Singapore – Ahmed Faisal from Bangladesh, who was found dead on the train tracks near Kallang MRT station, committed suicide, said the State Coroner.
His body was found on the eastbound track between Lavender and Kallang MRT stations on Feb 25 last year.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:20 am on Feb 26, reported Yahoo! News.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said in a report released on Wednesday (Jan 26) that there was no foul play involved in the man’s death.
His toxicological report showed he had consumed methamphetamine, amphetamine and eutylone at the time of his death.
“It was possible that Mr Faisal was under the influence of these drugs when he decided to climb the fence up to the MRT track,” said SC Nakhoda.
Reports noted that the dead had worked in construction and was scheduled to receive his verdict for drug consumption on the day of the incident.
He had been charged in court on Jan 31, 2019 for consuming methamphetamine and norketamine following his arrest on Nov 26, 2018.
While waiting for a conclusion to his case, he was once again arrested for drug consumption six days before he was scheduled to appear in court again.
He claimed trial but never showed up for the hearing. The verdict was to have been given on Feb 25, 2021, Yahoo! News reported.
“I found that the evidence available points to an irresistible conclusion that Mr Faisal committed suicide. I do not think that the evidence supports, in any way, a conclusion that he had accidentally found himself on the MRT track and was subsequently hit by an MRT train,” said the SC.
Wife, friend and younger brother’s account leading to the incident
A day before he was found dead, he was seen staring into space and would not respond when called, said a friend of his.
Mr Faisal also admitted he was depressed because he missed his family and wished to “find a girlfriend” but failed.
On the day the verdict was scheduled, his younger brother called him to confirm that he would attend. At first he didn’t answer. But when he finally responded, he said was at Peace Centre but would show up in court.
When the brother arrived at the State Courts and did not see Mr Faisal, he called again and Mr Faisal said he would be present. The brother said that during the call, he overheard someone he took to be a Chinese man saying: “No need to go to court.”
An arrest warrant was issued when he did not show up. His wife said she did not detect any sign of unhappiness after their hour-long video call that day.
His brother said that Mr Faisal had dutifully attended all his earlier court hearings. It was unusual that he left his unit without his handphone and wallet.
Mr Faisal found his way into the eastbound tunnel located between Lavender and Kallang MRT stations by passing through the tunnel using a portal area where the train tracks enter the underground passageway from above.
The incident disrupted the East-West Line between Bugis and Aljunied MRT stations. Both Lavender and Kallang MRT stations had to be closed for the day after the alert was sounded at 9.35 pm.
Following the incident, barbed wires were installed to deter other trespassers from entering the area, in addition to existing fences and barbed wires already in place along the MRT tracks./TISG
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Barbed wire coils placed near Kallang MRT station after fatal incident