The Police received a call on 9 July 2016 at about 7.57pm requesting for assistance at Blk 279 Yishun Street 22. Upon arrival, a 26-year-old man was found lying motionless and subsequently pronounced dead by paramedics. A 20-year-old man was arrested in connection with the case and investigations into the unnatural death are ongoing.
The deceased, a 26-year-old Singaporean male and the accused, a 20-year-old Singaporean male, had known each other for a few years.
Between April 2015 and March 2016, the accused’s mother had lodged a total of four Police reports against the deceased. Three of the reports were for alleged nuisance caused by the deceased after he had turned up at the accused’s house to look for the latter and been asked by the accused’s family to leave. The fourth report was lodged on 27 March 2016, and the Police classified that case as Outrage of Modesty (of a female) under Section 354 of the Penal Code, and was in the midst of its investigations. In the interim, the Police had interviewed the accused’s mother and also sent a letter dated 8 April 2016 to her, acknowledging an appeal made by them through the MP, Mr K Shanmugam, and confirming that the matter was under investigation. A copy of the letter is attached.
In addition, the accused’s family had also made a number of ‘999’ calls whenever the deceased had turned up at the accused’s house.
Separately, on 30 June 2015, the deceased had also lodged a Police report alleging that he had been assaulted by the accused in the vicinity of Blk 279 Yishun Street 22 on 23 June 2015. However, the deceased had also indicated that he did not wish to pursue the matter further.
The Police have been following up on the reports lodged by the parties and have been engaging both sides. Following the Police’s advice, the accused’s family had also lodged a Magistrate Complaint against the deceased. The parties had also been attending Community Court mediation proceedings since February 2016, with the last session held in May.
The Police will conduct a thorough investigation and there will be proceedings in Court, in relation to the death of the deceased. Pending the Court proceedings, everyone should refrain from commenting or speculating about the case, and what may or may not have happened. Commenting, speculating on issues, which will have to be dealt with in Court proceedings, may be sub judice.
The full and true facts will be established in Court. Once the proceedings are over, and the facts have been established, people are free to comment on the matter, the facts, including the conduct of all the parties, the investigations, and the legal process.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
11 July 2016 @ 3:50 PM