SINGAPORE — The 50-yr-old Singaporean male who was arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and transferred to Singapore on Wednesday (16 Nov), has been charged in court on Friday with the murder of a 27-year-old woman.
Caleb Joshua Chai Shanmugam, a 50-year-old Singaporean, was charged on Friday with the murder of 27-year-old Rachel Ang Qi Ying.
He is accused of causing her death through unspecified means at about 7 pm on 9 Nov at Block 2, Beach Road.
Chai was charged via a field magistrate and his case will be heard in court for a further mention next week.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) had earlier shared that they were alerted to a case of unnatural death at a shop along Beach Road last Sunday.
They found the 27-year-old woman on the premises, who was subsequently pronounced dead by the paramedic at the scene.
The woman is linked to a missing person report made last Thursday evening, said SPF.
The 50-year-old man was identified to be in connection to the case, but he had left for Malaysia on the morning of the same day when the missing person report was filed.
SPF said it immediately sought assistance from the RMP to locate him.
The man was then arrested by the RMP on Tuesday and handed over to SPF on the next day.
Investigations are ongoing.
“The Singapore authorities will do whatever is necessary and permissible under our laws to pursue and bring to justice those who commit crimes in Singapore, regardless of where they might have fled to,” the police said.
“We will also not hesitate to take firm action against them.”
Murder Victim Reported Missing Since 9 November
Ms Ang had been reported by her friend to be missing since last Wednesday (9 Nov).
According to a viral Facebook post by Ang’s friend seeking information about her whereabouts – which has since been deleted, Ang had told her mother that she will be going home soon at 7 pm but later sent a text at 7.22 pm to say that she will not be going home.
Her friend noted that this is unusual, as based on past experience – she would pick up her mother’s call and tell her that she will be heading home soon and rarely stay out till the next morning.
Her friend had tried to contact Ang but was unable to do so. Noting that audio messages to her were unread. Ang had arranged last Monday to meet her friend on 11 November.
The family and friends tried to contact Ang’s business partner who is referred to as “Caleb” however they could not reach him as his phone was off as well.
Ang’s aunt noted in the comment section of the Facebook post that a police report had been filed and she could not have travelled out of Singapore as her passport was still at home.
An update on 12 November states that the police noted that there is a notice at the shop stating that it is in the midst of renovation till 13 November.
While another update on the post, states a lady from the Beach Road Shop contacted her via Facebook that their shop has been closed for a week and that Rachel was always with her business partner.
Based on the Facebook posting of Ang’s family, it would appear that they were notified of her death on Sunday evening.
Ang’s body was cremated on Tuesday and a private memorial service was held for her on Wednesday.
