Man charged with technician's murder

Man charged with technician's murder

SINGAPORE- A man has been charged with the murder of a production technician, whose body was found among the thick foliage of a military training area in Lim Chu Kang on New Year's Day.

Chia Kee Chen is said to have caused the death of Mr Dexmon Chua Yizhi at a multi-storey carpark at Block 429A, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, between Dec 28 and 29 last year.

The 53-year-old accused is believed to have acted with at least one other unknown person, according to court documents.

Chia was expressionless when the charge was read to him in court yesterday.

He is being remanded at Central Police Division for further investigation.

The 37-year-old victim's body was found hidden in thick and tall grass near Sungei Gedong Camp after the police entered the restricted area during a search.

Mr Chua's family filed a missing person report on Sunday when he did not return home after leaving the previous day.

A public appeal for information on his whereabouts was issued by the police the next day.

Mr Chua was apparently last seen along Cheong Chin Nam Road in Bukit Timah on Saturday, according to CCTV footage from a restaurant in the area, Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported yesterday.

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Officers from Jurong Police Division and the Criminal Investigation Department, however, managed to establish the identity of Chia, who later led them to Mr Chua's body in Lim Chu Kang.

Chia will return to court on Jan 9.

If convicted of murder, he could be hanged or sentenced to life imprisonment.

Colleagues of Mr Chua, who is divorced with no children, remembered him as a friendly person who often volunteered to plan cohesion activities.

"He liked to take on the challenge of getting involved in committees organising company functions like family day and other outings," said a colleague who wanted to be known only as David.

The Straits Times understands that the deceased was working as a raw materials planner with Tetra Pak, a packaging and food processing company, and had been with the company for more than a decade.

His colleagues, however, said they do not know Chia.

A spokesman for Tetra Pak declined to comment about Mr Chua when approached by The Straits Times yesterday.

She said: "While the case is being investigated, and out of respect for Dexmon and his family, it is not proper to divulge anything more at this point."


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