In a case that has captured international attention, a Bangladeshi man, Raju Dhaly, stands accused of a heinous crime – the alleged murder of his wife, Jonalyn Alvarez Raviz, in Singapore in 2018.

The man, who has been on the run ever since and is wanted by Singapore for murder, has an Interpol Red Notice issued for his arrest.

He fled Singapore on 3 September 2018 for Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The alleged murder

On September 6, 2018, the decomposed body of Jonalyn Alvarez Raviz, a 34-year-old Filipina domestic worker, was discovered in a forested area along Tampines Road.

Her life had been tragically cut short, with a ligature wrapped around her neck, cruelly tied to a tree. The Straits Times reported the subsequent coroner’s inquiry into her death.

The inquiry’s findings unveiled a timeline of events. The deceased left her employer’s residence at Pasir Ris on 2 September 2018 at about 8.30am in the morning, before meeting Raju at the Pasir Ris Interchange at about 9am later that morning.

They spent the day together and later boarded a bus and headed towards Tampines Road later that afternoon, and at about 4.17pm, the deceased alighted the bus near Defu Lane 2.

Raju then took a taxi at about 5pm and headed back to his dormitory near the Jurong River, and later that evening he abruptly purchased a plane ticket to Bangladesh.

The following morning at about 5.30am, on 3 September, Raju got on a plane and left Singapore.

On 6 September, Ravis’s dead body was found in a forested area about 5 metres away from the footpath along Tampines Road.

She was found with a compressive neck injury, according to the state coroner, and was described as being an “unlawful killing likely perpetrated by her husband,” ie. Raju.

Strangulation was also said to have been a possible cause for her death, according to the investigating officer.

The mystery surrounding Raju’s sudden departure deepens as investigators label it “unexplained.” To address this, a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Employers reported them missing

The situation took a dark turn when Raviz failed to return home on September 2, 2018. Fearing the worst, her employer filed a missing person report.

Simultaneously, Raju’s employer reported his absence from work on September 3, 2018, adding to the growing list of unanswered questions in this perplexing case.

The Couple’s History

Raju had been working in Singapore as a process maintenance worker since 2007. Raviz, on the other hand, was employed as a domestic worker in Singapore between February 2010 and November 2011. She later worked in Hong Kong before returning to Singapore in 2016. The couple had tied the knot in 2015.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Raviz had confided in her employer about her marriage, where she was the victim of domestic violence.

She claimed Raju often confiscated her salary and was unfaithful. Raviz expressed her intention to end the marriage, planning to return to the Philippines without Raju’s knowledge.

In June 2018, she even reported that Raju had threatened her life if she tried to leave him.

In an alarming incident that unfolded at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 25th, several individuals engaged in their morning exercise routine at Punggol Park found themselves under attack, according to Shin Min Daily News.

Followed cleaner into toilet & whacked him

The assailant, a man, reportedly followed a park cleaner into a restroom. When questioned by the cleaner, the man suddenly became aggressive and physically assaulted him.

Shockingly, he didn’t stop there, as he proceeded to attack five other early morning joggers who had attempted to intervene and stop the assault.

The chaotic incident led to the immediate intervention of onlookers who managed to subdue the aggressor until the arrival of the police.

Upon reaching the scene, law enforcement promptly apprehended the assailant. The cleaner, who was subjected to the initial attack, was subsequently transported to the hospital for treatment.

Tried to help victim but got attacked as well

Among the victims who were assaulted was 86-year-old Mr Chen, who told SMDN that he started exercising at the park about 3 years ago, when he first met the cleaner.

He said that the cleaner who was attacked, was in his 70s and they used to be strangers, but during an occasion when his bicycle broke, the cleaner helped him fix his bike without even asking, and they became friends and would greet each other whenever they crossed paths in the park.

On the day of the incident, Chen saw the cleaner being attacked and he stepped in and tried to help him, but ended up being assaulted by the man as well.

Rushed to hospital

Singapore’s Civil Defence Force confirmed that they received an emergency report at 8:10 a.m. SCDF personnel promptly arrived at the location, and one of the injured individuals was rushed to Seng Kang General Hospital for medical attention.

This disturbing incident has raised concerns within the local community, as such unprovoked and seemingly random acts of violence are unusual in this peaceful area.

An investigation is underway to determine the motivations behind the attacks and whether there were any underlying factors contributing to this violent outburst.

Zeng Xianfu Gibson, a 29-year-old former sales executive at a rental company, has been sentenced to three years and seven months in jail for his involvement in a large-scale rental scam that defrauded 68 victims of nearly S$383,000 (US$280,000). The sentencing was handed down in court on Wednesday, according to The Straits Times.

Zeng pleaded guilty to 23 charges of cheating, while an additional 39 charges were considered in the proceedings.

Background

The court heard that Zeng had been employed as a sales executive at the Singapore Housing Company, specializing in the rental of units in Singapore, between 2018 and 2020.

During his employment, Zeng was tasked with photographing rental units and arranging viewings for potential clients.

