Orchard Towers murder (2019)

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The victim collapsed at the entrance of Orchard Towers on the morning of 2 July 2019. Photo from The New Paper.

On 2 July 2019, a pub brawl that occurred in Orchard Towers escalated into an armed attack on a 31-year-old man.[1] The brawl resulted in the death of Satheesh Noel Gobidass. The attackers were identified as a group of adults between 22 and 27 years old.

Details of incident

CCTV footage of the attack

CCTV footage of the perpetrators. Screengrab from YouTube video.

On 2 July 2019 at 6.15 am, ten individuals were seen walking towards the entrance of Orchard Towers. Satheesh Noel Gobidass was seen coming down the escalator and then confronting a member of the group. The confrontation escalated into physical blows and the rest of the group joined the fight.[2]


Sateesh was then shown backing off from the group before tailing them to the entrance of Orchard Towers only to suddenly collapse on the floor.[3] Bystanders were seen trying to help staunch the bleeding from his neck.[4]

Police arrival

The pile of bloody tissues at the entrance of Orchard Towers. Photo from Channel News Asia.

The police were reportedly contacted at 6.25 am. When they arrived at the scene, they found Sateesh lying motionless on the floor. He was then taken to Tan Tock Seng hospital for treatment however, he was pronounced dead at 7.25 am.


The police cordoned off the main entrance and the second floor of Orchard Towers. They interviewed shopkeepers who reportedly heard shouting and fighting earlier that morning.[5] Correspondents from The Straits Times reported a pool of blood and plenty of blood-soaked tissues at the entrance of Orchard Towers.[6]

Arrests

Within 12 hours of the incident, the police arrested eight suspects. A spokesperson from the Singapore Police Force told The New Paper that the eighth suspect was a female who was not under remand but is instead assisting the police with investigations.[7]

Charges

The suspects of the Orchard Towers murder. Photo credit to Kelvin Chng (ST PHOTO).

On 4 July 2019, seven individuals were charged in court with one count each of murder with common intention.[8] The individuals were Natalie Siow Yu Zhen (22), Joel Tan Yun Sheng (26), Chan Jia Xing (26), Ang Da Yuan (26), Tan Sen Yang (27), Loo Boon Chong (25), and Tan Hong Sheng (22).[9]


The accused were represented by the following lawyers:[10][11]

Accused Lawyer(s) Law Firm
Chan Jia Xing Mr Josephus Tan, Mr Cory Wong and Mr Shane Yeo Invictus Law Corporation
Joel Tan Yun Sheng
Tan Hong Sheng
Natalie Siow Yu Zhen Ms Cheryl Ng Intelleigen Legal
Mr Amarick Gill Amarick Gill LLC
Loo Boon Chong Ms Diana Ngiam, Mr Sunil Sudheesan and Mr Sujesh Anandan Quahe Woo and Palmer LLC
Ang Da Yuan Kertar Singh Kertar & Sandhu LLC
Tan Sen Yang Eugene Thuraisingam and Suang Wijaya Eugene Thuraisingam LLP

Court proceedings

Trial on 5 July 2019

In the first trial, all seven individuals were charged in court with one count each of murder with common intention. According to court documents, they were “members of an unlawful assembly whose common object was to cause hurt” to Mr Sateesh.[12]


Natalie Siow Yu Zhen, Joel Tan Yun Sheng, Chan Jia Xing and Ang Da Yuan were physically present in court. Tan Sen Yang, Loo Boon Chong and Tan Hong Sheng were present through a live video feed as they were remanded at the Central Police Station at Cantonment Road.[13]

Trial on 11 July 2019 (Tang Hong Sheng, Loo Boo Chong & Chan Jia Xing)

The trials for the Orchard Towers murder are conducted in the Singapore State Courts. Photo from Channel News Asia.

