- Joined
- Aug 6, 2008
- Messages
- 197
- Points
- 0
Not bad. Despite the bad times, people still have big heart.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101229-0000147/KTV-hostess-drowning-ruled-as-misadventure
KTV hostess drowning ruled as misadventure
The 1.54m-tall non-swimmer may have entered 1.5m-deep end of pool: Coroner
by Leong Wee Keat
Dec 29, 2010
SINGAPORE - Seeking answers at the inquest, the frail-looking man was at a loss for words after yesterday's Coroner's Inquiry into the death of his daughter, Chinese karaoke lounge hostess Li Hongyan.
"My mind is in a blank. I feel vexed," said Mr Li Kui You, 58, when asked about his reaction to the State Coroner's findings.
Earlier, State Coroner Victor Yeo ruled Ms Li had accidentally drowned and recorded a misadventure verdict.
The 24-year-old's naked body was found floating in a Sentosa Cove bungalow's swimming pool on March 24.
Ms Li, a Chinese national, was at the bungalow after its owner at the time, Mr Adrian Chua Boon Chye, offered her $800 for company and sexual services.
It was not the first time Mr Chua, the founder and chief executive of real estate investment company Roundhill Capital, had brought Ms Li home, the inquiry heard. There were at least two previous occasions he did so.
Testifying yesterday, Mr Chua said the couple "were both high" but denied being drunk that night. They had alcoholic drinks at two nightclubs and Ms Li had a can of beer when she arrived at Sentosa Cove, the 39-year-old said.
Mr Chua said they engaged in sex but denied using force on her. He fell asleep at around 3am to 4am, intoxicated.
Around 3.48am, closed-circuit television camera recordings captured Ms Li, fully clothed, walking towards the bungalow's sliding doors leading to the pool - the last time she was seen alive.
Ms Li was a non-swimmer, Mr Chua said. But they had smoked at the poolside area.
Mr Chua's domestic helper, Ms Aye Aye Tun, testified yesterday that she saw a lighter and a pack of cigarettes on a table near the pool at around 6am, when she awoke.
There were women's clothes on a chair but Ms Aye said she was not surprised as her employer had brought many different women home. She did not notice anything amiss as it was still dark.
State Coroner Yeo felt that Ms Li had decided to enter the pool and had removed her clothing to keep them dry.
"Unfortunately, as she descended the steps of the pool, she probably did not know that the depth of the pool was 1.5m deep," he said. "Considering that she was a petite lady, 1.54m tall, and that she could not swim, she probably got into difficulties as she stepped into the deepest end of the pool."
Mr Yeo added Ms Li could have accidentally slipped and fallen into the deep end of the pool as she was wading down the steps and the pool's lights were not switched on.
"Given that she was not a swimmer, and in the darkness under the water, she would have difficulty in getting out of the water or to the shallow steps " he said.
An autopsy report certified Ms Li's cause of death as drowning.
Ms Li's family said they would "face reality and try to move on with their lives".
Outside the courts, a man handed Mr Li an envelope containing donations. Requesting anonymity, he said he had been following the case. "It is a sad ending," he said. "If I can help them, why not?"
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101229-0000147/KTV-hostess-drowning-ruled-as-misadventure
KTV hostess drowning ruled as misadventure
The 1.54m-tall non-swimmer may have entered 1.5m-deep end of pool: Coroner
by Leong Wee Keat
Dec 29, 2010
SINGAPORE - Seeking answers at the inquest, the frail-looking man was at a loss for words after yesterday's Coroner's Inquiry into the death of his daughter, Chinese karaoke lounge hostess Li Hongyan.
"My mind is in a blank. I feel vexed," said Mr Li Kui You, 58, when asked about his reaction to the State Coroner's findings.
Earlier, State Coroner Victor Yeo ruled Ms Li had accidentally drowned and recorded a misadventure verdict.
The 24-year-old's naked body was found floating in a Sentosa Cove bungalow's swimming pool on March 24.
Ms Li, a Chinese national, was at the bungalow after its owner at the time, Mr Adrian Chua Boon Chye, offered her $800 for company and sexual services.
It was not the first time Mr Chua, the founder and chief executive of real estate investment company Roundhill Capital, had brought Ms Li home, the inquiry heard. There were at least two previous occasions he did so.
Testifying yesterday, Mr Chua said the couple "were both high" but denied being drunk that night. They had alcoholic drinks at two nightclubs and Ms Li had a can of beer when she arrived at Sentosa Cove, the 39-year-old said.
Mr Chua said they engaged in sex but denied using force on her. He fell asleep at around 3am to 4am, intoxicated.
Around 3.48am, closed-circuit television camera recordings captured Ms Li, fully clothed, walking towards the bungalow's sliding doors leading to the pool - the last time she was seen alive.
Ms Li was a non-swimmer, Mr Chua said. But they had smoked at the poolside area.
Mr Chua's domestic helper, Ms Aye Aye Tun, testified yesterday that she saw a lighter and a pack of cigarettes on a table near the pool at around 6am, when she awoke.
There were women's clothes on a chair but Ms Aye said she was not surprised as her employer had brought many different women home. She did not notice anything amiss as it was still dark.
State Coroner Yeo felt that Ms Li had decided to enter the pool and had removed her clothing to keep them dry.
"Unfortunately, as she descended the steps of the pool, she probably did not know that the depth of the pool was 1.5m deep," he said. "Considering that she was a petite lady, 1.54m tall, and that she could not swim, she probably got into difficulties as she stepped into the deepest end of the pool."
Mr Yeo added Ms Li could have accidentally slipped and fallen into the deep end of the pool as she was wading down the steps and the pool's lights were not switched on.
"Given that she was not a swimmer, and in the darkness under the water, she would have difficulty in getting out of the water or to the shallow steps " he said.
An autopsy report certified Ms Li's cause of death as drowning.
Ms Li's family said they would "face reality and try to move on with their lives".
Outside the courts, a man handed Mr Li an envelope containing donations. Requesting anonymity, he said he had been following the case. "It is a sad ending," he said. "If I can help them, why not?"
