Husband suspected in death of domestic worker whose remains were found tied to a tree

Singapore—The remains of 34-year-old Jonalyn Alvarez Raviz, a Filipino who worked in Singapore as a domestic helper, were found tied to a tree in a forested area along Tampines Road in September of last year.

Her husband, now a suspect in her murder, had fled to his native Bangladesh days before her decomposing body was found.

At the coroner’s inquiry on Tuesday, August 27, concerning her death, it was revealed in court that Ms Raviz had been married to Raju Dhaly since 2015 and had been employed in the last household she worked with since October 2016.

Mr Raju was employed as a maintenance worker here.

The two only met on their days off. However, the union seemed to be an unhappy one, since Ms Raviz told her employer that her husband took her wages and that he was abusive toward her.

Moreover, he was unfaithful, and she intended to divorce him. She was in fact planning to go back home to the Philippines without telling him.

However, she also told her employer that Mr Raju threatened to kill her if she ever left him.

On September 2, 2018, Mr Raju and Ms Raviz met at the Pasir Ris bus exchange at about 9:00 in the morning.

They left Pasir Ris Park at around 3:00 pm, then took the train to Tampines, and then boarded a bus.

Data from Ez-Link showed that Ms Raviz got off the bus on Tampines Road, before Defu Lane 2, at around 4:20 pm.

Less than an hour later Mr Raju was seen coming back to his dormitory and exited the premises with a suitcase. Afterwards, he bought a ticket to Bangladesh, calling a workmate later to say he would not be coming back to the dormitory.

He flew out of Singapore on September 3.

When Ms Raviz did not come home on September 2, her employer filed a missing person’s report with the police. This led to a search for her in the forest area along Tampines Road.

On September 5, her remains were found, with a yellow strap with a buckle tied around her neck, and from which she was tied to a young tree. The strap matched a sling bag that belonged to Mr Raju.

It was determined that the cause of her death a compressive neck injury. No defense injuries were found on her body.

Back at Mr Raju’s dormitory, Ms Raviz blood was found on articles of Mr Raju’s clothing, as well as on his shoes.

A warrant of arrest has been issued for Mr Raju.

According to Kamala Ponnampalam, the state coroner, there is a basis to suspect foul play in the death of Ms Raviz.

“The evidence suggests that Ms Raviz was last seen with her husband before her death. Additionally, Ms Raviz’s husband’s sudden departure from Singapore was unexplained. Police officers had also stated that efforts are ongoing to trace his whereabouts and a warrant for his arrest had been issued. 

In the circumstances, I find Madam Raviz’s death to be an unlawful killing, likely perpetrated by her husband.”/ TISG

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