Man Found Dead In Temple Hut

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Singapore
4-11-2005

THE decomposed body of an elderly man was discovered in a makeshift hut in Woodlands Road yesterday.

The body of Mr Chua Ah Tee, 66, was in a chair in the corrugated zinc hut in the compound of the Tua Pek Kong temple, when it was found by construction worker Ong Eng Koon, 43, at about 4.30pm.

Mr Ong said in Mandarin: 'There was a very foul smell when I was going into the forest to see if there were any fruits ripe for plucking. When I turned around, I saw a pair of feet in the hut, covered with flies.'

He went nearer to the hut to take a closer look and was met with a shocking sight.

'I saw a man's face covered with flies. His head was leaning back. And he was all black.'

Mr Ong then ran back to the temple and told the caretaker, who called the police.

The caretaker, who wanted to be known only as Mr Teo, said he had known the dead man, whom he called 'Ah Niao', for more than 50 years.

Mr Chua was single, used to own a catering business and had been doing odd jobs since he moved into the hut, he said.

'I last saw him on Tuesday at about noon. He went out to buy lunch. Last week, I asked him why he had not been working. He said his arthritis was getting worse and he was taking some medication for it.

'We used to live in the same village around here. He started staying in the hut, which used to be our bathroom, about 10 years ago.'

Mr Teo added that Mr Chua had siblings. He would visit them regularly and they also came to see him in the hut.

Police found Mr Chua's personal documents in the hut and have informed his next of kin of his death. They have classified the case as unnatural death and are investigating. -- TANYA FONG

Labels: Old News