Singaporean jailed in Taiwan for stalking and harassing singer Olivia Tsao
A Singaporean woman has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in Taiwan for stalking and threatening Taiwanese singer Olivia Tsao, after escalating online harassment into real-world confrontation.
- A Singaporean woman, Cassandra Low, was sentenced in Taiwan to six months’ jail for stalking singer Olivia Tsao.
- Low harassed Tsao online with threats before confronting her in person at Banqiao station.
- The court allowed for a commuted fine but ordered her deportation after sentence completion.
A Singaporean woman has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by a Taiwanese court for stalking and harassing singer Olivia Tsao. The New Taipei District Court issued its judgment on 5 June, finding her guilty of coercion and endangering personal safety.
The woman, identified as 30-year-old Cassandra Low, had harassed Tsao for more than a year. Tsao, 38, is known by her stage name Tsao Ya-wen and is a popular performer of Taiwanese Hokkien songs.
From fan to stalker
Local reports said Low initially began as a fan who interacted with Tsao online. But from November 2023, she started sending repeated emails and direct messages on Facebook and Instagram, demanding responses unrelated to Tsao’s performances.
After Tsao blocked her on social media, Low escalated her behaviour. Court documents detailed threats and insults directed at Tsao, her family, and her agent. She created group chats involving Tsao’s parents and accused the singer of lying about blocking her.
One of Low’s Facebook posts read: “I can be very aggressive. The more stubborn she is… don’t blame me for whatever I do to her parents.” In another post, she threatened Tsao’s agent, writing: “Blocking me, see how I slowly let her agent die.”
Between November 2023 and January 2025, Low posted numerous similar threats. In one Instagram message, she told Tsao: “May you be hit and killed by a car.” Fearing for her safety, Tsao hired security guards and avoided going out alone.
Stalking escalates in Banqiao
In February 2025, Low travelled to Banqiao after learning that Tsao planned to take a high-speed train. At the station, she grabbed Tsao’s luggage and phone strap in an attempt to force the singer to unblock her on social media. Police detained her for questioning.
Tsao’s manager told Shin Min Daily News that the two women had previously met only once at a concert. The manager believed Low knew where Tsao lived and may have stayed near her Banqiao residence to wait for an opportunity to confront her.
Court sentencing and deportation order
The court ruled that Low’s actions caused serious psychological harm to Tsao and damaged her reputation. Low pleaded guilty, expressing remorse during the trial.
She was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, or alternatively, a commuted fine of NT$1,000 (about S$43) for each day served. After completing her sentence or paying the fine, she will be deported from Taiwan.
Tsao’s lawyer had argued against allowing a conversion to a fine, noting that Low earned more than double the average Taiwanese income and that financial penalties would not serve as a deterrent. However, the court considered Low’s guilty plea, remorse, and personal background, including her role as a university-educated public service employee supporting her family in Singapore.
Tsao’s response
On 11 June, Tsao’s management released a statement on Instagram outlining the case and urging the public to respect personal boundaries both online and offline.
In a separate post, Tsao expressed relief at the outcome. She called the verdict “the most comforting news in recent times” and thanked supporters.
Tsao has previously spoken about feeling helpless in the face of intrusive fan behaviour, though she had not publicly identified anyone before the court proceedings.
