Father dies in 'scuffle' with son
One was an avid golfer who kept birds as pets.
The other had a passion for cars.
For nearly three decades, Mr Tan Kok Keng, 67, and his son, Mr Mark Tan Peng Liat, 29, lived together in their West Coast Rise home, seemingly without incident.
But on Tuesday afternoon, something went terribly wrong.
Neighbours reported hearing a woman's screams, and the police were called at 5.25pm.
They arrived at the semi-detached house at 58, West Coast Rise, and the older Mr Tan was taken to the National University Hospital (NUH) unconscious. He was pronounced dead at 6.48pm.
A police spokesman said a 29-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident.
The New Paper understands he is Mr Mark Tan. He will be charged in the State Courts today with murder.
So what went wrong?
According to Chinese evening daily Shin Min Daily News, the father and son were in an argument, which led to a scuffle.
Their Indonesian maid, who witnessed the incident, ran to the home of Mr Tan Kok Keng's sister on the next street to seek help, and the police were called.
TNP understands that when the older Mr Tan was taken to NUH, his son had accompanied him in the ambulance and was arrested later.
One neighbour who lived down the street said his maid heard shouts and screaming at about 5pm on Tuesday.
But since she was busy preparing dinner, she did not think too much about it until her employers pointed out the heavy police presence on the cul-de-sac of about a dozen houses.
Said the man, who did not want to be named: "There must have been about 30 police officers. They cordoned off the entire road from about 6pm till past midnight.".
A woman, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Sein, who lives next to the Tans, said the family hardly spoke to her in the two decades she has lived at West Coast Rise.
"I only know the older man likes keeping birds because I see the cages hanging by the side of the house, but he never spoke to us. They were very private," she said, adding that she had never heard any arguments in the home despite living next door.
Another neighbour who declined to be named said the father and son did not seem to go out to work at regular times, and were at home a lot.
"Sometimes we'd see the older man going out, and he'd have a cap on," she said, adding that the duo would leave and return separately.
Another neighbour, who lives a few houses down, called the older Mr Tan a "generous man" who gave all the maids on the street red packets every Chinese New Year.
According to accounting records, the older man used to be involved in at least nine marine-related businesses, though the companies have since been dissolved.
MARRIED
Marriage records also show that he married Madam Chua Geok Lee in 1976, though neighbours say they had not seen Mr Tan's wife in years.
The couple have two children, Mr Mark Tan, and a daughter, who is believed to be living overseas.
The older Mr Tan, a member of the Singapore Island Country Club and an avid golfer, drove a black Mercedes Benz, which was still parked in the driveway of the house yesterday.
The younger Mr Tan's Facebook page also showed pictures of him playing golf at a course in Johor.
A petrolhead, he "liked" a number of garage pages in Facebook. His heavily-modified blue Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was still parked outside his West Coast Rise home.
Police investigators were seen examining the electric blue car the night before.
TNP understands that just hours before the incident, the younger Mr Tan had some $2,500 worth of work done to the car, including installing a new exhaust and brake pads.
Business records show that he was a director of The People Studio, a talent agency. His wife, Madam Judy Oh, and his father-in-law, were also listed as directors.
Mr Mark Tan and Madam Oh registered their marriage on Nov 17, 2012, around the time he posted a wedding picture of them at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
TNP understands that Madam Oh did not live at West Coast Rise, but is living with her parents in their Bukit Panjang flat.
At the Tans' home yesterday, all was quiet until four young people arrived at about 2.20pm.
Three of them - two women wearing hoodies and a man - went into the house. They left about 20 minutes later carrying luggage and a suit.
Police have classified the case as murder and investigations are ongoing.
I only know the older man likes keeping birds because I see the cages hanging by the side of the house, but he never talks to us. They're very private.
- A neighbour
Past cases of fatal domestic dispute
JUNE 4, 2014
For over a decade, a mother and daughter lived together in a four-room flat in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4.
But they shared a tempestuous relationship, fighting over everything, including food.
Ms Andrea Tay, 51, killed her mother, Madam Rosaline Lim, 75, in their flat. She later leapt out of the kitchen window to her death.
During a coroner's inquiry, it was revealed that Ms Tay used a chopper and a knife on Madam Lim, whose wounds numbered "in the hundreds".
JAN 26, 2012
A man stabbed his mother to death because he thought she was a genie.
Mr Mohamed Redha Abdul Mutalib, 33, killed religious teacher Asnah Aziz, 56, in their family flat at Block 20, Eunos Crescent.
On Jan 15 last year, he was acquitted of the murder on grounds of temporary insanity.
The judge ordered the former healthcare assistant to be kept in safe custody in Changi Prison "pending the orders of the Minister".
AUG 5, 2009
A 33-year-old schizophrenic man was sentenced to eight years' jail for setting his family home at McNair Road on fire, causing the death of his father.
Ho Wei Yi pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Wanting to rid the flat of "evil spirits", the jobless man took two pieces of paper into a bedroom, placed them on the bed and set them on fire with a lighter.
His father, Mr Michael Ho Shiong Chun, 58, died in the blaze.
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