Man, 70, on trial for alleged murder of his ex-lawyer's wife

[Kamuro]

Afro Asia Building fire: Man, 70, on trial for alleged murder of his ex-lawyer's wife


Published Oct 20, 2015, 1:46 pm SGT
Amir Hussain

SINGAPORE - The trial of Govindasamy Nallaiah for the alleged murder of his former lawyer's wife, Madam Low Foong Meng, four years ago began in the High Court on Tuesday (Oct 20) morning.

After the murder charge under Section 300 (d) of the Penal Code was read out to him, Govindasamy, 70, pleaded not guilty and informed the court through a Tamil interpreter that he was claiming trial.

The Section of the Penal Code under which he is charged states that he committed an act knowing that it would probably cause death, or bodily injuring likely to cause death.

Govindasamy Nallaiah is charged with the murder of Madam Low Foong Meng, wife of his former lawyer Rengarajoo Balasamy (right). -- PHOTOS: SHIN MIN, PHOTO COURTESY OF RENGARAJOO BALASAMY

He faces the death penalty, or life imprisonment, if convicted by Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng.

The prosecution's case is that Govindasamy murdered Madam Low, 56, sometime between 9.48am and 11.54am on August 10, 2011, in the office of her husband's law firm Rengarajoo & Associates, located on the sixth floor of the Afro Asia Building in 63 Robinson Road.

The court heard that Govindasamy owed legal fees to Madam Low's husband, lawyer Rengajaroo Balasamy, for representing him in a corruption trial in 2002. The amount of outstanding legal fees, including interest, as of July 2011 was $38,000.

That month, the lawyer issued a Writ of Seizure and Sale against Govindasamy's son and daughter, who had executed an acknowledgement of debt for the outstanding fees.

Between July and August 2011, Govindasamy tried to settle the fee dispute with Mr Rengarajoo, who gave him a deadline of August 10 to make the repayment, failing which he would take legal action against the latter's children.

On the morning of Aug 10, Govindasamy went to Mr Rengarajoo's office and waited for over an hour for its doors to open.

He entered the office between 9.48am and 9.55am, and negotiated with Madam Low over the fee dispute.

Angry that they could not come to an agreement, the prosecution alleges that Govindasamy took out a bicycle chain and padlock from his black haversack, and hit Madam Low several times on the head until she collapsed onto the floor.

Shortly after, a deliveryman entered the office to deliver a parcel. But Govindasamy purportedly told him that no one was in and to return later.

Govindasamy then allegedly used a lighter to set some files on a table in the office on fire, and watched it spread.

When the fire alarm rang, he purportedly packed the bicycle chain into his haversack and left the office, with Madam Low still motionless inside the burning unit.

Govindasamy was captured leaving the building on CCTV footage at about 9.57am.

The police were called at about 10am, and when they arrived at about 10.13am, flames from the windows of the office could be seen from the ground floor of the building.

Madam Low's charred body was found after the fire was put out.

The prosecution will present evidence from 59 witnesses over the course of the trial, including from a forensic pathologist who will testify that Madam Low suffered head injuries which could have rendered her unconscious. She also sustained defensive injuries on her arms. The cause of death was a combination of inhalation of fire fumes and extensive severe burns.

Among other witnesses who will be called to the stand are fire and forensic investigators, medical experts, Mr Rengarajoo, and Govindasamy's family members.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

 

[Snowman]

Deliveryman says he saw accused with bicycle chain

Mr Marco Jap says he thought the accused was doing renovation work and that an accident had occurred.

Photo: The Straits Times

Amir Hussain
Thursday, Oct 22, 2015

When deliveryman Marco Jap took a parcel to lawyer Rengarajoo Rengasamy Balasamy's office on the morning of Aug 10, 2011, he saw the latter's former client, Govindasamy Nallaiah, alone in the room holding a thick bicycle chain.

Govindasamy told him that none of the firm's employees was in and to wait outside for 10 minutes.

But shortly after he went outside, he heard loud "thuds", which sounded like a hammer hitting the floor. He also felt vibrations and smelled something burning. Then he heard a woman screaming and saw smoke coming from the office.

Yesterday, Mr Jap took the stand as a key prosecution witness on the second day of a murder trial in the High Court.

Govindasamy, 70, a former client of Mr Rengarajoo, stands accused of killing the latter's wife, Madam Low Foong Meng, 56. Her charred body was found inside the office of her husband's firm, on the sixth floor of the Afro Asia Building.

The prosecution's case is that Govindasamy, angered over a legal fee dispute lasting almost a decade, took a bicycle chain and padlock from his bag and hit Madam Low on the head until she collapsed.

Shortly after, Mr Jap came by and interrupted the supposed murder.

After Mr Jap left the office, Govindasamy allegedly used a lighter to set alight some files on a table, then watched the fire spread before leaving Madam Low unconscious inside the burning unit.

