Owners of Jalan Kayu house charged with encroaching on state land
The owners of a house in Jalan Kayu estate who built a metal gate, two boundary walls and a fence around the landed property have been charged with encroaching on state land.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Singapore Land Authority said it had in 2013 instructed the owners, Tan Teck Siong and his wife Cheah Mee Poh, to remove the structures as the national water agency PUB was carrying out drainage improvement works in the estate.
The structures at the house, which is at the end of the road in Jalan Tari Zapin, are said to have been built in December 2005.
Tan, 61, and Cheah, 59, have agreed to demolish the structures, said the statement, issued jointly with the Building and Construction Authority.
The couple face one charge each under the State Lands Encroachments Act for having the common intention to unlawfully enter into possession of state land by enclosing the 144.2 sq m plot with the gate, walls and fence.
The charges were filed against them in December last year. Under the law, anyone convicted of the offence can be sentenced to a fine of up to $5,000 or jail of up to six months, or both.
Tan also faces four charges for making false declarations in his capacity as the qualified person, or QP, who is responsible for ensuring that the works at the house are carried out in line with building regulations. Under the Building Control Act, a qualified person is an architect or professional engineer.
The statement said that in his capacity as the QP, Tan made declarations to the Commissioner of Building Control that there were no deviations in his building works from the approved plans.
Under the law, a person who is convicted of making a false declaration to the Commissioner of Building Control can be sentenced to a fine of up to $10,000 or jail of up to six months, or both.
The case was mentioned in the State Courts on Tuesday and has been adjourned to Aug 25.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
