A 35-year-old woman who killed her adoptive father at their Sengkang flat in 2022 has failed in her bid to have her 18-year jail sentence reduced.
Tan Qiu Yan had appealed for a shorter sentence of between 12 and 15 years, arguing that her actions were influenced by her belief that her father intended to kill her.
The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal and upheld the original sentence, with the court finding that Tan remained capable of controlling her actions despite suffering from a delusional disorder.
Dispute over family flat
Tan had been adopted by Koh Li Hua and Tan Ah Bang when she was less than a year old.
Following Koh’s death from lung cancer in August 2022, tensions between Tan and her adoptive father grew, particularly over the family’s financial affairs and ownership of their Sengkang flat.
Tan believed that her mother had intended to leave her a share of the flat. However, legal arrangements following Koh’s death resulted in Ah Bang becoming the sole owner of the property.
Tan subsequently wanted her father to add her as a co-owner.
Their relationship deteriorated further when Ah Bang refused to agree to her request and later indicated that he would not leave the flat to her after his death.
Attack in November 2022
Court documents showed that Tan had bought a chopper in September 2022, several weeks before the fatal incident.
She contemplated using it against her father if he did not agree to her demands regarding the flat, but did not immediately carry o