Woman, 74, dies days before sentencing for noise disturbances, neighbour says: 'I will not forgive her'
Ethel Tseng
TNP
July 25, 2025
A 74-year-old woman who was found guilty of repeatedly disturbing her upstairs neighbour died before she could be sentenced.
Zheng Wentian (transliterated) had been convicted under the Community Disputes Resolution Act (CDRA) for failing to comply with a court order prohibiting her from causing noise disturbances.
She was due to be sentenced on July 24, but the prosecution informed the court that she had died of illness on July 15. The charges were formally withdrawn, and the case was closed.
According to earlier reports, Zheng was accused of violating a court order issued on June 30, 2023, which directed her to follow the terms of a 2018 agreement.
The agreement barred her from shouting or making noise that would disturb her upstairs neighbour, Ms Cai Xuehong, who lives on the 12th floor of Block 316A Anchorvale Link.
Between July 25, 2023, and Feb 22, 2024, Zheng allegedly shouted and made noise on at least 15 occasions without apparent reason from her flat on the 11th floor.
Ms Cai testified that the disturbances began in 2017, about 14 years after she moved into the unit with her husband.
She alleged that Zheng would bang on the ceiling and hurl verbal abuse through the window whenever her family used the toilet.
The court found Zheng guilty in June, with the judge noting that she had given evasive answers and inconsistent testimony during cross-examination, and failed to refute the charges.
Neighbours want life to go back to normal
On July 24, Ms Cai attended court with her husband and another neighbour, expecting sentencing to proceed.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, she expressed mixed feelings.
"I will not forgive her, but I can put down this heavy burden in my heart," she said. "It will take time to fully let go."
She added that she hopes life can now return to normal.
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