Funeral Director Who’s Accused of Assisting Ex-BF’s Suicide Sentenced to 6 Years & 2 Months in Jail

The case involving a funeral director accused of assisting her former boyfriend’s suicide and lying about his death has finally reached a conclusion. Well, sort of.

Alverna Cher Sheue Pin, a single mother of two, initially planned to plead guilty in July 2023 but changed her mind and opted to stand trial for the charges. On 13 September, she was found guilty of intentionally aiding the suicide of Mr Wee, 32, on 16 May 2020, and obstructing the course of justice.

Today (18 October 2024), she was sentenced to six years and two months in jail.

Cher has filed an appeal on conviction and sentence.

Recap of The Incident

Cher and Mr Wee began their relationship in 2019.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Mr Wee had made Cher a beneficiary of his $1 million life insurance policy, which entitled her to 20 percent of the payout.

However, since he passed away less than a year after the policy was purchased, no payment was made to Cher.

From February to May 2020, Mr Wee made arrangements to end his life in a manner that would appear natural.

On 16 May 2020, he collected a nitrogen gas tank and went to a carpark at Block 145A Bedok Reservoir Road.

Cher, who arrived at the scene wearing latex gloves, joined Mr Wee in the van. According to the prosecution, instead of seeking help for Mr Wee, she released additional nitrogen gas from the tank.

Cher left Mr Wee alone in the van but returned later in the afternoon to find him dead.

Following this, she called upon Lawrence Cheo Oon Hooi to drive the van away from the scene.

Although Cher denied her involvement in assisting Mr Wee, her conflicting statements to the police weakened her defense.

At one point, Cher admitted to turning the valve on the nitrogen tank “four to five times.”

The judge determined that Mr Wee had died from nitrogen gas inhalation, and the evidence supported that Cher had played an active role in aiding his suicide.

The prosecution sought a significant sentence, citing that Cher was not a “passive onlooker” but had knowingly assisted in the suicide.

They pushed for a sentence in the upper range for aiding suicide, which can result in up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Additionally, the prosecution sought 1 to 1½ years for the obstruction of justice, as Cher had agreed to help dispose of evidence and had even written Mr Wee’s eulogy.

In her defense, Cher’s lawyer argued that her role in the incident was minimal compared to Mr Wee, who had meticulously planned and researched his own suicide.

He requested a more lenient sentence, arguing that Cher had already endured significant suffering.