Elderly couple's daughter hires movers to clear their Bedok flat after family argument

A woman, unhappy with her parents for not siding with her in a family dispute, hired movers to clear out the elderly couple's home.

The incident happened at a Bedok flat last Wednesday (Oct 18) at around 5pm.

Mr Lin, 82, told Shin Min Daily News that he and his wife have five children - two sons and three daughters.

His eldest son died on Sept 28 from liver disease and his fourth child, Miss Lin, 56, was upset that the sons of his eldest daughter did not attend their uncle's funeral.

She subsequently called Mr Lin to voice her unhappiness but was told to let the matter rest.

Unsatisfied with Mr Lin's response, Miss Lin hired movers to clear out her parents' home in Bedok last Wednesday.

When Shin Min Daily News reporters visited Mr Lin's flat on Friday (Oct 20), they found the elderly couple seated on chairs in the living room, while Miss Lin busied herself directing the workers to move various furniture out from the unit.

The father and daughter also argued during the reporters' time at the scene.

Said Mr Lin: "My eldest son has just passed away and we're still grieving.

"When she (Miss Lin) called to complain that two of my grandsons didn't come for the funeral, I wasn't in the mood to handle the situation and told her it was a small matter.

"However, she flared up and accused us of favouritism.

"She said she won't be visiting anymore and wanted to take away all the furniture which she had bought for the house."

Mr Lin admitted that his fourth child had a temper which other family members had to put up with.

Mr Lin's eldest daughter told reporters that Miss Lin and her husband had moved several years ago, and asked her parents to store their old furniture in their home.

She said: "Now that they're having an argument, my sister saying that the furniture in the house belongs to her."

As there were too many pieces of furniture, Mr Lin said that his daughter returned on the following day (Oct 19) to continue the move.

He said: "She was scolding us as she continued moving the furniture out from the house. She also threw some items to the ground.

"Fearing for the safety of my wife, maid, and two other daughters, I called the police."

Meanwhile, Miss Lin claimed that the argument arose because her family had sent home the maid she had engaged to care for her parents without her knowledge.

When she visited them on Deepavali (Oct 18), Miss Lin said her family members confronted her while sitting on furniture she had paid for.

Enraged, she decided to move the items.

Miss Lin also said that she was a filial daughter who accompanied her parents to the supermarket almost every week, and ferried them from Bedok to Jurong East to visit her ailing brother.

The woman told reporters: "I really cannot stand the lack of care my siblings show to my parents.

"My husband was also the guarantor for the maid. Although all of us paid for her services when my eldest brother passed away, they suddenly stopped."

She also emphasised that both her nephews had cited 'ridiculous' reasons for their absence at their uncle's funeral.

One of them said he needed to stage a performance that day, while the other said he had an appointment, she said.

"I found it unreasonable and told my father, but he ignored me and even chased me out of the house."

In response to media queries, the police confirmed the incident and said that no further assistance was required.