When custody battles turn deadly
By Cheryl Fox | Posted: 04
October 2011 1706 hrs
SINGAPORE: On the morning of 22 September, the
bodies of a mother and her three-year-old-son were found in Bedok
Reservoir, in what is believed to have been a suicide triggered by
a custody tussle.
The bodies of Madam Tan Sze Sze and her son Jerald Chin were found
two days after they were reported missing.
Both were clad in red tops, fingernails painted red and their
wrists bound by a red thread.
The Chinese believe that wearing red signifies they plan to return
as vengeful spirits.
But what did the 32-year-old mother want revenge for?
Madam Teo Guek Lai, mother of the late Tan Sze Sze, said: "(My
daughter's husband) kept forcing her to let their son go over to
his place. But she'd rather die than do that."
Ms Tan Sze Wah, who is the sister of the late Madam Tan, said:
"Sometimes, I'd bring Jerald to (meet his father). But (his father)
doesn't really play with (Jerald).
"He kept on threatening my sister. He told my sister to prepare to
go to jail if she doesn't let his son go over."
Ms Tan's family said a bitter row began after Jerald came home with
a bleeding nose after visiting his father.
When contacted by the "Get Rea!" team, Mr Willy Chin, husband of
the deceased, insisted it was an accident and spoke of his
frustrations at not being allowed to see his son.
"I've already appealed to the court and even the police, but their
family (would) lock the door and (disallow me) to see my son.
There's nothing much (I can) do. You don't expect me or the police
to barge in," Mr Chin said.
Mr Chin had applied to the courts to grant him access to his son,
but his wife refused to comply and was even fined.
The Family Court said it does not have a breakdown of the number of
parents who have applied for custody, access and/or care and
control of their children.
But the rising number of divorces and annulments in Singapore could
be telling - some 7,400 in 2010, up from 6,900 in 2005.
For more, catch the "Get Rea! Special" on Tuesday at 8pm
Singapore/Hong Kong Time, with an encore at 11.30pm.
-CNA/wk
