Man who left bag at Hougang MRT charged with causing public nuisance

SINGAPORE — Six weeks after he caused a security scare that led to Hougang MRT Station being closed for more than an hour, a 39-year-old man was charged on Wednesday (May 17) with causing public nuisance.

Wang Jianpo, a China national, told the court he intends to plead guilty to the offence, which is punishable with a fine of up to S$1,000.

On April 2, Wang allegedly left a blue luggage on the platform of the station on the North-East Line while he left to run an errand. The unattended luggage was spotted at around 2.40pm and the line’s operator SBS Transit made the call to shut the station. 

Trains continued running on the line but bypassed Hougang station. Commuters were told to avoid the station while the authorities investigated the security incident.

Inspections by officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division and the Public Transport Security Command found that the bag contained mainly household items and the station was reopened at around 4pm. Court documents did not state what he ran off to do nor how long the luggage was left unattended before it was discovered.

On Wednesday, Wang, who was dressed in a striped T-shirt and bermuda shorts, was expressionless as his charges were read to him. He will next appear in court on June 9. 

More than two weeks after the incident at Hougang MRT Station, there was another false alarm at Woodleigh MRT Station, when a running group left flour at various parts of the station concourse to mark out a trail.

A 69-year-old man was arrested in that case, but has not been charged.