A 43-year-old Australian woman has been sentenced to five months and six weeks in jail after spray-painting offensive graffiti at a Salvation Army facility in Singapore on Christmas Day 2025.
According to ST, Dianna Ong pleaded guilty to one count of vandalism on March 9. The incident took place at Praisehaven – The Salvation Army, located along Upper Bukit Timah Road.
According to court documents, Ong used red spray paint to write offensive words on several walls and three vans parked within the organisation’s compound. The Salvation Army later described the messages as “sensitive in nature and concerned religion”.
Investigations revealed that Ong deliberately chose Christmas Day, a major Christian holiday, to carry out the act as a protest against The Salvation Army.
The graffiti was discovered by a person in charge of the morning service at Praisehaven, who subsequently filed a police report.
Authorities tracked Ong down later the same day after she posted photographs of the vandalism on her Facebook account. She was arrested shortly afterwards and was later charged in court on December 27, 2025, according to ST.
During court proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Brian Wong said Ong’s actions caused more than $3,000 in damage to The Salvation Army’s property.
In court, Ong apologised for her actions and said her mother suffers from anxiety and depression. She also told the court she hopes to visit her mother as soon as possible.
District Judge Paul Chan said the circumstances surrounding the offence were not trivial as Ong had vandalised multiple surfaces and structures. He noted that her actions appeared calculated to cause as much damage as possible and that the words used were highly offensive to The Salvation Army.
“After committing the offence, she further published the acts on social media, therefore increasing the impact of her offending acts,” the judge said.
Under Singapore law, those convicted of vandalism can face a fine of up to $2,000 and a jail term of up to three years. Offenders may also receive between three and eight strokes of the cane, although women are not liable for caning under the law.
Image via sgfollowsall/Telegram
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