The quiet neighborhood of Bukit Batok was shaken by a tragic incident on January 6, when the life of a 44-year-old woman was cut short.
The family of the deceased have since claimed her body and held a funeral for the victim on Tuesday (9 January), according to 8World News and Lianhe Zaobao.
Quek Eng Hock, a 65-year-old man, found himself at the center of a murder investigation on January 7, facing charges related to the death of his 44-year-old neighbor. The unsettling incident also left the victim’s five-year-old son injured and hospitalized, prompting authorities to issue a gag order to protect the child’s identity.
Funeral and Memorial Service
A somber memorial service was held on January 9 to honor the life of the deceased woman. The funeral proceedings witnessed the gathering of grieving family members and well-wishers who came together to pay their final respects. The victim’s age, a mere 44, serves as a poignant reminder of the untimely loss suffered by the community.
The family’s reaction to this devastating incident reflects the profound impact it has had on their lives. Lianhe Zaobao reporters, visiting the funeral, learned from the older brother of the deceased that their younger brother was the first to receive the heart-wrenching news.
As the family gathered to mourn the loss, the brother revealed that the victim had occasionally spoken about her marriage and conflicts with the suspect, though specifics were not divulged.
Despite not being in frequent communication, the siblings would come together during festive periods, highlighting the deep familial bonds now shattered by this tragedy. The family is left grappling with the shock of the incident and the painful void left by the untimely departure of their loved one.
Origins matter, and the deceased woman’s background adds another layer to this sorrowful narrative. Hailing from Malaysia, she navigated life’s complexities, eventually marrying and having two children. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in divorce. Her children, a son and a daughter, have paid their respects to their mother and are reported to be in stable condition amid the emotional turmoil surrounding them.
Recap
Upon responding to a distress call, the police discovered the deceased woman and her conscious five-year-old son inside the flat.
The suspect was apprehended at the scene, with a knife believed to be the murder weapon seized. The crime scene investigation at Block 460B added an eerie atmosphere to the neighborhood.
Heavy police presence were seen in the area, with officers on the 2nd floor unit of the HDB block, escorting the murder suspect, who was wearing a white personal protective suit, into a police car at about 11.25am.
The woman, aged 43, tragically lost her life, leaving behind a grieving family. Meanwhile, her five-year-old son was rushed to the hospital.
As investigations continue, the police have yet to disclose the motive behind the crime. Updates on the case are anticipated as authorities delve into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Past disputes
According to Shin Min Daily News, the murder suspect and the deceased were neighbours and had frequent disputes in the past over noise issues, where the police had been called in before.
A resident who lives nearby, shared that on the day of the murder, he had heard a “loud noise” emanating from below his unit at about 6am in the morning, which lasted for about half an hour.