Painting Worker Discovers Skeletal Remains of Elderly Man While Working on HDB Exterior at Sims Place

By
Loh Huey Xin
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On 28 Mar 2025, a painting worker working on an HDB block’s exterior made a shocking discovery when he spotted skeletal remains through a window.

The deceased was identified as a 71-year-old man who had been living alone in the unit.

Discovery Through Routine Painting Work

According to Shin Min Daily News, the incident happened at around 2:10 PM on Friday at a 10th-floor unit of Block 63 at Sims Place.

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When reporters arrived at the scene at about 4:00 PM, police had already cordoned off the area, with three to four officers conducting investigations inside the unit.

The unit’s door had two suitcases and a television set placed outside. Through the uncovered windows, both the living room and bedroom could be seen filled with clutter.

Based on observations, a notice posted on the ground-floor bulletin board indicated that renovation works were being carried out in the area.

The painting works had started on the 10th of this month and were scheduled to finish on 10 May 2025.

Scaffolding had been installed outside the block, and it’s believed that the painters discovered the remains while working on the exterior walls.

Neighbours Unaware of Death for Nearly a Year

Painter Mahfuj (name transliterated from Mandarin), 27, revealed in an interview that he was painting the exterior walls when he passed by the unit and noticed a strange smell.

He immediately notified his supervisor and called the police.

Another painting worker who wished to remain anonymous said they saw skeletal remains on the bedroom bed, with clothes nearby.

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“Someone died inside, only bones were left!” he said.

Neighbours disclosed that the deceased had lived alone for many years and rarely interacted with others.

Jamal (name transliterated from Mandarin), a 73-year-old retiree living nearby, said the man had already been living there when he moved in about six or seven years ago, but never socialized with neighbours.

“He kept his door locked during the day and only came out at night. I’ve lived here for so long but never saw any relatives visiting him,” Jamal said.

Next-door neighbour Ms. Chen, 90, mentioned that she had worried something might have happened to him but didn’t smell anything unusual, so she didn’t think much of it.

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“I hadn’t seen him for a long time and wondered if he might have died inside. I never thought my concerns would come true.”

Police confirmed receiving a report of an unnatural death, stating that a 71-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on preliminary investigations, they don’t suspect any criminal activity.

The case remains under investigation.

 

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Loh Huey Xin