$8k fine for ex-NTU researcher who stalked PhD student, sent him 116 e-mails
SINGAPORE – Han Xiaobing, a 34-year-old former researcher at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), was fined $8,000 on August 21 after pleading guilty to two charges of harassment. Han had developed feelings for a 29-year-old PhD student at NTU, but after he rejected her advances, she continued to contact him despite his efforts to distance himself.
The man had obtained a protection order against Han on October 25, 2023, prohibiting her from contacting him or visiting places he frequented. However, Han violated the order by sending him 116 emails between October and December 2023 and visiting his workplace twice.
The situation escalated on December 7, 2023, when Han showed up at the man’s workplace at Fusionopolis. She returned five days later, prompting him to call the police. Despite being questioned by the police and promising to adhere to the protection order, Han later approached him again at NTU on January 3, 2024.
In court, Han pleaded for leniency, citing financial difficulties and her joblessness. She revealed that she had lost money in a scam and was allowed to pay her fine in installments. If she fails to pay, she will face eight weeks in jail.
NTU confirmed that Han's employment ended in December 2022 and emphasized that all employees are expected to maintain high ethical and professional standards.