Kovan murder trial: Accused was "cheerful" at work despite disciplinary hearings
Up to three months before he fatally stabbed a father and son in Kovan, former policeman Iskandar Rahmat was "his normal self" and "cheerful" at work despite facing disciplinary action - including the prospect of dismissal - over his financial woes. He even found time to help book a chalet for a team function.
But on 10 July, 2013, a day when he was to work the night shift, Iskandar sent an SMS to his superior, police station senior inspector Nurussufyan bin Ali, requesting urgent leave. Iskandar claimed that he had to meet a "cousin" who was helping him out financially. Nurussufyan acceded to his request - but the text message was sent at 559pm, just hours after Iskandar had allegedly killed car workshop owner Tan Boon Sin, 67, and his son Tan Chee Heong, 42.
On the night of 12 July, Iskandar, now 36, told his superior via Whatsapp that he was thinking about resigning from the police force. Nurussufyan advised him against it - but Iskandar had by then already fled across the Causeway. He was arrested by Malaysian police less than three hours later and extradited to Singapore the next day.
At the time of the alleged murders, Iskandar had already undergone two disciplinary hearings in April and July for financial embarassment. He owed OCBC Bank more than $65,000 and was facing the prospect of bankruptcy. But he was "confident" that he could settle the debt with the help of his cousin, Nurussufyan testified. Iskandar's superior even apologised for continually questioning him about his financial situation. "I need him to convince me that he’s able to pay. So I did ask him a few times, until he convinced me. I did apologise because I did not want him to feel agitated," he said on day four of the trial.
Iskandar was transferred to Ops Team A at of the Bedok Police Division, overseen by Nurussufyan, from the Investigation Branch in January 2013. At that point, he had been barred from bearing firearms as he was already under investigation for his financial problems. But the senior inspector found him a "good worker" who was "efficient" and "very knowledgeable in work processes".
Under cross examination by defence lawyer Shashi Nathan, Nurussufyan affirmed that he did not have a close relationship with the accused and that he was not privy to his personal thoughts. When Nathan pointed out that Iskandar might have been adversely affected by the downturn in his career, the senior inspector responded, "Like I say, it’s not my concern", adding that his priority was to lead his team.
Standing in the dock, Iskandar largely kept his head bowed during Nurussufyan's testimony.
Earlier, forensic odontologist Dr Tan Peng Hui of the Health Sciences Authority, testified that the injuries sustained on Iskandar's left hand were not "consistent with a human bite mark". This was contrary to Iskandar's earlier claim that he had been bitten during the struggle with the Tans. "The reason is, in a human bite mark, you would see individual tooth marks. In particular, we would see rectangular or linear marks that resemble the biting edges of our front teeth. But I saw none of this,” said Tan.
Another witness who took the stand today was Dr Brian Lee, an orthopaedic surgeon who had treated Tan Boon Sin for severe osetoarthritis. He affirmed testimony from another doctor who had said that Tan had mobility issues with his lower limbs and could not attack someone quickly.
Lee, who last examined Tan in December 2011, said, "His condition would have deteriorated over that time, and it is likely that he would have had more significant disability."
The trial continues on Wednesday (28 Oct).
Related stories
