Murder charge in Tuas chopper attack

A 25-year-old man appeared in a Singapore court on Monday (Aug 31) charged with murdering a 29-year-old man in the Tuas industrial district over the weekend. Muruganathan Kathirvel, an Indian national, is accused of causing the death of Raj Maheshkumar by slashing his neck area with a chopper at about 10pm on Aug 29 along Tuas South Avenue 9.

The charge was handed down a day after the incident, according to court records. The accused appeared via video link, dressed in a red polo T-shirt, as reported by The Straits Times.

Police response and arrest

The police said they received a call for assistance at about 10pm on Aug 29 along Tuas South Street 15, towards Tuas South Avenue 14. On arrival, officers found the victim lying motionless on the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic.

The accused was arrested within four hours of the incident, as stated in a police statement. Preliminary investigations suggest that the victim and the accused know each other, according to CNA. The charge sheets did not state how the two men knew each other, as reported by The Straits Times.

The prosecutor asked for the accused to be remanded for a week, and his case will be heard again on Sept 7, The Straits Times reported.

Legal implications

If convicted of murder, the accused could be sentenced to death, both CNA and The Straits Times noted. The offence of murder carries the death penalty under Singapore law.