49-year-old man charged with murder at Yishun Ring Road

In a rare weekend court session, Affendi Yusoff, 49, was charged on Sunday (28 July) with the murder of Fiqri Choo Iskandar, 35, at Block 803 Yishun Ring Road.

Affendi is accused of causing the death of Mr Fiqri at the lift lobby on the 10th floor of the block on Saturday morning.

The police were called to the scene at about 8.35am on Saturday, where they found Mr Fiqri lying motionless. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Residents reported hearing an argument and loud shouting between two men sometime between 8am and 9am, with one resident estimating that the argument lasted about 10 minutes.

When Channel News Asia (CNA) arrived at the scene just before 11am, several police vehicles were present, and a crime-scene investigation team was on location. The 10th floor was completely cordoned off, and multiple blood stains were visible on the floor, corridor walls, and parapet outside a unit​.

Neighbours described Mr Fiqri as a gentle and hardworking individual who lived alone and was primarily cared for by an aunt.

CNA cited a resident on the 12th floor of the opposite block, who identified himself only as Jerry, saying that he heard the commotion around 8am but initially thought it involved his neighbours downstairs. He later saw police cars when he went out to buy breakfast at around 10am​​.

The Straits Times reported that residents heard two men arguing loudly, with one estimating the argument lasted about 10 minutes. The police have not released further details about the nature of the argument or the relationship between the men​ (Straits Times)​.

Affendi Yusoff was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with murder. The case has been set for further mention on August 2. The offence of murder carries the death penalty in Singapore.

Background of the Deceased

Mr Fiqri was pronounced dead at about 8.37am on Saturday (27 July). He had a tragic history, having lost his father to a heart attack in 2016 and his mother in 2019.

After his mother’s passing, the ownership of the Yishun HDB flat was transferred to him. Reportedly, Mr Fiqri had a mild intellectual challenge but worked various jobs to support himself.

Following his mother’s death, a woman who was reportedly his guardian took care of him. She was not at the scene on July 27, as she had recently undergone an operation.

It was during her absence that Affendi allegedly began visiting Mr Fiqri frequently.

On the morning of the incident, an argument broke out, which residents reported was not the first time Mr Fiqri had been bullied by Affendi.

Neighbours described Mr Fiqri as a “kind and polite” person, known in the neighbourhood for his sunshine smile.

Former classmates remembered him as a “good and helpful boy”. He also frequently volunteered at an orphanage in Johor Bahru, where representatives of Rumah Perlindungan Fitrah Qaseh praised him as “enthusiastic and charitable”.