News
Mediation session between victim of Yishun fatal knife attack & murder suspect did not happen: MinLaw, MND
Investigations ongoing.
September 27, 2025, 12:17 PM
A mediation at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) between the victim of a fatal knife attack in Yishun and her neighbour did not take place, said the Ministry of Law and Ministry of National Development in a joint statement on Sep. 27.
The deceased, Nguyen Phuong Tra, applied for mediation on Jun. 12, but it did not proceed as her neighbour, Koh Ah Hwee, did not respond to the invitation to mediate.
The ministries did not comment further on the particulars of the case, as the matter is under the subject of ongoing police investigations.
The statement followed earlier reports that there were mediation efforts by the CMC.
Incident
Koh was arrested after a knife attack at Block 323 Yishun Central on Sep. 24 and charged with the murder of Tra.
He allegedly murdered Tra, 30, outside a unit on the sixth floor of the block.
Koh allegedly stabbed Tra in the chest with a knife while her husband allegedly sustained serious injuries while trying to stop Koh.
Nee Soon GRC MP Jackson Lam, who helms the Nee Soon East ward, told reporters at a previous doorstop that he first heard of a noise dispute in end-July, when Koh's wife came to the Meet-the-People's session to make a complaint.
He said then that mediation efforts were escalated to the CMC and the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT).
Mediation
Residents who have disputes with their neighbours are encouraged to discuss the issues with their neighbours amicably, and if necessary, seek help from their grassroots leaders through their nearest Community Club or apply for mediation at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC), the statement said.
Mediation at the CMC offers disputing neighbours an opportunity to hear each other's perspectives and work out acceptable solutions, with the help of CMC's trained mediators.
About 80 per cent of voluntary mediation cases mediated by the CMC today are successfully settled, they added.
Top photo by Daniel Seow/Mothership
