Han Hui Hui goes public over removal of children, authorities cite safety concerns
A public dispute has emerged between activist Han Hui Hui and Singapore authorities after her three children were removed from her home in February. Han alleges her children were healthy before their removal and have since fallen ill, while authorities say they acted to protect the children.
- Authorities removed Han Hui Hui's three children on 15 February 2026 after deeming the home unsafe.
- Police had received multiple reports involving the family since August 2025, including mutual allegations of violence.
- Han and her husband signed a voluntary care agreement and are allowed weekly supervised visits.
Singapore's Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed on the night of 7 March 2026 that the three young children of activist Han Hui Hui had been taken to hospital for medical assessment and protective care on 15 February 2026.
The joint statement to local media came in response to a Facebook live-stream post by Han on 28 February 2026, in which she claimed that authorities had removed her children two weeks prior and that she had not been permitted to see them at the hospital.
Han, 33, alleged that her children were "perfectly healthy and happy" while in her care, and claimed they had since become sad and ill following their removal by MSF.
Background of police reports and family allegations
According to the joint statement, police had received multiple reports concerning Han's family since August 2025. These included various allegations made by Han, her husband, and her mother-in-law, involving mutual claims of violence against one another.
The authorities assessed that it was unsafe for the children — aged three, five, and six — to remain in Han's household. A child protection specialist centre subsequently developed a safety plan, under which Han's mother-in-law would oversee the children's care.
Han and her husband agreed to this arrangement. However, authorities continued to receive reports after the safety plan was implemented, including further mutual allegations between Han and her mother-in-law.
The safety plan breaks down
On 15 February 2026, police were called to Han's home over an alleged altercation between her mother-in-law and the children.
Following this incident, the children were taken to hospital.
Authorities explained that the hospital serves as a designated safe facility for children who may have been subject to abuse.
They noted that the individual tasked with protecting the children had become involved in an incident with them, and that no other suitable "safe adult" — typically a trusted family member — was available to assume care.
Voluntary care agreement signed
On 19 February 2026, Han and her husband signed a voluntary care agreement with MSF's Protective Service (PSV), the unit responsible for investigating child abuse cases, consenting to their children remaining in hospital care.
Under the terms of the agreement, both parents were permitted weekly supervised access to the children. The PSV also began exploring alternative care arrangements to allow the children to remain safe outside of hospital if possible.
Han was granted supervised visits on 20 February and 26 February 2026. Separate supervised visits for her husband were arranged on 21 February and 27 February 2026.
On 28 February 2026, the hospital contacted Han to inform her that two of her children had developed a fever. Han was permitted another supervised visit on 1 March 2026.
Authorities say children are safe
The MSF and SPF said in their joint statement that they were unable to disclose further details as investigations remain ongoing.
"All three children remain safe and well at the hospital," the statement read. "PSV continues to explore alternative safe care arrangements to ensure the children's continued safety and well-being."
Han goes public
Han's Facebook live-stream, posted on 28 February 2026, attracted considerable public attention.
In the video caption, she wrote that SPF had entered her home on 15 February 2026 and taken her children away, and that the children had been crying daily, become stressed and withdrawn, and had since fallen terribly ill with high fever and vomiting.
The live-stream garnered over 600,000 views on Facebook. A series of edited clips from the video subsequently accumulated over 300,000 views on TikTok.
In a subsequent video, Han showed footage of her three children in hospital gowns with intravenous drip needles inserted. She captioned the video: "After MSF took them away they ended up requiring drips with needles poking them and bruises on their hands and legs."
Han described visiting her three children in hospital for one hour per week. Footage showed the children embracing Han and crying during the visit.
Han alleged that the children's physical condition was a direct consequence of their removal from her care. The joint MSF and SPF statement, issued on the evening of 7 March 2026 — several hours after Han posted the video — did not directly address the specific claims made in the footage.
Han told reporters that she had called the police on several occasions, including on 15 February 2026, alleging that her husband and mother-in-law had been abusive towards her children.
Political background
Han, 33, is an activist who first came to public attention in 2013 over allegations concerning private education institutions in Singapore.
She subsequently co-organised protests at Hong Lim Park on issues including the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which led to her being fined for organising a demonstration without a permit and for public nuisance. Han maintained that the charges amounted to "political persecution".
She has since contested two general elections — first in 2015 as an independent candidate in Radin Mas Single Member Constituency (SMC), and most recently in 2025 as part of the five-member People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) team in Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
