi Road in January 2025.

Several months later, on 27 March 2025, he waited for workers to leave the area. He then entered through a gap in a fence to access the scaffolding and the tracks.

He walked along the tracks for up to 10 minutes. During this time, he filmed a passing train and observed between four and six trains travelling past him.

The teenager later uploaded videos of the trains onto Instagram.

One of the videos was shared by another Instagram account and subsequently went viral, prompting SMRT to lodge a police report.

Second incident at public housing block

According to prosecutors, investigations also uncovered another dangerous episode involving an HDB block in May 2025.

On the night of 16 May 2025, the teenager left his home at about 11pm. He was dressed only in underwear and shoes, after experiencing what was described in court as an “urge to climb”.

From the 16th floor of the block, he attempted to access the rooftop. A resident heard noises from the corridor and saw the teenager leaning on a parapet ledge.

Feeling alarmed, the resident contacted the police. He observed that the teenager was on the ledge and attempting to climb up to the roof.

The teenager eventually reached the rooftop, where he listened to music and made video calls. When he heard police officers calling out to him, he moved to the opposite end of the rooftop.

He then climbed down several floors using narrow ledges and laundry racks attached to the building’s exterior.

When he saw bystanders and police officers on the ground floor, he entered a flat on the eighth floor through an open window to evade arrest.

Inside the flat, he hid under a bed belonging to an 86-year-old woman. The woman was asleep at the time and was unaware of his presence.

The teenager surrendered to the police of his own accord about half an hour later.

Prosecution and defence arguments

During sentencing submissions, the prosecution noted that the teenager was assessed as suitable for both probation and reformative training. The prosecution left the final sentencing decision to the court.

However, the prosecutor highlighted that reports indicated a propensity for thrill-seeking behaviour. The teenager was assessed as having a moderate risk of reoffending.

At the same time, the prosecution acknowledged the presence of rehabilitative factors. These factors were documented in the reports prepared for the court.

The prosecution stressed that the MRT track offence was clearly premeditated. It posed serious risks to commuters, train operations, and the teenager’s own safety.

Defence counsel Kalaithasan Karuppaya from Regent Law urged the court to impose probation instead of incarceration or reformative training.

In mitigation, the defence described the offences as stemming from a lapse in judgment. Counsel told the court that the teenager lives with his parents, who operate a hawker stall.

The court was also informed that the teenager’s father has a history of mental illness.

The teenager himself experienced developmental delays in early childhood.

According to the defence, he had a short attention span and displayed slightly autistic traits during his formative years.

Counsel said the incidents had served as a turning point. Since then, the teenager has channelled his adventurous tendencies into rock climbing, hiking, and volunteering as a dog trainer.

Judge stresses seriousness but offers second chance

In delivering his decision, District Judge Kessler Soh said the offences were very serious. He noted that such conduct would ordinarily attract a custodial sentence or reformative training.

However, the judge said he had taken into account the teenager’s very young age and was prepared to offer him a second chance through probation.

“I hope this is something you will remember, and you will learn and you will not engage in these risky behaviours again,” Judge Soh told the teenager.

Addressing the parents, the judge emphasised their role in supervision. He told them that they needed to keep a close eye on their son during the probation period.

Under the law, criminal trespass carries a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$1,500, or both.

Wilfully endangering the safety of people by trespassing onto a railway track carries a heavier punishment. An offender can be jailed for up to five years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.