88-year-old man charged with alleged murder of wife in Bukit Panjang HDB flat

SINGAPORE: An 88-year-old man, Ridawi Morsudin, was charged in court on Thursday (6 June) for allegedly murdering his wife in a Housing Board flat in Bukit Panjang.

Ridawi Morsudin is facing a charge of murder under Section 302(1) of the Penal Code 1871.

He is accused of murdering Madam Aminah Abdul, 74, between 6:40 pm on 4 June and 12:58 am on 5 June in the flat located at Block 137 Petir Road.

The charge does not specify how the alleged act was committed.

The man appeared in court via video link from his place of remand, showing grey and white hair and seated in a wheelchair.

A police prosecutor requested that he be remanded at the Complex Medical Centre in Changi Prison for a psychiatric evaluation. This is to determine if Ridawi comprehends the severity of the offence and to identify any underlying mental conditions that might mitigate his culpability.

District Judge Tan Jen Tse ordered Ridawi to be remanded for three weeks to undergo a medical examination, with his case scheduled to be heard again on 25 June.

In an earlier statement, the police confirmed they were alerted to a call for assistance around 1 am on 5 June at the unit.

Officers found Madam Aminah lying motionless inside.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force reported receiving a call for assistance around 12:45 am. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic, and Ridawi was arrested at the scene.

Investigations are ongoing.

Those convicted of murder face the death penalty in Singapore.