Headless body case: Man charged with murder

SINGAPORE — At about 7am last Thursday, Harvinder Singh (picture), 33, crossed the Woodlands checkpoint and entered Malaysia, based on immigration records. About half an hour later, the police received a call that the headless body of his wife Jasvinder Kaur, 33, was spotted floating in a canal near McNair Road.

Now, Harvinder is wanted by the police to assist in investigations after his friend was arrested in connection with the murder of his wife.

Harvinder, his friend and his wife are all Indian nationals.

At a press conference yesterday, the police announced that they have arrested a 25-year-old man, who will be charged today with the murder of Jasvinder. They did not name the suspect, who is a forklift driver on an S Pass.

The gruesome murder had shocked residents of the quiet McNair Road estate and became a hot topic.

The hands of the headless body were severed at the wrist. To date, despite the efforts of some 30 investigators who combed through 5 tonnes of rubbish at the Tuas South Incineration Plant immediately after the body was found, the missing body parts have not been found. No weapons have been discovered.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that Harvinder Singh had left Singapore before the death of Jasvinder Kaur was reported. We have sought the assistance of our counterparts in neighbouring countries to trace his whereabouts,” the police said.

It has not been established how or when the woman died and where her body — which was found wrapped in a trash bag and wearing only a pair of black pants — was originally dumped.

The police said their investigators made a breakthrough on Tuesday and identified two possible suspects — even though they had yet to establish the identity of the body — based on “extensive investigations and ground enquiries”. The next day, police officers swooped in on the suspect at his workplace at 601 Sims Drive. Forensic investigators managed to identify the body on the same day.

The police said Harvinder, who is working as a senior logistics coordinator, came to Singapore in February on an Employment Pass. His wife arrived here on a Dependant’s Pass in September. She worked as a beautician here and the couple lived along Balestier Road.

The police have asked the Indian High Commission to assist in contacting Jasvinder’s family. They are appealing for anyone with information on Harvinder to contact them at 1800 255 0000 or submit the information online at www.spf.gov.sg/CrimeStopper.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations and Intelligence) Hoong Wee Teck said: “This is a serious crime which attracted a lot of public attention. The circumstances surrounding this case had posed a unique challenge to the Police at the onset of investigations.”

Mr Hoong, who is also Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, added: “However, notwithstanding the challenges faced, I am proud of the officers’ perseverance and tenacity which, coupled with their extensive field investigations, have resulted in the successful arrest of the suspect.”

UPDATE:

The 25-year-old forklift driver arrested in connection with the case was identified in court this morning (Dec 20) as Gursharan Singh and formally charged with the murder of Jasvinder.a