Boy, 8, found dead at HDB playground

SINGAPORE — An eight-year-old boy was found dead at the foot of a Housing and Development Board block in Tampines yesterday morning, in a case the police have classified as unnatural death.

The boy, the second of three children in a family of five, lived on the 14th floor.

A police spokesperson said they received a call at 12.13am yesterday requesting for assistance at Block 934, Tampines Street 91. Upon their arrival, they found a body at the foot of the block, at a playground facing Tampines Avenue 1. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

TODAY arrived at the block at around 3pm yesterday, when family members and relatives of the victim were preparing to start the wake. The boy’s parents, who appear to be in their late 30s, were in tears and declined to speak to reporters.

Soon after, the father of the victim joined a Buddhist monk in a religious rite at the playground.

Mr Mohamed Farhan, a resident who lives in the same block and whose unit directly faces the playground, said: “I heard a loud thud outside as I was about to sleep, some time around midnight. About an hour later, I heard a loud cry by a woman, and when I looked out, the police tent had already been set up.”

Another resident, who only gave her name as Ms Ng, told TODAY that she saw police officers going from door to door with a family photo of the victim, seeking identification.

“That was when I found out about the death,” the 39-year-old said.

The victim was confirmed to be a student at the nearby Junyuan Primary. The school declined to comment as at press time, but told TODAY that it will be releasing a statement.

Another resident who only gave her name as Ms Low said she saw a school bag next to the body.

Describing the boy’s family as a “good family”, she said: “They always appeared to be cheerful and friendly, and, as far as I remember, the parents never let the boy go to school alone.

“I just hope the parents will stay strong and move on, for the sake of their remaining children,” she added.