S'porean man, 88, dies of pneumonia during 15-year jail term for killing partner with chopper in 2019 Toa Payoh homicide

An 88-year-old Singaporean man died of pneumonia while serving a 15-year jail sentence for killing the mother of his four children with a chopper in 2019.

On May 12, a coroner's court found that Pak Kian Huat died in December 2025 of a natural disease process with no evidence of foul play.

State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said Pak was afforded the appropriate medical care at Changi Prison's Complex Medical Centre and Changi General Hospital.

According to CNA, the court heard that Pak's family members became estranged from him after he killed his partner, then 79-year-old Lim Soi Moy.

Had recurrent pneumonia

Changi Prison records showed Pak had an extensive medical history, including recurrent pneumonia complicated by respiratory failure and heart disease.

CNA reported that because of his decline, Pak, who was bedridden, was housed at the Complex Medical Centre within the prison.

His most recent hospital visit was on Nov. 1, 2025, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection.

In late November 2025, his condition deteriorated, and he was placed on comfort care.

The coroner said that his November 2025 admission was "turbulent" and that while Pak had initially responded to treatment, further medical complications prevented recovery.

A do-not-resuscitate directive had been issued, and authorities notified his youngest son, his only next-of-kin, who still liaised with the prison for matters about Pak.

Died in official custody

On Dec. 1, 2025, a nurse on duty was closely monitoring Pak; his vitals lowered at 10pm, and he was later found unresponsive with no pulse and no breathing.

Due to the directive, no resuscitation was done, and Pak was pronounced dead at 1am on Dec. 2, 2025.

As Pak had died while in official custody, the police were notified.

According to CNA, Investigation officer, Sergeant Gideon Lim said no injuries, defensive wounds or signs of violence were found on Pak.

Pak's youngest son was kept updated on his father's well-being and hospital visits, and the family felt that the best efforts were made for his care.

CNA reported that the son had no concerns over Pak's passing and did not attend the coroner's inquiry.

The coroner also expressed his condolences to Pak's family.

Reconnected in 2004

The couple met in the 1950s as teenagers and had their first child in 1963. They were never married.

Their relationship soured due to Pak's bad temper and the abuse he subjected Lim and his children to.

Lim moved out of the family home with her elder daughter in 1980 with the encouragement of her children.

She reconnected with Pak in 2004, and he moved into her four-room Housing Development Board (HDB) flat at Block 191, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh.

They lived in separate bedrooms for 15 years without incident.

Hacked Lim 54 times

Pak hacked Lim to death with a chopper in her Toa Payoh flat after she prevented him from sleeping in a bigger room.

Pak wanted to move into the bigger bedroom that Lim had reserved for their children, as he felt that the dustiness in the small room caused his flu and cough.

Lim had wanted to leave the bigger bedroom for their eldest son, who planned to return to Singapore on Sep. 1, 2019.

A dispute arose, and on the morning of Sep. 1, Pak went to Lim's bedroom with a chopper.

He told her in Hokkien, “li ai wa si, wa buay sai hor li wa” (if she wanted him to die, he would not allow her to live).

During the trial hearings, Justice See Kee Oon agreed with the prosecution that the senseless attack on a defenceless victim was "deliberately and unspeakably vicious and brutal".