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SINGAPORE – An Indonesian maid who fled to her home country after the bodies of an elderly Singaporean couple were found at her Bedok Reservoir Road home in 2017 is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for the double murder, according to heard the forensic court on Tuesday (September 1).
Khasanah, who has a name, fled Singapore by ferry but was arrested in Indonesia a week later, investigating officer Mahathir Mohamad testified. Deputy Superintendent (ASP) Mahathir read excerpts from an investigative report and supporting documents, detailing the arrest and trial of Khasanah in Indonesia.
State Coroner Kamala Ponnampalam is leading the investigation into the deaths of Chia Ngim Fong, 79, and Chin Sek Fah, 78. Chia and Chin were found tied up and dead in their Bedok apartment on June 21, 2017, and Khasanah, then 41, nowhere to be found. She had worked for the couple for less than a month, according to previous media reports.
According to an autopsy report, Chia died of blunt force trauma to the head, while Chin suffered blunt force trauma to the head and chest.
Singapore authorities classified the case as a murder and listed Khasanah as a suspect, due to his unscheduled departure from Singapore, ASP Mahathir said. Records from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) showed that Khasanah had boarded a ferry at the Singapore Cruise Center at 1:20 p.m. on June 21, 2017.
She remained on the run until she was overheard at an internet cafe in Indonesia talking about the murder on her mobile phone. The Indonesian National Police were alerted and Khasanah was arrested on June 28, 2017. Stolen items were also recovered from her and were not disclosed in court.
Following his arrest, Khasanah made two statements on June 29 and July 1, 2017, exposing the events that led to the couple’s death. He admitted to having assaulted them both in an attempt to flee his residence and to having prepared raffia thread, with which he intended to tie the deceased before leaving.
She was charged with the crimes of first-degree murder and robbery and tried in an Indonesian court from February 27 to May 2, 2018, and the Singapore authorities shared the results of the investigation. Evidence from Singapore witnesses, based on the statements they provided, was also considered, with some appearing via a video link.
Khasanah was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, but he appealed. His appeal, heard in Jakarta High Court on August 15, 2018, resulted in his sentence being reduced to 20 years in jail.
Khasanah was not returned to Singapore for prosecution, as an Indonesian had to be prosecuted in Indonesia for a crime committed abroad rather than being sent to the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.
Findings about the couple’s deaths will be released Wednesday.
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