River Valley High School death: Early investigations suggest axe bought online, says Shanmugam
SINGAPORE - After a 16-year-old River Valley High School student was charged with murdering a schoolmate three years his junior on Tuesday morning (July 20), Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam posted about the incident on Facebook, calling it "one of the worst things that can happen to parents". "It's completely shocking because safety is assumed and normally (in Singapore anyway) assured," he wrote. "The attacker is also a young boy, (16), he has been charged today. As (the Attorney-General's Chambers) told the court, there is some history of mental health issues." Preliminary investigations suggest the 16-year-old had purchased the axe online, he said. "But we will know the full facts only after investigations are completed." The police had said on Monday that they had seized an axe at the school. The minister added: "We all grieve with the parents of the boy who was killed. It's difficult to even describe the true extent of their grief." The 16-year-old appeared in court via video link on Tuesday morning at about 10am and was accused of murdering the 13-year-old at a level four toilet in the school between 11.16am and 11.44am on Monday. The accused cannot be named as he ...
39-year-old woman arrested for murder after death of man with multiple wounds in Ang Mo Kio
SINGAPORE - A dispute on Thursday (July 15) outside a home in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 ended with a 51-year-old man killed and the arrest of a 39-year-old woman. Police said preliminary investigations showed that the pair knew each other. When officers arrived at the scene, both were found with multiple wounds. They were taken to hospital but the man later succumbed to his injuries. The woman is warded for medical treatment and will be charged in court on July 16 with murder, the police said. The offence carries the death penalty. More on this topic Related Story 43-year-old man nabbed for murder after man found dead with stab wounds in Punggol Related Story Clementi death: Brother has charge upgraded to murder of teenage sister
CPF team goes the extra mile to help death row inmates make nominations
SINGAPORE - Inmates on death row who wish to make their Central Provident Fund (CPF) nominations may sometimes have trouble finding witnesses to complete the process. This is where Mr Hendry Ang, 28, and his colleagues come in. A CPF nomination allows a person to specify who will receive his or her CPF savings, and how much each nominee should get after the person's death. Mr Ang, a manager in the CPF Board's nominations and accounts closure department, said these death row inmates want to do something for their loved ones, but are unable to find two witnesses for the nomination. Each year, his team assists about three inmates on average, including those on death row, to make CPF nominations. CPF statistics show that about three in four members who died last year had specified a recipient for their CPF savings. About 78 per cent of the 21,010 CPF members who died last year made a nomination. This is an increase compared with 2019, when 75 per cent of the 21,050 members who died made nominations. If a member fails to make a nomination before death, the CPF savings will be transferred to the Public Trustee's Office to be distributed in cash to family members according to Singapore's ...
E-scooter rider pleads guilty to causing death of elderly cyclist in 2019 accident
SINGAPORE - An e-scooter rider pleaded guilty on Tuesday (May 4) to causing the death of an elderly cyclist in a 2019 accident. Malaysian Hung Kee Boon, 22, had faced several charges including causing the death of Madam Ong Bee Eng, 64, by performing a rash act. The Singapore permanent resident on Tuesday also admitted to one count of riding a non-compliant personal mobility device (PMD), which is an offence under the Active Mobility Act. One other charge for riding an unregistered PMD will be taken into consideration by Principal District Judge Victor Yeo during sentencing. The incident happened at around 10.20pm on Sept 21, 2019. Hung was riding an e-scooter on a cycling path near Block 539 Bedok North Street 3 at estimated speeds of between 27kmh and 43kmh. The speed limit on cycling paths is 25kmh. Madam Ong was at the time riding her bicycle across the path towards a nearby zebra crossing. Hung failed to avoid the logistics assistant packer in time and collided with her. Madam Ong was flung onto the ground. She was found unconscious and bleeding from her head by passers-by who had rushed to the scene. Both Hung and her were taken to hospital. Madam Ong was later found to have ...
New graphic novel aims to spark conversations about end-of-life and palliative care
SINGAPORE - When a patient is dying or deteriorating and healthcare professionals ask the family if they knew what the patient wanted, the answer is commonly no. "This places the burden on the loved ones and healthcare professionals, which may not be ideal and creates a lot of stress," said Dr Raymond Ng, head of palliative medicine in the department of integrated care at Woodlands Health Campus. This is why it is important to have discussions about death and dying, and find out individuals' preferences for end-of-life and palliative care. A graphic novel highlighting the importance of end-of-life and palliative care was unveiled on Saturday (March 20), as part of efforts to spark more discussions on the topic among Singaporeans. The 72-page book, All Death Matters, commissioned by the Lien Foundation and written and illustrated by local artist James Tan, can be borrowed from public libraries from mid-April. Another 100 free copies will be given away from Saturday till April 4 to people who submit a request to the Lien Foundation at this website. The novel, written from the perspective of a young doctor working at a hospital here, takes the reader through an encounter with a family...