Man, 52, found dead in Toa Payoh flat

A 52-year-old man was found dead at his residential unit at Block 157 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh on Nov. 10 morning.

According to the man's neighbour, he "had been living alone" since he and his wife divorced a few years ago, reported Shin Min Daily News (Shin Min).

'Strong foul smell' at HDB block

When Shin Min reporters arrived at the scene in the afternoon, they saw three police vehicles parked on the ground floor of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) block.

It was reported that it had likely been a few days before someone noticed the man's death, as there was "a strong foul smell" at the void deck.

Police officers were seen at the deceased's unit, which had been cordoned off.

Three female family members of the deceased were also present at the scene.

A woman, believed to be the man's daughter, was seen weeping.

At around 3:30pm, the man's body was carried into a black police vehicle.

Deceased lived alone: neighbour

A neighbour of the deceased told Shin Min that he had been living at the unit for some years.

After the deceased and his wife ended their marriage, his wife moved out of the flat with their daughter, with the neighbour adding that this was "a few years ago".

The man had been living alone since, and his family and friends "would occasionally swing by to visit him", recounted the neighbour.

"The deceased's mother used to live on the fifth floor of our HDB block, but she passed away a few years ago," the neighbour added.

'A very friendly person'

A resident who lives on the 10th floor told Shin Min that many residents of the HDB block are elderly people living alone, and they would "keep their doors open so that they could look after one another".

While the deceased's neighbour noticed that his door was shut when she passed by his unit a few days ago, she thought the unit "must have been vacated".

When she noticed a foul smell from the deceased's unit on Nov. 10, the day his body was found, the neighbour thought the smell came from wastewater.

"I only knew he had passed on after I saw police officers at his door on Nov. 11," shared the neighbour.

She added that the deceased was "a very friendly person" who would always greet her whenever they met.

Police statement

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force confirmed they were alerted to the case of unnatural death at 11:15am on Nov. 10.

The man was found lying motionless in his unit and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Top images via Shin Min Daily News & Google Maps