SINGAPORE, July 16 — A 59-year-old man who built a makeshift crossbow and used it to fire metal ball bearings at crows in his Tiong Bahru neighbourhood pleaded guilty on Thursday to a rash act endangering personal safety.

The case was reported by CNA, which said Seah Yam Seng bought materials online to assemble the device and later used it to shoot at trees and a linkway near his housing block after being disturbed by the birds’ noise.

Seah, a Singaporean, admitted to one charge of committing a rash act that endangered personal safety, while three other charges including mischief for allegedly damaging a neighbour’s windows with the ball bearings will be taken into consideration during sentencing.

The court heard that Seah bought the materials to make the makeshift crossbow in 2024, along with metal ball bearings he intended to use against crows in his estate at Jalan Klinik.

Between April and July last year, Seah repeatedly stood at his window and fired the ball bearings towards trees and the walkway near an opposite block whenever he was annoyed by the birds.

He carried out the act at least five times, despite knowing that people regularly used the area and that some of the ball bearings could miss their intended target and hit other objects.

On July 16 last year, at about 7am, Seah again fired the device towards the trees and walkway after becoming agitated by the sound of crows.

A neighbour who saw Seah standing by his window and aiming towards the opposite block later lodged a police report.

The court was told that Seah’s makeshift crossbow was considered a weapon under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act.

Seah has since been diagnosed with adjustment disorder, which was found to have contributed to his offence.

The court called for a report to assess his suitability for a mandatory treatment order and adjourned sentencing to August.

The prosecution did not object to the report being prepared but reserved its position on sentencing.

For committing a rash act endangering personal safety, Seah faces up to six months’ jail and a fine of up to S$2,500 (RM7,900). As his charge involves multiple incidents, the maximum penalties may be doubled.