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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/man-set-marsiling-flat-fire-after-slashing-others
Man set Marsiling flat on fire after slashing others
Man set Marsiling flat on fire after slashing others
The third floor of the block in Marsiling was sealed off by police officers. Photo: Goh Chiew Tong/Channel NewsAsia
He also attempted to leap down from 13th floor of his block of flats, but could not fit into wall gap
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By
LOUISA TANG
[email protected]
Published: 11:57 PM, July 15, 2015
Updated: 12:12 AM, July 16, 2015
(Page 1 of 2) - NEXT PAGE | SINGLE PAGE
SINGAPORE — He had pulled a kitchen knife on a 60-year-old neighbour and managed to slash her cheek. But as quickly as he attacked volunteer worker Ng Yee Way, Tan Ban Huat let her go and told her to run away.
The peculiar behaviour of Tan, an unemployed man who slashed two neighbours before he shut himself in his home and set fire to it on Jan 26, emerged in a coroner’s hearing yesterday (July 15).
After the 57-year-old let Ms Ng go, he headed up to the 13th floor of his block of flats in Marsiling, the court heard. He attempted to leap down, but could not fit into the wall gap.
Tan then returned to his eighth-floor flat, set fire to it and shut himself in the toilet, where Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers found him unresponsive.
He was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
At the hearing yesterday, senior investigation officer Abidah Mubarak testified that Tan may have tried to take his own life by cutting himself superficially on the neck and forearm as well.
That day, Tan first slashed a 62-year-old cleaner, Mr Abdul Majid Maarof, on the third storey with a chopper.
Mr Majid had been fixing his bicycle handle outside his flat when he saw Tan alighting from the lift.
Tan pulled out a chopper from his pocket when he was a foot away and began attacking Mr Majid, slashing Mr Majid’s left forearm, right ear and shoulder.
Tan then tried attacking Mr Majid’s wife after she heard his shouts for help and emerged from their flat. However, the chopper’s handle gave way and its blade hit Tan’s head before dropping to the ground.
Mr Majid ran down the stairs to a relative’s flat while his wife grabbed their grandson and also ran away.
A resident, Mr William Teo, 51, told investigating officers that two days earlier, Mr Majid had kicked a soft toy that Tan was trying to sell, which may have been the trigger for the attack.
Ms Ng, who was at the third-storey sitting area during the struggle, heard the shouts for help and went over to take a look.
Tan then appeared holding a kitchen knife and grabbed her hair when she tried to run away. A struggle ensued, with the knife cutting Ms Ng’s left cheek and right palm.
When she asked why he was doing this, he told her she had interfered in his affairs.
Tan had been warned by the town council not to sell items at the void deck area; Mr Teo told investigating officers that Ms Ng had previously badmouthed and criticised Tan for it.
Ms Ng apologised repeatedly and Tan released her and told her to “better run away”.
She then ran to the end of the corridor and Tan was gone by the time she turned around.
Forensic pathologist Marian Wang said Tan died of smoke inhalation, and the police do not suspect foul play.
According to a preliminary report, the fire was started deliberately, but the SCDF is still investigating how exactly it started.
The inquiry will continue on Aug 14.
Man set Marsiling flat on fire after slashing others
Man set Marsiling flat on fire after slashing others
The third floor of the block in Marsiling was sealed off by police officers. Photo: Goh Chiew Tong/Channel NewsAsia
He also attempted to leap down from 13th floor of his block of flats, but could not fit into wall gap
View all comments
[Pin It]
Tweet
By
LOUISA TANG
[email protected]
Published: 11:57 PM, July 15, 2015
Updated: 12:12 AM, July 16, 2015
(Page 1 of 2) - NEXT PAGE | SINGLE PAGE
SINGAPORE — He had pulled a kitchen knife on a 60-year-old neighbour and managed to slash her cheek. But as quickly as he attacked volunteer worker Ng Yee Way, Tan Ban Huat let her go and told her to run away.
The peculiar behaviour of Tan, an unemployed man who slashed two neighbours before he shut himself in his home and set fire to it on Jan 26, emerged in a coroner’s hearing yesterday (July 15).
After the 57-year-old let Ms Ng go, he headed up to the 13th floor of his block of flats in Marsiling, the court heard. He attempted to leap down, but could not fit into the wall gap.
Tan then returned to his eighth-floor flat, set fire to it and shut himself in the toilet, where Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers found him unresponsive.
He was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
At the hearing yesterday, senior investigation officer Abidah Mubarak testified that Tan may have tried to take his own life by cutting himself superficially on the neck and forearm as well.
That day, Tan first slashed a 62-year-old cleaner, Mr Abdul Majid Maarof, on the third storey with a chopper.
Mr Majid had been fixing his bicycle handle outside his flat when he saw Tan alighting from the lift.
Tan pulled out a chopper from his pocket when he was a foot away and began attacking Mr Majid, slashing Mr Majid’s left forearm, right ear and shoulder.
Tan then tried attacking Mr Majid’s wife after she heard his shouts for help and emerged from their flat. However, the chopper’s handle gave way and its blade hit Tan’s head before dropping to the ground.
Mr Majid ran down the stairs to a relative’s flat while his wife grabbed their grandson and also ran away.
A resident, Mr William Teo, 51, told investigating officers that two days earlier, Mr Majid had kicked a soft toy that Tan was trying to sell, which may have been the trigger for the attack.
Ms Ng, who was at the third-storey sitting area during the struggle, heard the shouts for help and went over to take a look.
Tan then appeared holding a kitchen knife and grabbed her hair when she tried to run away. A struggle ensued, with the knife cutting Ms Ng’s left cheek and right palm.
When she asked why he was doing this, he told her she had interfered in his affairs.
Tan had been warned by the town council not to sell items at the void deck area; Mr Teo told investigating officers that Ms Ng had previously badmouthed and criticised Tan for it.
Ms Ng apologised repeatedly and Tan released her and told her to “better run away”.
She then ran to the end of the corridor and Tan was gone by the time she turned around.
Forensic pathologist Marian Wang said Tan died of smoke inhalation, and the police do not suspect foul play.
According to a preliminary report, the fire was started deliberately, but the SCDF is still investigating how exactly it started.
The inquiry will continue on Aug 14.
