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Dec 27, 2010
Christmas spook-fest at ex-CID lock-ups
By Jalelah Abu Baker
Ticket-holders who turned up at the horror-themed event at the former CID headquarters were met by actors dressed as demons, ghouls and werewolves. They also got a rare chance to look at the 13 lock-up cells. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
AS PARTYGOERS revelled in the festive spirit over the Christmas season, thousands of others were dabbling in spirits of a different sort.
On Christmas Day, more than 2,000 people forked out $28 for an adult ticket or $18 for a child's ticket for a horror-themed event at the former headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Eu Tong Sen Street.
The event, which started last Wednesday, is expected to last till Sunday, although it is not open today and tomorrow. Opening hours are from 6.30pm to 3am.
The draw? A rare chance to get a glimpse into all 13 lock-up cells in the building.
Actors made up to look like demons, ghouls and werewolves lurked in dark corners to scare the ticket-holders who turned up at the five-storey building.
Members of the Singapore Paranormal Investigators - a group of volunteers who gather data that they hope will lead to a better understanding of the paranormal - also gave talks on the colourful history of the building.
This includes the death of a police officer who shot himself in a toilet cubicle on the third floor in 1990.
Before the CID moved out of the premises in 2001, the cells housed drug abusers, rapists and murderers pending their appearances in court.
The site, which is now under the purview of the Singapore Land Authority, is available for event organisers.
Mr Spencer Ng, the project director of organiser Imperial Ministries, said it took two months for the SLA to approve its proposal for the horror-themed event, entitled 13 Cells.
'Usually, people do the same things during festive periods, like shopping. We wanted to give them something different to do,' he said.
To that end, the events company roped in the Singapore Paranormal Investigators to increase the fear factor.
However, the scare tactics did little to spook Ms Veronica Teo, 39, who was there with her family on Christmas Day. She was more excited at being inside the old CID building.
'I wanted to take a look at the cells since it is the first time it is open to the public,' said the air stewardess.
For a 44-year-old former police officer, who declined to be named, it was a homecoming of sorts. He was stationed at the building from 1987 to 1992, when it also housed the Central Police Division, and knew the officer who shot himself.
The former officer revealed that his colleague had tried to confide in him that morning. He was also the one who found the body later. Since then, he has developed a fear of visiting public toilets at night.
Guilt at not being able to help his friend has kept him visiting his grave every year for the past 20 years.
From its opening last Wednesday until Christmas Day, the 13 Cells event attracted 11,000 people. An additional 10,000 are expected during the New Year period, said Mr Ng.
'There has never been such a horror house here before, so it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance and the most unique way to spend the New Year,' he said.
Christmas spook-fest at ex-CID lock-ups
By Jalelah Abu Baker
Ticket-holders who turned up at the horror-themed event at the former CID headquarters were met by actors dressed as demons, ghouls and werewolves. They also got a rare chance to look at the 13 lock-up cells. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
AS PARTYGOERS revelled in the festive spirit over the Christmas season, thousands of others were dabbling in spirits of a different sort.
On Christmas Day, more than 2,000 people forked out $28 for an adult ticket or $18 for a child's ticket for a horror-themed event at the former headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Eu Tong Sen Street.
The event, which started last Wednesday, is expected to last till Sunday, although it is not open today and tomorrow. Opening hours are from 6.30pm to 3am.
The draw? A rare chance to get a glimpse into all 13 lock-up cells in the building.
Actors made up to look like demons, ghouls and werewolves lurked in dark corners to scare the ticket-holders who turned up at the five-storey building.
Members of the Singapore Paranormal Investigators - a group of volunteers who gather data that they hope will lead to a better understanding of the paranormal - also gave talks on the colourful history of the building.
This includes the death of a police officer who shot himself in a toilet cubicle on the third floor in 1990.
Before the CID moved out of the premises in 2001, the cells housed drug abusers, rapists and murderers pending their appearances in court.
The site, which is now under the purview of the Singapore Land Authority, is available for event organisers.
Mr Spencer Ng, the project director of organiser Imperial Ministries, said it took two months for the SLA to approve its proposal for the horror-themed event, entitled 13 Cells.
'Usually, people do the same things during festive periods, like shopping. We wanted to give them something different to do,' he said.
To that end, the events company roped in the Singapore Paranormal Investigators to increase the fear factor.
However, the scare tactics did little to spook Ms Veronica Teo, 39, who was there with her family on Christmas Day. She was more excited at being inside the old CID building.
'I wanted to take a look at the cells since it is the first time it is open to the public,' said the air stewardess.
For a 44-year-old former police officer, who declined to be named, it was a homecoming of sorts. He was stationed at the building from 1987 to 1992, when it also housed the Central Police Division, and knew the officer who shot himself.
The former officer revealed that his colleague had tried to confide in him that morning. He was also the one who found the body later. Since then, he has developed a fear of visiting public toilets at night.
Guilt at not being able to help his friend has kept him visiting his grave every year for the past 20 years.
From its opening last Wednesday until Christmas Day, the 13 Cells event attracted 11,000 people. An additional 10,000 are expected during the New Year period, said Mr Ng.
'There has never been such a horror house here before, so it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance and the most unique way to spend the New Year,' he said.
