A 60-year-old Singaporean man has been charged in court over his alleged involvement in a devastating HDB flat fire in Bedok North that claimed four lives, including a three-year-old girl. The tragedy, which occurred in 2022, remains one of the most harrowing residential fire incidents in recent memory and has resurfaced following the filing of criminal charges earlier this year.
Court documents allege that the man substantially contributed to the risk of a dangerous fire by leaving a lit cigarette unattended on a stack of cardboard boxes in the living room of a fourth-floor unit at Bedok North Avenue 2. The fire later broke out and spread rapidly through the flat, trapping occupants inside.
The accused has been charged with causing or contributing to the risk of a dangerous fire. On the same day, he was also charged for an unrelated traffic offence involving grievous hurt to a pedestrian, which prosecutors confirmed is being handled separately by the court.
FATAL FIRE LEFT ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD DESTROYED
At the time of the blaze, five people were residing in the flat. They included the homeowner, her partner and three tenants — a couple and their young daughter. Emergency responders found the homeowner severely burned at the scene, where she was pronounced dead.
The tenant family was discovered unconscious and rushed to hospital. The father and his three-year-old daughter succumbed to their injuries later that same morning, with fume inhalation identified as the cause of death. The child had reportedly been brought into Singapore from Malaysia just days before the fire, turning what was meant to be a family reunion into a tragedy.
The child’s mother survived the initial incident but suffered severe brain damage due to prolonged smoke inhalation. She remained in a vegetative state for nearly two years before passing away while receiving medical treatment overseas, bringing the total death toll to four.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE BLAZE
Findings referenced in court indicate that the accused woke up early that morning to prepare for work. After lighting a cigarette in the bedroom, he later moved to the living room to put on his shoes. It was alleged that he placed the still-burning cigarette on nearby cardboard boxes before leaving the flat.
About 20 minutes later, he reportedly realised his mistake and sent messages asking his partner to retrieve the cigarette. While she believed she had dealt with it, investigators concluded that the cigarette had already been left unattended long enough for embers or hot ash to cause the cardboard to smoulder.
Roughly 45 minutes after the cigarette was left behind, the living room was engulfed in flames. Neighbours alerted the Singapore Civil Defence Force, which arrived swiftly and extinguished the fire. Despite the emergency response, the outcome proved fatal for nearly everyone inside.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE
A state coroner had previously ruled the deaths as an unfortunate misadventure, but the latest charge reflects prosecutors’ view that negligence played a substantial role in the deadly incident. The case highlights the severe legal consequences that can arise from careless actions, particularly in densely populated HDB estates where fire risks are significantly heightened.
Separately, the accused is also facing a charge of causing grievous hurt following a road traffic collision involving his van and a pedestrian at a junction near Kampong Bahru Road. The pedestrian reportedly suffered serious injuries after the accused allegedly failed to give way while making a turn.
Both cases are expected to return to court for further mention. Together, they underscore growing public concerns over accountability, public safety and the devastating consequences of negligence — whether at home or on Singapore’s roads.