On 11 July, Tan Hong Sheng, Loo Boo Chong and Chan Jia Xing were acquitted of murder.[14] Their charges were reclassified from murder to consorting with a person carrying an offensive weapon in public. They could not be charged again with the same murder offence.[15]


According to court documents, the three individuals were allegedly found in the company of Tan Sen Yang, who had a kerambit knife at the Naughty Girl Club on the second storey of Orchard Towers.[16] The knife was allegedly the weapon that seriously wounded Sateesh. The kerambit knife is said to be a curved knife resembling a claw.[17]


Tan Hong Sheng and Chan Jia Xing were offered bail of S$25,000 each while Loo Boo Chong had his bail set at S$15,000. Loo Boo Chong’s bail amount was lowered after his lawyer, Diana Ngiam, convinced District Judge Terence Tay that Loo Boo Chong was not a flight risk and that one of his parents would be the bailor. Moreover, she argued that Loo Boo Chong voluntarily turned himself in and offered to help with investigations.[18]


Tan Hong Sheng’s bail was lowered to S$15,000 to match Loo Boo Chong’s. Chan Jia Xing’s bail amount was also requested to be lowered to S$15,000.[19] Meanwhile, Natalie Siow, Joel Tan Yun Sheng, Ang Da Yuan and Tan Sen Yang were remanded for three weeks at the Complex Medical Centre in Changi Prison for psychiatric evaluation.[20]

Trial on 29 August 2019

On 29 August, Tan Hong Sheng failed to turn up in court and a warrant of arrest was issued against him.[21] Tan Hong Sheng’s lawyer, Josephus Tan, told District Judge Christopher Goh that his client’s mother had filed a police report earlier in the week.[22] While the nature of the report was not released, Tan Hong Sheng’s mother had 48 hours to locate him. His passport had been impounded. Tan Hong Sheng’s mother had to return to court in October to explain her son’s absence and why the $15,000 bail should not be forfeited.[23]

Trial on 27 September 2019 (Tan Hong Sheng)

Tan Hong Sheng was re-arrested and taken back to court on 27 September 2019. On top of his previous charge, he was served with an unrelated rioting charge.[24] On 9 August 2019, He was allegedly involved in an unlawful assembly with four other people. The five of them intended to hurt a man identified as Desmond Neo Zhao Fu, a 30-year-old.[25]


The offence was committed outside Club Secret in Central Mall at 3.40 am.[26]

Trial on 18 October 2019 (Natalie Siow)

Natalie Siow, the only female suspect that had been charged for murder. Photo from Hardwarezone.

Natalie Siow’s sentence was reduced from murder to assault.[27] According to court documents, Natalie Siow, Tan Sen Yang, Joel Tan Yun Sheng and Ang Da Yuan allegedly punched and kicked Mr Satheesh at the ground floor of Orchard Towers.[28]


She was offered bail of S$15,000 and will be back in court on 25 October. She was said to have burst into tears upon hearing the news of her sentence being reduced to assault.[29] As of October 2019, the trial is still ongoing.

Responses

Imposter providing "pro bono services" to Natalie Siow

A thread on Hardwarezone Singapore went viral after a man named “Danny Chua” allegedly from Kalco Law offered to defend Natalie Siow for free.[30] A quick search on the firm’s site revealed that no such person exists.[31]


Natalie Siow has also amassed a "fan club" on Hardwarezone. A thread titled '[OFFICIAL] NATALIE SIOW YU ZHEN FAN CLUB' has 265 likes as of 23 October 2019.[32]

Singapore news sites

Orchard Towers on Orchard Road in Singapore. Photo from Lianhe Zaobao.

In light of the murder, several news sites have published articles that shed light on the unsavoury activities in Orchard Towers.


The Straits Times published an article detailing Orchard Towers’ transition from a family mall to a place filled with vice. It also explained how the sleazy activities in the mall have affected other businesses in the area.[33] Today published an article about the Thai discos in Orchard Towers where violence is always likely to break out. It highlighted the popularity of Thai discos with youth due to the cheap drinks, music and late opening hours.[34]

The Project X: In Defense of Orchard Towers

The Project X is a local organisation that stands up for the rights of sex workers in Singapore.[35] On 1 August 2019, The Project X published a blog post in response to the news sites that exposed the “sleazy” reputation of Orchard Towers. The blog post detailed that it was unfair to liken the recent murder to the sleazy activities in Orchard Towers.[36] They argued that such murders could have occurred anywhere else. The article ends off with a condemnation of the people who caused the trouble, as opposed to the sex-workers who work there.[37]

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

In a parliamentary sitting in August, several Members of Parliament voiced their concerns about the vice and crime in Orchard Towers. Mr Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs, mentioned that more than 70 vice workers have been arrested during anti-vice operations in Orchard Towers.[38] Unlicensed massage establishments have also been shut down. Moreover, the MHA is looking to stop issuing new public entertainment licenses.[39]


The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is looking to work with entertainment establishments to reduce the likelihood of crimes. Public entertainment outlets have been urged to stop serving alcohol to highly intoxicated patrons. These outlets have also been urged to set up holding areas for highly intoxicated patrons to sober up.[40]


