SINGAPORE – The police are investigating the double murder of an elderly couple at a second-floor unit at Block 717 Bedok Reservoir Road on Wednesday (June 21).
At about 9.45pm, police officers were seen combing through the contents of a rubbish chute at the foot of the block. They took three knives away.
The police said it was called to the unit at around 3.39pm and found a 79-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman lying motionless within.
Both were pronounced dead around 3.57pm by paramedics. At least one of them was found with injuries on the neck.
The Straits Times understands that the couple were Singaporeans Chia Ngim Fong and his wife Chin Sek Fah and that they were found in two different places in the five-room executive flat.
Police investigators were seen taking pictures in the unit’s bedroom and bathroom.
No arrests have been made.
Neighbours said a maid has been living with the couple for about a month and is believed to be Indonesian. The maid’s whereabouts are unclear.
The Straits Times understands that other family members also live in the unit but were not at home at the time. Around six people believed to be family members were seen at the unit around 7.30pm though it is not clear if all live there.
A 28-year-old undergraduate, who lives on the sixth floor of the same block and wanted to be known only as Kenneth, said he heard a shout lasting a few seconds at about 3pm.
“I didn’t think too much of it. But I believe it came from the lower floors,” he told The Straits Times.
Several neighbours described the couple as friendly and loving.
A 68-year-old retiree, who also lives on the 6th floor and did not want to be named, said she often saw the couple going out together.
She described the woman as fair skinned with a slim build and the man as skinny with white hair.
“They have been living here for more than 30 years. The woman is very happy-go-lucky and chatty while the man is a bit more quiet,” she said.
Mr Said Nasir, a 63-year-old retiree who lives on the fourth floor, said he is shocked to hear the news.
“Sometimes, I would meet them downstairs as they are going to deliver meals to their children. We would just wave and say hi,” he said.
Police have classified the case as murder and investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with information is requested to call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
All information will be kept strictly confidential.