Mr Jap yesterday testified that he thought Govindasamy was doing construction or renovation work, and that an accident had occurred. He did not open the office door when he saw smoke as he was afraid that the unit might explode.

Mr Jap reported the matter to a security guard on the ground floor.

Later, he saw Govindasamy "walking briskly" and "in a hurry".

A forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy on Madam Low testified that he found three cuts on her body, which were likely caused by "a sharp, cutting instrument", such as a knife or a cleaver.

She also had five fractures to her skull, and the damage caused to her brain possibly rendered her unconscious, said Associate Professor Gilbert Lau. The senior consultant forensic pathologist with the Health Sciences Authority found the cause of Madam Low's death to be from the inhalation of fire fumes and extensive severe burns.

Prof Lau told the court that two of the three cuts he found were "defensive injuries". One almost sliced off the tip of her left middle finger, while another was on her elbow.

Madam Low's head injuries, meanwhile, caused some bleeding in the brain, but would not have been serious enough to kill her.

The"copious amounts of soot" in her airways and lungs, and "lethal" level of carbon monoxide in her blood, also meant she must have been alive at the time of the fire.

Prof Lau will be cross-examined by Govindasamy's lawyers later.

The trial continues today, with Govindasamy's four children and a family maid expected to take the stand. He faces the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted.

[email protected]

 

[Kamuro]

Accused, victim's hubby were 'childhood friends'

Govindasamy Nallaiah (centre) was taken back to the scene of the murder on Aug 17, 2011.

Photo: Shin Min

Amir Hussain
Wednesday, Nov 4, 2015

SINGAPORE - When Govindasamy Nallaiah, 70, was facing a corruption charge in 2002, he turned to childhood friend and lawyer Rengarajoo Rengasamy Balasamy. They had known each other since they were 15 .

Now, Govindasamy is facing a charge of murdering Mr Rengarajoo's wife over an unpaid legal fee. He took the stand yesterday - the sixth day of the murder trial - to reveal details of his relationship with the lawyer.

"We had been friends from childhood and he also has police experience... He said that he could win this case," he said, referring to the 2002 graft case. His friend quoted a $25,000 fee, and Govindasamy agreed. He paid a $5,000 deposit over a few instalments, he said.

But the case was lost and he was sentenced to five months' jail.

In 2005, Govindasamy told Mr Rengarajoo the legal fee was too high and wanted it reduced. "I told him I had no income; I was driving a taxi, my wife was in a wheelchair." But the lawyer said "no".

In July 2011, he offered to pay Mr Rengarajoo $5,000 upfront, with the remainder of his debt, which was $38,000 by that time due to additional costs and interest, in $1,000 instalments. The lawyer, he said, asked for $15,000 upfront and monthly instalments of $2,000.

On Aug 10, 2011, the day his debt was due, Govindasamy went to the lawyer's firm at the Afro Asia Building. The lawyer's wife, Madam Low Foong Meng, was the only one there. He pleaded with her for more time. But he told the court he got angry when she replied that his children would be made bankrupt if he did not pay up. He hit her with a bicycle chain and padlock.

He then found his file and tried to burn it with a lighter. That did not work so he set fire to a towel and placed it on the file. He fled when the fire spread and the alarm rang. Asked by defence lawyer R. Thrumurgan what he thought would happen after he left, he said he expected sprinklers to activate and that security guards would save Madam Low, who died from her burns and smoke inhalation.

Yesterday, forensic pathologist Gilbert Lau maintained that the three cuts he found on Madam Low's body were caused by a knife or a cleaver. Govindasamy insisted that he did not use any other weapon.The trial continues today.

 

[Kamuro]

Afro Asia Building fire: Man who hit woman and set fire to office cleared of murder, guilty of culpable homicide

Govindasamy Nallaiah (in red) being escorted by policemen to the Afro Asia Building on Aug 17, 2011. PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER

Published Feb 16, 2016, 11:32 am SGT
Selina Lum

SINGAPORE - A 71-year-old man who hit the wife of his lawyer on the head with a bicycle chain and padlock, then set fire to his office with her trapped inside, was cleared of murder on Tuesday (Feb 16).

Instead, Govindasamy Nallaiah was found guilty by the High Court of a lesser charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder .

The prosecution and defence were given two weeks to prepare sentencing arguments. Govindasamy now faces a maximum of 10 years' jail and a fine. He cannot be caned as he is more than 50 years old.

He originally faced life imprisonment or death for committing an act which was "so imminently dangerous that it must in all probability cause death". This is a rarely invoked provision, which is unique because it is the only form of murder which does not require the prosecution to prove an intention to cause death or injury.

Delivering her decision on Tuesday, Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng found that the prosecuction had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Govindasmy's act of setting fire to the office was so imminently dangerous that it must in all probability cause death.

