Resident Donated $10 for Woman to See Doctor; She Bought Cigarettes Instead

The pandemic has hit many people hard, so it’s not surprising to see a rise in people who had no choice but to beg others for some money or food to get by.

And then there’s this seemingly homeless “auntie” who lied through her teeth to tug at the heartstrings of passers-by, only to use the money she got to satisfy her cigarette addiction.

Resident Donated $10 for Woman to See Doctor; She Bought Cigarettes Instead

A resident of Block 108 at Yishun Ring Road, 30-year-old Ed (艾德), told the reporter from LianHe WanBao (联合晚报) that the auntie had asked him for money a week before.

“That time, I was returning home on my bicycle while listening to music on my earphones. She called out to me from afar, waving me over. She said she was ill and asked S$10 from me to go see a doctor.”

Ed didn’t believe the auntie’s words but he did end up giving her S$2 out of pity.

A 15-year-old said that the auntie started living on the ground floor of the HDB for the past two months.

He saw the auntie sleeping on the bench when he headed to school, he believes that the auntie is spending the nights there.

He even said that the auntie asked his father for money before.

At first, the father pitied her and gave her S$10 but when she ended up asking him for more money, his father then refused.

Another unnamed resident said that the auntie also asked him for money, but he refused to give her any.

He claimed that he saw the auntie went to a grocery store and bought 5 to 6 packs of cigarettes.

“Luckily I didn’t give her any money. She told me she’s begging for money just to get some food, but she ended up using all those cash to buy cigarettes. It just makes me mad.”

Disagreements with Her Roommate Made Her Homeless

The 54-year-old Auntie in question, Ms Deng (邓女士), told the reporter that she originally rented a room in the HDB.

However, because of disagreements with her roommate, she ended up ending her rental contract and moved downstairs to the ground floor of the HDB.

“I don’t have any siblings, and as for why I chose to live here, it’s because the people in this HDB treat me well. At times, they will give me money to buy some food to eat.”

She also denied begging the residents there for money.

“I don’t have any income but I will never beg anyone for money. Even if I’m hungry, I will just bear with it.”

That being said, from the many residents that talked to the reporter, it seemed that the auntie is not telling the truth.

The Auntie was Spotted Living at the Ground Floor of the HDB Years Ago

According to a 56-year-old factory worker, Lisa, she recalled the same auntie living on the ground floor of the HDB several years ago, but the auntie disappeared for a while.

The auntie reappeared at the same spot around 2 months ago.

“She also asked me for money. I was frightened and rushed home instead.”

She added, “I observed her from a distance and I saw the auntie urging another uncle to ask for money from passers-by.”

The Yishun Town Council corroborated with what Lisa had claimed, stating that the auntie had been previously arranged to live in a transitional shelter on Spooner Road.

They also state that the Social Service Office is closely following the issue.

Featured Image: Google Maps