Singapore — A 30-day visit pass turned to a seven-year residence for a woman. However, an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) raid led the woman to fatally fall off her window in an attempt to flee the scene.
Gong Xiuxian, 41, arrived in Singapore on Dec 19, 2013, from China. She worked as a private masseuse based in her home and sold apparel at the market.
She was given a 30-day visit pass upon arrival but remained in the country and avoided detection by authorities until Nov 2, 2020.
Reports noted that the ICA received an anonymous tip in October 2020, noting Gong had been overstaying since 2013.
Eight ICA officers raided Gong’s two-bedroom unit on Nov 2 at about 5:15 am, Yahoo! News reported on Oct 20.
Two officers were positioned (one at the front and one at the back cordon) to monitor movement from the unit at Eunos Crescent.
The remaining officers raided Gong’s unit and saw her sub-tenant, Yang Qing Mei, exiting the premises. She was questioned by the officers and found to have a valid work permit.
The unit’s windows were shut to prevent any occupants from escaping, although Gong’s room was locked from the inside.
Inspector Safarin Sujae, the officer stationed at the back cordon, confirmed movement from Gong’s bedroom.
He saw her climb out the window and sit on the air-cond compressor unit outside.
She closed the window and tried climbing down to the ledge below.
Inspector Safarin called out to Gong to alert her, thinking she would climb back up to her room.
However, reports noted she slipped and fell from the fourth storey ledge to the foot of the block.
Gong was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:40 am, here death determined to be from multiple injuries due to the height of the fall.
It wasn’t clarified if Inspector Safarin’s yelling caused Gong to panic, leading to her fatal fall, according to Yahoo! News.
However, the court heard that it is the protocol for a raiding team to shout a warning to anyone trying to escape through a window and alert them of their presence.
Gong’s family had not seen her since 2013 and only knew that she was a clothing retailer.
Her brother revealed that although she initially remitted money home, she began asking for financial assistance in the period prior to her death.
Her last communication with her brother was on Oct 31. He was unaware of her overstaying in Singapore.
She planned to return home but got delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. /TISG
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