31YO Tan Qiu Yan, Who’s Accused of Killing Dad in Sengkang, Remanded for Psychiatric Observation

The next court hearing of Tan Qiu Yan, the 31-year-old woman accused of murdering her father in a Sengkang HDB flat, was held today and if you think there would be more updates about her motive, you’re wrong.

The woman appeared in court via video link, and her case would be adjourned to 2 December 2022 as she will now be held in remand for three more weeks for psychiatric observation.

What Happened

Tan Qiu Yan was arrested for her alleged involvement in the murder of the 67-year-old father, and was charged for one count of murder in court the next day.

The incident took place at Block 190A, Rivervale Drive in Sengkang.

Reportedly, the daughter and father had been arguing over the ownership of the 4-room Sengkang HDB flat prior to the homicide.

Before The Family Fell Apart

According to the relatives’ statements, Tan Ah Beng and his late wife—who died of cancer two months ago—had doted on their daughter.

Tan Qiu Yan was not the couple’s biological child.

Tan Ah Beng and Xu Lihua had adopted her from her Malaysian mother when she was just an infant.

The mother, Xu Lihua, was diagnosed with lung cancer three years ago.

Nevertheless, the family of three was a happy family.

In August 2019, they joined in a two-day and one-night (2D1N) Desaru Coast tour in Malaysia.

While they were on the holiday, the mother, Xu Lihua, had been lucky enough to win an 2D1N accommodation package. To commemorate the occasion, the family had taken a photo.

Image: zaobao.com.sg

In the photo, Tan Ah Beng is seated in the middle, with his late wife standing on the left, while their adopted daughter stands beside her and holds up the envelope.

The Day of The Murder

Tan Ah Bang reportedly retired seven or eight years ago, and suffered a stroke five years ago. Worried that she won’t have any money or a place to stay after her adoptive father passed, Qiu Yan asked for the HDB flat to be transferred to her name.

According to relatives, the father and daughter have been arguing about this issue for the past two months. Although the extended family tried to make Qiu Yan understand that the money and HDB flat will be hers if Ah Bang died, she kept insisting on a transfer now.

This escalated till 4am on 4 November, when neighbours who got up to pray heard sudden noises and Ah Bang’s screaming, “What the hell are you doing?”

They heard sounds of heavy objects falling to the ground for almost an hour, until the murder happened at about 5:30am.

The police said in a statement that they received a call for assistance at 5:30am. Tan Qiu Yan purportedly called the authorities herself.

Upon arrival, officers found the 67-year-old victim lying motionlessly on the ground with multiple wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The police were seen questioning residents of the block about any disturbances they heard, as well as rifling through the garbage chute.

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Featured Image: Shin Min Daily News 新明日报