Woman, 60, falls from Sembawang flat & dies, allegedly seen earlier arguing with man, 66

A 60-year-old woman passed away following a fall from a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Sembawang on Mar. 10.

A 66-year-old man was taken in for questioning.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to a case of fall from height at Block 364A Sembawang Crescent at about 5pm on Tuesday.

The woman was conveyed unconscious to Woodlands Hospital, where she later died.

The case has been classified as an unnatural death and police investigations are ongoing.

According to Chinese-language media Shin Min Daily News, the woman had allegedly argued with the man, who lived with her, shortly before the incident.

Couple spotted arguing

When Shin Min reporters arrived at the scene, they noticed at least four police cars parked nearby.

Some police officers were seen cordoning off the walkway below the block, while others were observed conducting checks at a corner unit on the eighth floor.

A neighbour, surnamed Zhong (transliteration), told Shin Min she heard shouting outside her flat and saw the man and woman arguing in the corridor through her door's peephole.

They stopped after a few minutes, she said.

However, she later heard a scream from downstairs, leading her to suspect that someone had fallen from the building.

Upon looking out of the window, Zhong said she could only see a shoe on the ground below.

Folding table at corridor checked for footprints

She added that the police later visited her unit to question her and asked if a folding table in the corridor belonged to her.

According to Zhong, the folding table was usually placed outside, but was only unfolded that day, adding that officers also checked the table for possible footprints.

She said she did not dare to speculate on the details of the case as she did not witness the woman falling, nor did she leave her home at any point.

However, she said she overheard the man telling the police that he had just returned from Sun Plaza, a shopping mall in Sembawang.

"But I clearly heard them arguing outside right before the incident," she said.

Several members of the public told Shin Min that they saw the woman showing signs of life after the fall before she was taken to hospital.

Investigators reportedly remained at the unit for over six hours and left at about 11pm after searching and photographing the flat and removing several bags of evidence.

The folding table in the corridor was also taken away for investigation.

At around the same time, a man wearing a plaid short-sleeved shirt and black shorts was seen leaving the unit, escorted by three police officers.

He is believed to have been taken in to assist with investigations.

Man didn't want to speak to reporters

Zhong confirmed that the man who followed the police was the same person she saw arguing with the woman earlier.

The man and woman are believed to have been in a relationship.

When Shin Min returned to the unit on Mar. 11, the man briefly spoke to them and initially only said someone had jumped off a building.

However, he later went back inside the flat and closed the door.

A few minutes later, he came out again, but left after seeing the reporters and said: "I don't know, I'm busy, don't ask me!"

Deceased would ask neighbours for money

Another resident, an 80-year-old man surnamed Hu (transliteration), said in an interview with Shin Min that the woman who fell from the building often borrowed money from neighbours, even during Chinese New Year.

He said his wife had warned the woman that if she asked for money again, she would call the police.

Another resident said he and his wife had moved in only about 10 days earlier when the woman showed up at his door asking for cigarettes the very next day.

He said: "I gave her cigarettes, and she came again the next day to borrow money, but I didn't give her any."

Students witnessed incident, asked nearby clinic for help

A nurse at a nearby clinic told Shin Min that several students had rushedto help after witnessing someone falling from the block.

When she went outside, paramedics were already providing first aid to the woman before conveying her to hospital.

Police later interviewed the students who had witnessed the incident, the nurse said, adding that the students appeared frightened.

Top photos from Shin Min