The SPF aims to create an initiative called the ‘Public Entertainment Industry Safety and Security Watch Group’. This initiative is a support network for neighbouring public entertainment outlets to look out for each other.[41]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ Ng, Huiwen and Cara Wong. “Man dies from injuries after Orchard Towers pub brawl; 8 men and women arrested for murder”. The Straits Times. July 02, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/man-at-orchard-towers-dies-from-injuries-police-cordon-seen-near-buildings-entrance
  2. ↑ The Must Share News Team. “We Fact-Checked The Orchard Towers Murder Case To Separate Fact From Speculation”. MustShareNews. July 14, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://mustsharenews.com/orchard-towers-murder-video/
  3. ↑ The Must Share News Team. “We Fact-Checked The Orchard Towers Murder Case To Separate Fact From Speculation”. MustShareNews. July 14, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://mustsharenews.com/orchard-towers-murder-video/
  4. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Seven charged with murder of man, 31, at Orchard Towers”. The Straits Times. July 05, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/seven-charged-with-murder-of-man-31-at-orchard-towers
  5. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Seven charged with murder of man, 31, at Orchard Towers”. The Straits Times. July 05, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/seven-charged-with-murder-of-man-31-at-orchard-towers
  6. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Seven charged with murder of man, 31, at Orchard Towers”. The Straits Times. July 05, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/seven-charged-with-murder-of-man-31-at-orchard-towers
  7. ↑ Kok, Yufeng. “Four of seven murder accused taken back to Orchard Towers”. The New Paper. July 10, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/four-seven-accused-taken-back-orchard-towers
  8. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Seven charged with murder of man, 31, at Orchard Towers”. The Straits Times. July 05, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/seven-charged-with-murder-of-man-31-at-orchard-towers
  9. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Seven charged with murder of man, 31, at Orchard Towers”. The Straits Times. July 05, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/seven-charged-with-murder-of-man-31-at-orchard-towers
  10. ↑ Alkhatib, Shaffiq. “Murder charges withdrawn for three men allegedly linked to Orchard Towers death”. The Straits Times. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/murder-charges-withdrawn-for-three-men-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers
  11. ↑ Tang, Louisa. “Orchard Towers brawl: Murder charges withdrawn for three of the accused”. Today. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/orchard-towers-murder-murder-charges-withdrawn-three-accused
  12. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Seven charged with murder of man, 31, at Orchard Towers”. The Straits Times. July 05, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/seven-charged-with-murder-of-man-31-at-orchard-towers
  13. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Seven charged with murder of man, 31, at Orchard Towers”. The Straits Times. July 05, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/seven-charged-with-murder-of-man-31-at-orchard-towers
  14. ↑ Alkhatib, Shaffiq. “Murder charges withdrawn for three men allegedly linked to Orchard Towers death”. The Straits Times. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/murder-charges-withdrawn-for-three-men-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers
  15. ↑ Alkhatib, Shaffiq. “Murder charges withdrawn for three men allegedly linked to Orchard Towers death”. The Straits Times. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/murder-charges-withdrawn-for-three-men-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers
  16. ↑ Alkhatib, Shaffiq. “Murder charges withdrawn for three men allegedly linked to Orchard Towers death”. The Straits Times. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/murder-charges-withdrawn-for-three-men-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers
  17. ↑ Alkhatib, Shaffiq. “Murder charges withdrawn for three men allegedly linked to Orchard Towers death”. The Straits Times. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/murder-charges-withdrawn-for-three-men-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers
  18. ↑ Tang, Louisa. “Orchard Towers brawl: Murder charges withdrawn for three of the accused”. Today. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/orchard-towers-murder-murder-charges-withdrawn-three-accused
  19. ↑ Lam, Lydia. “Orchard Towers murder: The 7 suspects and the charges they face”. Channel NewsAsia. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 167, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/orchard-towers-murder-7-suspects-charges-faced-11711484
  20. ↑ Tang, Louisa. “Orchard Towers brawl: Murder charges withdrawn for three of the accused”. Today. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/orchard-towers-murder-murder-charges-withdrawn-three-accused
  21. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Warrant of arrest issued after man allegedly linked to Orchard Towers murder skips court appearance”. The Straits Times. August 29, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/warrant-of-arrest-issued-after-man-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers-murder
