Heart-Wrenching Incident Shakes Community

A 78-year-old man, Mr. Soh Eng Thong, was found dead in a stairwell of SingPost Centre after vanishing for four days. The man was last seen leaving his Haig Road home on the evening of August 27, 2021, heading to a wake, a routine outing that tragically took an unexpected turn.

Disturbing Communication Sparks Search

The following day, Mr. Soh communicated with his daughter from SingPost Centre, expressing confusion in Hokkien, stating that 'the door cannot open.' This distressing message reportedly sparked immediate concerns among his family, leading to a frantic search that involved not just his relatives, but also police officers and mall security personnel. Flyers were distributed throughout the mall and surrounding areas, seeking assistance from the public to locate him.

Tragic Discovery

The search culminated in tragedy on August 31, 2021, when a cleaner discovered Mr. Soh's lifeless body in the stairwell of the shopping centre. Initial investigations revealed that his cause of death was hypertensive heart disease, and police have indicated that foul play is not suspected.

Coroner's Inquiry

A coroner's inquiry, which opened on March 28, 2025, is scrutinizing the perplexing circumstances surrounding Mr. Soh’s death. State Coroner Adam Nakhoda expressed heartfelt condolences to the grieving family and acknowledged the need for the inquiry given the alarming nature of events leading to Mr. Soh's death.

Key Testimonies

Key testimony came from police investigation officer Shannon Ng, who disclosed that Mr. Soh had a prior history of hypertension. Security footage illustrates Mr. Soh entering SingPost Centre at approximately 8:30 PM, before he was seen wandering in the loading bay for about 20 minutes. A security guard later assisted him back to the retail section, but after leaving the mall around 9:05 PM, his movements became unclear.

Two hours later, CCTV footage captured Mr. Soh returning to the mall at 11:20 PM and entering the stairwell just after midnight, where he would eventually be found deceased. Notably, the specific stairwell he entered was not searched by either police or security staff during the four-day search, raising profound questions about oversight and safety protocols.

Concerns about Safety Protocols

Testimony from various officials revealed concerning details about the stairwell's locking mechanism. The doors to the three basement levels were equipped with one-way locks, which an investigator from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) argued violates fire safety codes, potentially obstructing necessary emergency exits during critical situations. The design was purportedly intended to prevent re-entry for safety reasons, yet it was highlighted as a breach which could have dire consequences.

Architect's Testimony

Building architect Mr. Foo Chai Yee testified that he was unaware of the one-way locking mechanism until after Mr. Soh's death, confirming that it was not specified in any of the official documents he reviewed. The project manager indicated changes to the locking mechanism had been made, but the timeline for these modifications was not disclosed during the inquiry.

Community Reaction and Awaiting Answers

As the inquiry continues, the community is left grappling with the tragedy and seeking answers about the oversight that led to this unfortunate death. The coroner has promised to present his findings at a later date, keeping both the family and the public in suspense over the outcomes of this deeply unsettling case.

Stay tuned as we follow this developing story and uncover more about the raised safety concerns and their implications for the community.