However, following his departure from the company, he misused the images he had taken by listing these units on Airbnb, despite lacking the authority or capacity to lease the advertised properties.

To make his fraudulent listings appear legitimate, Zeng supplied actual unit images and concocted bogus tenancy agreements for the unsuspecting victims.

The victims hailed from various countries, including the United States, France, South Africa, Germany, India, China, Portugal, Israel, Denmark, Switzerland, and Singapore.

Victim paid to rent unit, ended up had to stay in hotel

Court documents revealed that Zeng’s victims were duped into paying “deposits” ranging from S$7,000 to S$16,635 after responding to his fraudulent Airbnb listings in 2022. Among these victims were international students and locals seeking short-term accommodations.

One victim from Israel had arranged for Zeng to pick her up at Changi Airport, but he never appeared and failed to provide her with any rental space or a refund upon her arrival.

When it came time for most victims to move into their supposed units, Zeng would fabricate excuses, often citing that the outgoing tenant had contracted COVID-19. These falsehoods left many victims in a state of uncertainty and led to financial losses, with one victim even having to book a hotel stay as a result.

Multiple police reports were filed against Zeng, leading to his initial arrest in February 2022. However, after being released on station bail that same day, he continued to defraud others.

He was arrested again five months later, charged in court, and yet again resumed his illegal activities upon being released on court bail.

Finally, in October 2022, his bail was revoked, and he has been in remand since.

50 PERSONS INVESTIGATED IN MULTI-AGENCY ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS

A total of 47 men and three women, aged between 21 and 73, are being investigated for various offences, following multi-agency enforcement operations conducted between 29 September 2023 and 9 October 2023.

The operations were led by Bedok Police Division and supported by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Customs, Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

The operations aimed to clamp down on illegal activities in Geylang, including illegal gambling, vice activities, sale of illegal enhancement medication and illegal hawking, and to share crime advisories on how residents could protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim to crime.

Investigations are ongoing against the 50 persons arrested during the series of enforcement operations listed below:

1. In a joint enforcement operation against illegal gambling on 29 September 2023, officers from Bedok Police Division and ICA raided a unit in an industrial building along Sims Ave. A total of 24 men and one woman, aged between 27 and 73, are being investigated for offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022. Cash amounting to more than $4000 and various gambling-related paraphernalia were seized. Under Section 20(2) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, an individual who gambles with another person in or from any place or premises in Singapore and knows, or ought reasonably to have known, that the place or premises is an unlawful gambling place shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to six months or both. Under Section 18(3)(a) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, an individual who conducts betting operations, gaming or lotteries unlawfully, shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $200,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.
   
2. In a series of joint enforcement operations involving officers from HSA, ICA and CNB along Lorong 20 and Lorong 22 Geylang that were conducted between 3 October 2023 and 5 October 2023, unregistered health products consisting of cough syrup and various enhancement medicines with an estimated value of more than $11,000 were seized. Two men, aged 29 and 38, are being investigated under the Health Products Act 2007. Those found guilty of importing, manufacturing and/or supplying unregistered health products, may be liable to an imprisonment term for up to two years and/or fined up to $50,000.
   
3. Officers from Bedok Police Division conducted an enforcement operation against one massage establishment located along Geylang Road on 4 October 2023. A 48-year-old woman was arrested for a vice-related offence under the Women’s Charter 1961. Another 67-year-old woman is being investigated for offences under the Massage Establishments Act 2017.
   
4. On 6 October 2023, Officers from LTA conducted an enforcement operation in the vicinity of Geylang, targeting illegally modified Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs). Eight men and one woman, aged between 24 and 67, are being investigated for various offences under the Active Mobility Act 2017. Two PABs were also impounded during the operation.
   
5. On 7 October 2023, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Bedok Police Division conducted checks at public entertainment outlets located along Geylang Road and Geylang Lorongs. Two men, aged 23 and 38, were arrested under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act 1966. Under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act 1966, any person who is or acts as a member of an unlawful society, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.
   
6. On 9 October 2023, officers from the Singapore Customs conducted enforcement against duty-unpaid cigarettes. Ten men, aged between 21 and 55, were issued with composition sums and advisories under the Customs Act 1960 for possessing duty-unpaid cigarettes. A total of 16 packets and 72 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized as part of the operation. Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing, or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act 1960 and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act 1993. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.

Officers from Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre also shared crime prevention advisories with residents staying in the vicinity of Lorong 8, Lorong 14 and Lorong 16 Geylang to remind Members of the Public not to leave their belongings unattended and to always keep their valuables locked in a safe or locker.

Commanding Officer of Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Raub expressed his appreciation to all the agencies involved for their strong support and commended the officers for their professionalism and excellent teamwork during the operation. He said “The Police will continue to work closely with other enforcement agencies to clamp down on illegal activities, strengthen community ties and keep our neighbourhood safe and secure. The Police take a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal activities and will take firm action against those who blatantly disregard the law. Members of the public are advised to report those engaging in unlawful activities to the Police.”

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 October 2023 @ 11:00 AM