Man charged with mischief for St Hilda’s Church fire

SINGAPORE — A 60-year-old man has been charged with setting a storeroom in St Hilda’s Church alight on the morning of Easter Sunday.

Yeo Liang Chai was on Tuesday (April 18) charged with one count of mischief by fire, an offence which carries life imprisonment, or a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine. Yeo represented himself in court.

He was arrested on Sunday in connection with the fire at the Anglican church along Ceylon Road.

The fire damaged a storeroom on the second floor of a building close to the main church hall, where used children’s clothing, books, and toys were kept.

No one was injured, and the building was not damaged.

TODAY reported on Monday that the church said that all services on Easter Sunday were “conducted smoothly as planned”, and that it was helping Yeo and his family “through this difficult time”.

While Yeo is known to the church, it is still not confirmed whether he works at the church or is its member.

The church did not comment further due to ongoing investigations.