http://anyhowhantam.blogspot.sg/2015/02/indian-national-escapes-murder-charge.html
Gursharan Singh with Police Officers from the SIS at Whampoa River, showing his actions in helping to dispose of the body - Straits Time photo.
This was in reference to a gruesome murder in December 2013 at Balestier Road. Mdm Jasvender Kaur's body was discovered floating in bags along the Whampoa River near McNair Road. Her head and hands were missing while her arms were mutilated. Such a gory murder naturally sparked outrage and revulsion amongst society. As such it was very much surprising to read that the Prosecution had dropped the murder charges against Gursharan and didn't even substitute it with culpable homicide not amounting to murder (manslaughter), if they didn't want to pursue the capital charge. The comments that followed the post on FB were naturally angry and highly critical of the AGC for letting the man get away with murder. Some as always, alluded to the fact that foreigners seemingly always get off lightly while locals face the brunt of the law here. 1 even suggested it was due to Singapore's Free Trade Agreement with India, and as such the Govt has been pressured into treating Indian nationals accused of crime lightly.
Then I decided to refresh my memory on the case and pulled up the Straits Times article on the charges being dropped:
SINGAPORE - A forklift driver accused of murdering a beautician whose decapitated body was found floating in the Whampoa River was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on Friday.
However the prosecution tendered two fresh charges against Indian national Gursharan Singh for causing evidence of a murder offence to disappear and failing to report the offence to a police officer.
The 26-year-old had been accused of murdering 33-year-old Indian national Madam Jasvinder Kaur at a Balestier Road house in December 2013.
He was charged on Friday with disposing of Madam Kaur's body at or around the Whampoa River, near Block 110 McNair Road.
He allegedly committed the offence with the woman's husband, logistics executive Harvinder Singh, 35, between Dec 11 and 12 that year. Harvinder Singh, who is also from India, is now on Interpol's wanted list.
Gursharan is also accused of intentionally withholding information about the offence from the police.
Madam Kaur's body was found in a rubbish bag floating in the waterway between McNair Road and St George's Road. Her head and hands were missing, and her arms had apparently been mutilated.
She came to Singapore from India in September that year on a dependant's pass. Her husband arrived in February and was working here as a senior logistics coordinator.
Bail of $50,000 was offered to Gursharan, who will appear in court again on March 20.