Indian national charged for murder of compatriot

Singapore, Aug 27: A 26-year-old Indian national was on Wednesday charged by a court here for the murder of a compatriot at an industrial estate in the west coast of Singapore.

Thiruppathi Veerapperumal allegedly murdered 26-year-old Murugaiya Suresh Kumar last week near 72 Pandan Loop along the exit road leading to west coast highway.

In a brief hearing today, Thiruppathi dressed in a gray- coloured collared top, appeared calm as the charge was read out to him. Speaking through a Tamil interpreter he told the court, "Sir, I did not commit this offence."

The district judge has ordered to give the police time to complete its investigations. Thiruppathi will be remanded at Central Police Division for investigations and brought back to the alleged crime scene.

He will return to court on September 3, according to media reports. If convicted, Thiruppathi will face death penalty.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force, responding to a help call, arrived at the scene where Murugaiya was attacked.

He had sustained trauma injuries on his head and neck, and had deformities on his left hand.

The paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

PTI