Search the Community

Bishan double tragedy: jumper "appeared normal" Posted: 15 September 2011 1600 hrs SINGAPORE: Forty-eight-year-old Ng Sock Luan, who jumped from a height at a Bishan apartment block early this year and landed on another woman, was known to have had a history of harbouring suicidal thoughts. Coroner's inquest into her death however revealed that she appeared normal and did not seem to be in any form of distress just hours before her fatal leap on January 10. Her 21-year-old daughter noticed that the administrative assistant had changed into her work attire and seemed to be preparing to go to work at around 7.30am that day. Madam Ng, who was diagnosed with anxiety-depression, had told her loved ones on several occasions that she wanted to commit suicide. As a result of this, her family members had never left her alone since December last year. But she decided to jump from Block 179 Bishan Street 13 at around 11am on the one day they left her alone. Madam Ng landed on 54-year-old Lau Fong Kien who happened to be walking at the ground floor near the block of flats, killing herself and the older woman. State Coroner Imran Abdul Hamid said Ms Lau was a breast cancer survivor with a strong desire to live having beaten the cancer two years ago. He said that she was a "tragic victim" in the incident and did not see Ms Lau as someone with suicidal tendencies. But Coroner Imran said that Madam Ng was the "exact opposite" and her "balance of mind was disturbed" when she decided to make the fatal fall. Both women succumbed to multiple injuries. State Counsel Agnes Chan pointed out that injuries suffered by Madam Ng were consistent with a fall from height. Ms Chan also told the court that Ms Lau's injuries were similar to those sustained by individuals hit by falling objects. Paramedics who arrived at the scene pronounced both women dead within minutes of each other. - CNA/ck

1 in a million indeed. The woman is suspected to have jumped, crashed through the manhole cover and landed inside the longkang

What is the rationale behind making suicide illegal? Is it true that the body of a suicide case will be handcuffed? If the suicide is successful, will the person's family have to pay the fine?