  22. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Warrant of arrest issued after man allegedly linked to Orchard Towers murder skips court appearance”. The Straits Times. August 29, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/warrant-of-arrest-issued-after-man-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers-murder
  23. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Warrant of arrest issued after man allegedly linked to Orchard Towers murder skips court appearance”. The Straits Times. August 29, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/warrant-of-arrest-issued-after-man-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers-murder
  24. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Orchard Towers murder: Bail jumper nabbed, back in court”. The Straits Times. September 28, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/orchard-towers-murder-bail-jumper-nabbed-back-in-court
  25. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Orchard Towers murder: Bail jumper nabbed, back in court”. The Straits Times. September 28, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/orchard-towers-murder-bail-jumper-nabbed-back-in-court
  26. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Orchard Towers murder: Bail jumper nabbed, back in court”. The Straits Times. September 28, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/orchard-towers-murder-bail-jumper-nabbed-back-in-court
  27. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Orchard Towers killing: Sole woman in case cries after murder charge reduced to assault”. The Straits Times. October 19, 2019. Accessed October 23, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/sole-woman-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers-killing-has-murder-charge
  28. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Orchard Towers killing: Sole woman in case cries after murder charge reduced to assault”. The Straits Times. October 19, 2019. Accessed October 23, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/sole-woman-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers-killing-has-murder-charge
  29. ↑ Shaffiq Alkhatib. “Orchard Towers killing: Sole woman in case cries after murder charge reduced to assault”. The Straits Times. October 19, 2019. Accessed October 23, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/sole-woman-allegedly-linked-to-orchard-towers-killing-has-murder-charge
  30. ↑ Ann, Danielle. “Fake Lawyer Offered pro Bono Defence Services to Natalie Siow Yu Zhen on Singaporean Forum.” Alvinology. July 8, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://alvinology.com/2019/07/08/fake-lawyer-offered-pro-bono-defence-services-to-natalie-siow-yu-zhen-on-singaporean-forum/
  31. ↑ Kalco Law LLC. “Our Team.” Kalco Law LLC. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.kalco.com.sg/our-team/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwuvzldSi5QIVRCUrCh3aNgZyEAAYASAAEgIYM_D_BwE
  32. ↑ "[OFFICIAL] NATALIE SIOW YU ZHEN FAN CLUB". Hardwarezone. Accessed on 23 October 2019. Retrieved from: https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/%5Bofficial%5D-natalie-siow-yu-zhen-fan-club-6072750-39.html
  33. ↑ Yang, Calvin. “Orchard Towers: From family mall to sleaze and brawls.” The Straits Times. July 14, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/orchard-towers-fall-from-grace
  34. ↑ Lim, Kimberly. “Thai discos: Cheap drinks, long opening hours and simmering aggression.” Today. July 12, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/thai-discos-cheap-drinks-hostesses-and-simmering-aggression
  35. ↑ "About Project X". The Project X. Accessed on 23 October 2019. Retrieved from: https://theprojectx.org/about/
  36. ↑ The Project X. “The Project X: Singapore: In Defense of Orchard Towers.” The Project X | Singapore. August 1, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://theprojectx.org/2019/in-defense-of-orchard-towers/
  37. ↑ The Project X. “The Project X: Singapore: In Defense of Orchard Towers.” The Project X | Singapore. August 1, 2019. Accessed October 16, 2019. Retrieved from: https://theprojectx.org/2019/in-defense-of-orchard-towers/
  38. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Parliament: 76 vice workers arrested last year at and around Orchard Towers, says Amrin Amin”. The Straits Times. August 05, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapolitics/parliament-76-vice-workers-arrested-last-year-at-and-around-orchard-towers
  39. ↑ Wong, Cara. “Parliament: 76 vice workers arrested last year at and around Orchard Towers, says Amrin Amin”. The Straits Times. August 05, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapolitics/parliament-76-vice-workers-arrested-last-year-at-and-around-orchard-towers
  40. ↑ Wong, Pei Ting. “Police's ‘smart clubbing’ campaign switches focus to violent crime as number of cases spikes”. Today. October 15, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/smart-clubbing-campaign-police-switches-gear-focus-violent-crimes-caseload-grow
  41. ↑ Wong, Pei Ting. “Police's ‘smart clubbing’ campaign switches focus to violent crime as number of cases spikes”. Today. October 15, 2019. Accessed October 17, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/smart-clubbing-campaign-police-switches-gear-focus-violent-crimes-caseload-grow
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