Marliah Jonet, 64, with a letter from the police on the outcome of investigations into her complaint. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE — Just across the road from Tampines Mall is an HDB block in a seemingly peaceful neighbourhood.

For nearly a decade, however, a female resident of an eighth-floor unit at Block 247 Tampines Street 21 has been shouting insults and vulgarities out of her window multiple times a day. According to the woman’s neighbours, each episode lasts an average of about 15 minutes.

The offending resident also allegedly throws rubbish out of her windows on a regular basis and has also splashed water onto neighbours’ laundry on multiple occasions. Even a court order imposed on the resident in 2017 to seek psychiatric treatment did not deter her from disturbing her neighbours’ peace.

When Yahoo News Singapore visited the block on 12 and 13 June, her shrill voice could be heard even from the ground floor.

Hurt ‘to the core’ by neighbour’s insults

Most of the woman’s immediate neighbours said they had gotten used to her behaviour, with some saying that they no longer hang their laundry outside their windows.

One neighbour, however, has borne the brunt of Lee Dji Lin’s verbal assaults, which come in three languages: English, Malay and Mandarin.

Marliah Jonet, a 64-year-old widow who lives directly above Lee, said the latter’s insults often mention her husband and daughter, who both died some years ago.

Such hurtful comments are the reason why she lodged numerous formal complaints with the authorities regarding Lee’s behaviour.

“I feel bad when I call the police. I don’t want to be a bad neighbour,” said Marliah, who shares the flat with her 26-year-old daughter.

She added that some of Lee’s insults hurt her “to the core”. These included accusations of Marliah being responsible for her husband’s death and of her late daughter and of Marliah having loose morals. Lee has also allegedly hurled racial and religious taunts at Marliah.

Things came to a head in 2017 when Lee threw pork onto the corridor outside Marliah’s flat. After pleading guilty to charges of wounding her neighbour’s religious feelings and harassment, Lee underwent a psychiatric assessment and was later handed a two-year Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO) by the court.

Those subjected to an MTO are required to seek psychiatric treatment and must comply with the conditions imposed by the court or their appointed psychiatrist.

Following the court case, Marliah and her neighbours said they did not hear any of the usual noises coming from Lee’s unit for about three to four months. Then, the screaming began again.

View photos Marliah's diary detailing her ordeal. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) More

View photos Marliah's diary detailing her ordeal as well as her interactions with the authorities. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) More

View photos A printout of Marliah Jonet's e-mail to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2011. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) More

E-mailed PM in desperation

The past nine years have been emotionally draining for Marliah, who has kept meticulous records of Lee’s insults and her own efforts in seeking help from the authorities.

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