Another Man in Orchard Towers Murder Sentenced to 4 Years 9 Months’ Jail with Caning

The infamous Orchard Towers murder case may have occurred back in 2019, but it feels like just yesterday when we first learnt of the horrific murder of Mr Satheesh.

Though of course, the inclusion of a certain Natalie Siow probably helps to jog those distant memories as well. 

As it is, two years have passed, and four of the seven people linked to the case have since been convicted and imprisoned.

Correction, it’s five now.

Another Man in Orchard Towers Murder Sentenced to 4 Years 9 Months’ Jail with Caning

Tan Hong Sheng, now 24, has pleaded guilty to a “reduced charge of being in the company of someone who had a weapon in his possession”.

He was initially slapped with a murder charge, following his involvement in the 2019 murder case.

However, his lawyers stated that Tan had not been involved in the attack.

The court documents read: “During this time, the accused had noticed that (Tan Sen Yang) had the kerambit knife in his right hand when he went towards Satheesh and started punching him with the said knife in his right hand.

“During this assault, (Tan Sen Yang) injured Satheesh fatally when he used the kerambit knife to inflict multiple injures to Satheesh’s head and neck area.”

As such, Tan’s offence was reduced.

On 5 March 2021, Tan was given a jail sentence of four years and nine months, and 12 strokes of the cane.

Apart from the reduced charge, he had also confessed to two unrelated rioting charges last month.

On 18 Nov 2018, Tan was involved in a fight at Club V5 Thai disco, and had used a liquor bottle to repeatedly hit a man’s head.

He subsequently fled to Johor Bahru, but was arrested upon his return to Singapore.

Tan was then released “pending further investigations”.

Two months later, he was involved in another fight, this time outside District 9 in Orchard Road.

Tan reportedly struck a man’s face numerous times with a pair of ice tongs.

He was subsequently arrested, and later released on bail.

Sixth Man

Tan was the sixth affiliated party to face trial in a district court.

He was the fifth to be convicted and imprisoned, after Natalie Siow Yu Zhen, 24, Joel Tan Yun Sheng, Ang Da Yuan and Loo Boon Chong.

Another member of the group, Mr Chan Jia Xing, 27, was let off with a conditional warning.

The seventh member, Tan Sen Yang, will still face a murder charge.

The 28-year-old is charged under section 300(c) of the Penal Code, for causing the death of Satheesh Noel s/o Gobidass by using a karambit knife with the intention of causing multiple injuries to the deceased’s head and neck area, and the said bodily injury was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death.

His case was transmitted to the High Court, where he is due to face trial.

Recap of the Orchard Tower Murder Case

At 6:12 =am on Tuesday (2 July 2019), a fight occurred between a group of people and one person in Orchard Towers.

The victim was 31-year-old Mr Satheesh Noel Gobidass, who was allegedly a married mechanic with a five-year-old daughter,

He was also believed to be a regular at the Naughty Girl Club.

After being assaulted by Tan Sen Yang, he collapsed and was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

He was pronounced dead at around 7.30am.

The case sparked nationwide attention, though a chunk of it can be attributed to the inclusion of Natalie Siow – whose looks had sent the Internet into a fiery debate.

In fact, some even called for her innocence simply because she was deemed to be pretty.

“She is just innocent bystander! Chio bu cannot be murderer!” one wrote.

“Chio bu don’t pang sai! Support Natalie! Justice for Natalie!”

Meanwhile, if you’re curious about the sentencing procedure, and how one member had actually gotten off with a mere conditional warning, you can read this article.

Featured Image: Facebook (Hidayah Rizqah)