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Man who stabbed gay lover to death jailed 12 years

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Tan Chee Yeow pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. (Yahoo Singapore photo: Safhras Khan)

Having dated for more than eight years, 40-year-old Tan Chee Yeow demanded for his partner Tan Chin Siong to come out of the closet and announce their relationship to the latter’s family.

However, Chin Siong, 49, refused to do so and instead tried to end the relationship. Frustrated, Chee Yeow confronted his former lover at a walkway behind Ang Mo Kio MRT station in the morning of 4 September 2015.

Chee Yeow pleaded to salvage the relationship but Chin Siong ignored him. Stung by the rejection, Chee Yeow plunged a 12-inch knife into the victim’s chest and back.

At the High Court on Monday (26 September), Chee Yeow pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and was jailed 12 years.

A tumultuous relationship

Court papers revealed that the two met in Johor Bahru in 2007 and soon entered into a relationship.

Chee Yeow later moved to Singapore at Chin Siong’s request. He stayed with a friend, Chor Siang Cee, in the latter’s house in Yishun, and worked as a hairstylist. Chin Siong, a Singapore Permanent Resident, stayed in Ang Mo Kio and was an assistant vice-president at United Overseas Bank.

Their relationship deteriorated on the victim’s birthday on 28 August last year. Chee Yeow confronted his lover at his flat in Yishun and complained that he had yet to be introduced to Chin Siong’s family. Chee Yeow threw a tantrum and was consoled by Chor.

Despite the incident, Chee Yeow and Chin Siong went to Northpoint Shopping Centre the following day to buy a bottle of wine.

At the mall, Chee Yeow said he wanted to buy a knife as he felt like dying. Chin Siong tried to dissuade his lover but decided not to create a scene and allowed him to buy the knife. Chin Siong then left Singapore to visit his family members in Johor Bahru to celebrate his birthday.

Later in the day, Chee Yeow called Chin Siong’s mother and told her about their relationship. Shocked by the revelation, Chin Siong’s mother told Chee Yeow that it “was not possible for them”. Chee Yeow tried to contact Chin Siong thereafter but his calls and messages were ignored.

The following day, Chin Siong answered one of Chee Yeow’s phone calls and told him that he was “not gay” and wanted to get married and have children. Chee Yeow then went to Johor Bahru the next day to look for the victim but he was unable to meet him.

On 31 August, Chin Siong told Chee Yeow to see a psychiatrist. After giving the opinion that Chee Yeow was suffering from anxiety disorder, the psychiatrist advised Chin Siong to delay the break-up by two weeks so that Chee Yeow could start his medication.

On September 3, Chee Yeow went to Northpoint again to buy another knife, which he intended to use to commit suicide.

Confrontation at Ang Mo Kio MRT station

The next morning, Chee Yeow decided to look for his lover and brought along the knife. Spotting Chin Siong walking towards Ang Mo Kio MRT station at about 8 am, Chee Yeow walked up to him. Chin Siong ignored Chee Yeow’s plea to have a talk.

Taking out the knife from his haversack, Chee Yeow stabbed Chin Siong twice in the chest and once on the back. An unidentified Malay man, who happened to be passing by, saw the attack and managed to kick the knife away.

Chee Yeow then broke down and sat down nearby while eyewitnesses called the police and ambulance. He was promptly arrested on the spot. Chin Siong was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9.14 pm.

Incident was premeditated

Pressing for a deterrent sentence of between 12 and 14 years, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Faizal said that Chee Yeow understood what he was doing when he brought the knife to confront his lover.

“He knew the circumstances and when his victim said no to the reconciliation, a life was extinguished. Moreover, the attack took place during rush hour near to a train station,” said the DPP.

In his mitigation, Chee Yeow’s lawyer, Josepheus Tan, who was acting on a pro bono basis, said that even though the relationship was never given the legal recognition by Singapore’s laws, it was a “real marriage” in his client’s mind.

Pressing for a sentence of less than 12 years, Tan revealed that vows were exchanged between the two at a temple in Taiwan in 2011.

“Whatever punishment to be meted out will pale in comparison to the ultimate guilt of taking the life of the one person dearest to your heart,” said Tan.

Several of Chee Yeow’s family members attended the hearing and they were given some time to talk to him after it was over.

When approached, Chee Yeow’s mother, who declined to be named, said about her son, “He is not a bad person and we will wait for him.” She added that her family would like to apologise to the victim’s family.

Additional reporting: Elizabeth Tong