A former Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) lieutenant-colonel was charged in court yesterday with stalking a woman last August.

Goh Wee Hong, 39, was with the SCDF when he allegedly sent the 28-year-old text messages in which he made sexual advances between Aug 27 and 30 last year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheryl Janet George successfully asked for a gag order, so the woman cannot be named.

Goh, who is married, is represented by Mr Tan Hee Joek who told the court he had just been briefed and his preliminary instructions were to claim trial. He applied for access to the text messages referred to in the charge.

District Judge Ronald Gwee adjourned the case to April 27 for a pre-trial conference.

An SCDF spokesman said the force expects all its officers to uphold high standards of professionalism, discipline and integrity.

"Officers who commit offences will be charged in court and dealt with in accordance with the law. Mr Goh Wee Hong resigned from the SCDF on Nov 2 , 2015," he said.

If convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act, Goh could be fined up to $5,000 and jailed for up to 12 months.

Elena Chong