In an unusual case, a family court in Singapore recently issued a partial domestic exclusion order against a woman accused of entering her adult brother’s room without permission to clean at odd hours.
On October 31st, both siblings sought court orders against each other following a peculiar dispute. The sister was granted a protection order for physical assault, while the brother received a domestic order restricting her from accessing his room—an issue that sparked the confrontation.
A third sibling testified that the ongoing tensions between the two were largely fueled by the sister’s habit of intruding into her brother’s room at night to clean, disturbing his privacy and sleep. The brother claimed that these repeated invasions led to his frustration and the eventual altercation. The court’s rare decision highlights the deep-rooted conflicts between the siblings in this exceptional case.
“I accept that, ordinarily, a sibling cleaning another sibling’s room would be harmless – and indeed a loving act – and most certainly not amount to harassment,’’ the judge clarified, indicating that in some situations, what might seem innocuous to some can cause great grief to others.
The brother shared that for the past eight years, his sister had repeatedly entered his room late at night to clean, despite his continuous objections and requests for privacy. Initially, her visits began around 9 pm, but over time they grew later and longer, often starting around 11 pm and lasting until 4 am. Even on nights when she left early, she would sometimes return in the middle of the night and continue cleaning until dawn. These late-night cleaning sessions disturbed his sleep, and the brother described them as an increasingly invasive routine, which fueled growing tension between them.
A third sibling confirmed the sister’s unusual cleaning behavior, telling the judge that the brother would often rush home just to lock his bedroom door to keep her out. However, the sister rarely gave up and would usually find a way in. When asked why she was so determined to clean her brother’s room, she simply stated that she “needed to do it,” leaving the court baffled by her persistence and lack of respect for boundaries. This odd behavior built up over the years, escalating the tension between the siblings and eventually leading to their unusual court dispute.
“Because I need to work, my dear,” she told the judge. “I need work, my own schedule. I’ve got to go according to my own schedule, my free time. I cannot say, you want me to come at 8 am, which means 8am. I’m not their maid, I’m not their worker.”
The woman attempted to justify her actions, explaining, “If the person does housework themselves, cleans up their own room themselves, it’s fine. But they don’t even do so at all after 40 years of age. Not even one finger!”
The judge rejected the woman’s justification, emphasizing that “both parties are adults, and it was not necessary for the sister to impose her own hygiene standards on her brother.” While he condemned the brother’s assault on his sister as “unacceptable,” he acknowledged that it may have stemmed from the immense frustration and distress caused by her intrusive behaviour. The judge’s remarks highlighted the need for boundaries and mutual respect, suggesting that the sister’s actions had crossed a line, even if well-intentioned.