A 70-year-old man, Mr Tang Soh Ha, and his 27-year-old daughter, Ms Tang Hui Yee, were found dead at Block 560 Pasir Ris Street 51 on Sunday afternoon, 20 August 2017.
Mr Tang was found at the ground floor of the block – he is believed to have jumped from the 8th level of the block. His daughter was found dead in a pool of her own blood with multiple stab wounds on her body, at their home on the block’s second level which Mr Tang also shared with Tang Hui Yee, his wife, elder daughter, son in law, younger son and two grandchildren.
The other members of the family were not home during the time of the incident. Neighbours reportedly heard Mrs Tang wailing when she returned home to the horrific tragedy, after grocery shopping.
Speculation has arisen that Mr Tang killed his daughter, fearing for her uncertain future, before taking his own life. Described as a “doting” father and a patient, loving man by neighbours, Mr Tang was the main caregiver for his daughter who was a client of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds).
51-year-old housewife, Mdm Faridah – a neighbour of the Tangs – told reporters: “Their relationship was very good. I’ve never seen a father who is so doting towards his daughter.”
Faridah described that Ms Tang was independent and friendly, she added, but “wherever she went, her father would accompany her.”
Faridah, who has lived in the same block as the Tangs for four years, said her sister, who has lived in the same street for about 17 years, has seen the father take the daughter out for walks since she was a little girl: “My sister told me that when Ms Tang was young, the two of them always went to the park together,” she said.
She added: “He was very courteous… He never showed any signs of stress, and would often be smiling.” She said he had told her that he worked part-time, and she saw him around during the day.
Police investigations are ongoing.