The Unexpected Spotlight on a Granddad’s Grandma
1. The Interview Nobody Asked For
- In Yishun, May 2021, a grandma caught in a police‑vs‑mask incident was filmed without family’s consent.
- The footage surfaced on TOC—the Alternative News site that tries to shine a light on “justice” but sometimes misses the mark.
- The grandma’s son, anxious because his mother has dementia, felt the coverage was a bit like a surprise party that nobody invited.
2. The Son’s Legal Letter – Not a Friendly Reminder
- On July 7, lawyer Anand Nalachandran sent a letter to TOC: “We’re stunned and upset that a sleeping beauty was interviewed without a heads‑up.”
- He’d asked the site to apologise, citing “lapse in judgment” and the grandma’s fragile condition.
- TOC had a week to respond.
3. TOC’s Rebuttal – A Blend of “Professionalism” and “Innocent‑ness”
- Mr. Lim Tean, representing TOC, replied on July 12. The response was a mix of corporate reassurance and deflection.
- Key points:
- “We had a seasoned healthcare worker on hand, so no one flagged memory issues.”
- “Face was blurred—no identity revealed.”
- “Mum was treated with respect; we’ve taken care not to let her be embarrassed.”
- “Police are the ones who spread rumors of dementia; blame them instead of us.”
- “We’ll not apologise. They’re the ones who ‘trolled’.”
- It felt more like a defensive wall paper as opposed to an apology.
4. The Back‑Story – What Actually Happened?
- May 18: TOC shared an Instagram story claiming police taunted an elderly un‑masked woman.
- Police issued a quick clarification the next day, insisting the grandma had simply been told to wear a mask.
- Legal pressure: On May 21, the fake‑news law was invoked, demanding a correction for repeating the allegations.
- May 25: TOC posted a long interview where the grandma denies that the police bought her food.
- Same day, the police released body‑cam footage proving otherwise—she did receive a packet of food politely from an officer.
5. The Takeaway – How the Internet Plays Its Own Role
In a world where headlines are rushed and narratives are adapted, the grandma’s case reminds us that:
- Consent matters, especially for those with mental health challenges.
- One swift rumor can travel faster than a law review.
- Even police can become the target of rumors. The real detective is after the truth, not blame.
So next time you hit “share,” think:
Did you get the whole story? Or just the headline?
<img alt="" data-caption="The police made the rare move of releasing body-worn camera footage which showed a police officer buying the woman a packet of food from a nearby stall.
PHOTO: Screengrab/Facebook/Singapore Police Force” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”df4cd785-6bc3-4f45-8735-c45400fd56dc” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20210723_SPFFacebookVideoScreengrab_Facebook.jpg”/>
“Police Drama, Dementia, & Legal Letter Joust”
What Just Happened
It looks like the courtroom just got a bit more Hollywood‑style. Mr. Shanmugam slammed a video from the TOC (The Online Citizen) and blasted it as a cynical, unethical, and malicious attack on the police. He even said the TOC played fast and loose by taking advantage of an elderly woman with dementia.
Legal Labyrinth Continues
- Mr. Nalachandran’s Key Takeaway: His client says his mother still suffers from dementia, and he’s upset that the TOC refuses to admit any mistake or even offer an apology.
- He added: “Our client made no demand but an acknowledgement or apology would have been basic decency.”
- Mr. Lim told the ST that the TOC will not respond to the second letter.
- He also felt mystified as to why the son—who had nothing to do with the first letter—would hire a pricey law firm just to fire off those letters.
The Bottom Line
So, the main points: a controversy video, a serious accusation against a news outlet, claims of old‑woman‑dementia mishandling, and a showdown over apologies that keeps the legal arena buzzing.
