SINGAPORE — While in the midst of a manic relapse of his bipolar disorder, Roger Khoo Zhen Xuan mistakenly thought his friend had promised to give him a tortoise.

Khoo then broke into the other man’s home during the Covid-19 circuit breaker period in May last year to steal the reptile.

On Thursday (Jan 21), Khoo, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal trespass with the intention to annoy his friend and former schoolmate, Mr Huang Guo Sheng. The charge was reduced from a more serious one of housebreaking.

Khoo will return to court for sentencing on March 1, when District Judge Mesenas will consider a second charge of him leaving his Yishun home for a non-permitted reason under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulation 2020.

The judge called for a report to assess if Khoo is suitable for a mandatory treatment order — a community sentencing option offered to offenders suffering from mental conditions that contributed to the offence. 

Deputy Public Prosecutor Alexandria Shamini Joseph told the court that an Institute of Mental Health (IMH) psychiatrist found Khoo to be suffering from bipolar disorder, and it had relapsed at the time of his offence. 

This would have affected his judgement and control, the psychiatrist further found. 

Bipolar disorder is characterised by severe mood changes and individuals experience repeated episodes of depression and mania.

Khoo’s lawyer Joshua Tong said that he is now taking medication and undergoing treatment in IMH.

He previously underwent a year-long mandatory treatment in 2015 after being convicted of mischief and disorderly behaviour.

The court heard that the incident happened on May 23 last year. 

Circuit breaker regulations to restrict movement and activities were in force then to limit the spread of Covid-19, with people only allowed to leave their homes for essential purposes such as buying groceries.

At about noon, Khoo went over to Mr Huang’s home in Sembawang. Seeing that the other man was not there, Khoo broke in and ransacked his bedroom, stealing the tortoise that was valued at about S$2.50.

Before leaving, Khoo called a locksmith to repair the broken front door.

When Mr Huang returned home, he noticed that the wooden latch on his door was broken and his pet tortoise was missing.

On checking his phone, he saw that Khoo had posted a picture of himself and the tortoise on social media, claiming that he had gotten a new pet.

Mr Huang then called the police at about 11.54pm. He eventually got his tortoise back.

Criminal trespass with intent to annoy carries a maximum jail term of three months or a fine of up to S$1,500, or both.