A 73-year-old man was arrested and charged with causing the death of an 80-year-old following an altercation at a Singapore Pools outlet in Marine Parade Central’s Fairprice on May 8. The elderly man, identified as Ho Ah Wah, had gone to the outlet to purchase betting tickets when he encountered the victim, Cheong Hua Kwee. The two reportedly got into an argument, which escalated to a physical confrontation.
During the scuffle, Ho allegedly shoved Cheong, causing him to fall and hit his head. Despite being rushed to the Singapore General Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Forces (SCDF), Cheong later succumbed to his injuries. Ho was charged with one count of a rash act causing death and another of voluntarily causing hurt on May 9.
If convicted, Ho could face up to five years in jail, a fine, or both for the rash act causing death. For the count of voluntarily causing hurt, he could be jailed up to three years, fined up to $5,000, or both. Ho has been released on bail of $15,000 and will appear in court again on June 23.
The incident has raised concerns as it occurred in a public space, and the motives behind the argument remain unclear. Ho is known for operating Hua Hua Eating House, a coffeeshop located at 81 Marine Parade Central.