SINGAPORE : A 20-year-old full-time national
serviceman has been arrested in connection with the murder of a
32-year-old woman at Woodlands Drive 50 that took place on
September 22.
He is also believed to be involved in another stabbing attack that
happened in February.
Earlier this week, police released a photofit of the assailant
believed to be involved in the stabbing attack on a female jogger
along the Khatib Bongsu Park connector on February 2. He is also
said to be connected to the murder of Hoe Hong Lin at Woodlands
Drive 50 on September 22.
The suspect, a full-time national serviceman with the Republic of
Singapore Navy, was handed over to the police on Thursday
evening.
The Defence Ministry said he was in custody of the Singapore Armed
Forces Military Police Command, awaiting trial for the offence of
Absent Without Official Leave.
He is believed to have attacked Ms Hoe at a park while she was on
the way home at night. A 13-centimetre knife was recovered at the
scene.
Police said the suspect has no criminal records, and that the
motive behind the murder has not been determined, pending police
investigations. But it is understood that the possibility that the
suspect could be suffering from a mental illness has not be ruled
out.
Police said it was not an easy task to narrow down the suspect. The
effort required the help of external agencies like the Health
Sciences Authority, and forensic evidence played a key role in this
case.
Foo Jit Choon, assistant superintendent in the Special
Investigation Section of CID, said: "With regards to the Woodlands
murder, the unknown can be attributed to two factors - the victim
and the suspect do not know each other, and secondly, at the time
of the incident, it was very dark. Even though we had witnesses,
they were unable to pinpoint to us exactly who was the
suspect."
Police are also investigating if the suspect is also involved in
two other similar attacks in January and May this year.
In all the four cases, the victims are Chinese women in their 20s
and 30s, slim built and have shoulder length hair.
They were alone at the time of the attack and nothing was stolen
from them.
It also appears that they were targeted at random.
Ms Hoe leaves behind her husband and two children.
Her eldest brother Nicholas Hoe said the family was informed of the
arrest on Thursday night.
He said the family feels relieved and hopes justice would be
served.
Mr Hoe said: "Let's say if this guy has no motive and it is just a
random attack, I believe it is really unfair to my sister, she is
really innocent. It is very hard, especially for my parents, but we
have been trying to call them, trying to make sure that they are
fine.
"My brother also tries to bring them out, so that they would not
just stay at home and keep thinking about my sister. Last night,
after we received the information from police that they have
detained the suspect, I informed my family and they also feel
relieved."
The suspect will be charged in court on Saturday with murder.
If convicted, he faces the death penalty. -
CNA/ir/ms