First, she noted that Madam Low Foong Meng was not injured so badly that she would not have regained consciousness or that she was completely immobile. She suffered three non-fatal wounds, as well as five shallow skull fractures from Govindasamy's assault.

Second, she noted that Govindasamy did not use any accelerant and did not set out to "torch everything in sight" but had set fire only to a secretary's table.

Third, the JC noted that escape was not impossible. The door of the office was unlocked when the fire was lit, there were no obstacles to obstruct Madam Low from escaping and Govindasmy did not restrain Madam Low after hitting her.

The court had heard during the trial last year that Govindasamy owed more than $38,000 in legal fees to Madam Low's husband, Mr Rengarajoo Rengasamy Balasamy, for representing him in a 2002 corruption trial.

In July 2011, the lawyer issued a writ of seizure and sale against Govindasamy's son and daughter. Govindasamy tried to settle the dispute with Mr Rengarajoo, who gave him a deadline of Aug 10 that year to make the repayment.

On the morning of the deadline, Govindasamy went to the lawyer's office on the sixth floor of the Afro Asia Building in Robinson Road.

Govindasamy negotiated the fee dispute with Madam Low. He then took out a bicycle chain and padlock from his rucksack and hit her on the head several times until she collapsed. He then used a lighter to set some files on a table in the office on fire before fleeing, leaving Madam Low inside.

On Tuesday, Govindasamy's lawyer R. Thrumurgan said his client was sorry for what had happened and was grateful to the court for listening to his side of the story.

 

[Kamuro]

Man jailed 10 years over fatal attack

Govindasamy (centre), seen in a 2011 file photo, attacked Madam Low in August 2011 by hitting her on the head with a bicycle chain and setting fire to her husband's law office, leaving her inside.SHIN MIN FILE PHOTO

Published 1 hour ago

71-year-old cabby who killed lawyer's wife in 'deplorable' act gets maximum sentence

Selina Lum

A 71-year-old taxi driver, who killed his lawyer's wife after hitting her on the head with a bicycle chain and setting fire to the law office she was in, was sent to jail yesterday with the maximum sentence of 10 years.

Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng agreed with the prosecution that this was one of the most serious instances of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. She called Govindasamy Nallaiah's attack on Madam Low Foong Meng, 55, "deplorable" for causing the victim to suffer multiple injuries.

The jail term was backdated to August 2011 when Govindasamy was in custody. If given the usual one-third remission for good behaviour, he could be released in two years.

In February, Govindasamy was convicted of the lesser charge of culpable homicide and cleared of murder. He originally faced life imprisonment or death under a rarely invoked murder charge. Under the provision, a killing amounts to murder if the person commits an act knowing it is so imminently dangerous that it would in all probability cause death.

But the court found that the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that his act "would in all probability cause death". He was, however, guilty of culpable homicide as his act was "likely" to cause death.

Madam Low's husband, Mr Rengarajoo Rengasamy Balasamy, was not in court for the sentencing. When The Straits Times contacted him later, he said: "That's what the court thought was correct... There's nothing I can say about it. What status do I have?"

He said the case was a matter between the prosecution and the accused, adding: "What I've lost, I've lost. I'm not going to get it back."

Asked if he felt angry towards Govindasamy, he replied: "Of course. I'm not Mahatma Gandhi or Jesus Christ, I'm an ordinary human being with all the feelings. You put yourself in my place and you will know how it feels like."

The court heard during the trial last year that Govindasamy owed Mr Rengarajoo, a childhood friend, $38,000 in legal fees incurred when the lawyer represented him in a 2002 corruption trial. In July 2011, Mr Rengarajoo took legal action against Govindasamy's son to recover the debt. Govindasamy was given a deadline to pay by Aug 10, 2011, or his son and daughter- his guarantors - would be taken to court.

That morning, Govindasamy went to Mr Rengarajoo's office in the Afro Asia Building and tried to negotiate with Madam Low. When that failed, he took out a bicycle chain and padlock and hit her on the head until she passed out. He then used a lighter to set some files on a table on fire before fleeing, leaving her inside.

Yesterday, his lawyer, Ms A. Sangeetha, sought a jail term of not more than seven years, arguing that "his paternal instincts had overcome his rationality". Govindasamy had gone from being a senior Customs officer to a bankrupt after his corruption conviction and did not want his children, both civil servants, to have the same fate, she said.

The prosecution sought the maximum term of 10 years. It argued that Govindasmy's acts were pre-meditated and calculated, noting that after knocking Madam Low out, he had the presence of mind to search the office for a file containing his children's acknowledgment of debt.

As Govindasamy's family left the court yesterday, his daughter, Ms Letchmi Ghandi Govindasamy, said through tears that the family would "just wait for him to come back".