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Belgian charged with son’s murder to stay in custody in Singapore

SINGAPORE — The Belgian financial executive accused of murdering his 5-year-old son in Singapore will remain in detention for another six weeks as state prosecutors await a forensics report, a district court heard today (Feb 10).

SINGAPORE — The Belgian financial executive accused of murdering his 5-year-old son in Singapore will remain in detention for another six weeks as state prosecutors await a forensics report, a district court heard today (Feb 10).

Philippe Graffart, 42, has been charged with the murder of his son Keryan at D’Leedon condominium in October. If found guilty, Graffart will face the death penalty.

Graffart, wearing a white T-shirt and looking haggard, was connected to a district court from prison via video link during a brief pre-trial mention of his case today.

He will next appear in court on March 23.

State prosecutors asked for six weeks for a forensics team to prepare a report and defence lawyer Ramesh Tiwary agreed.

A psychiatric assessment has been completed, the lawyer said.

The Belgian was arrested before dawn on Oct 6 after arriving at a police station with self-inflicted wounds. He was charged the next day.

Graffart’s son was found strangled in his bedroom with hand-shaped bruises around his neck.

Graffart and his ex-wife were believed to be fighting over the boy’s custody at the time.

Mr Tiwary said Graffart is currently remanded at Changi Prison but was unsure when a trial would start.

“As soon as the prosecution have all their reports, then we will sit down and study them and see how to go forward”, he said.

Graffart’s account on business networking service LinkedIn before his arrest described him as an executive director and head of fund distribution in the Asia-Pacific region for Oslo-based Nordea Investment Management. AFP

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