14-11-2024 (SINGAPORE) A failed rental agreement descended into violence at a Yishun condominium on Sunday evening, resulting in one arrest and police investigations into a confrontation involving a knife, authorities confirmed yesterday.
The dispute began when a couple, led by 41-year-old Chen, responded to an advertisement for a four-bedroom unit on 13 October. After transferring a $1,000 deposit via PayNow to the sublessor, the arrangement collapsed when the property owner reportedly refused permission for the subletting arrangement.
According to Chen, repeated attempts to recover the deposit over three weeks proved futile, with the sublessor citing various financial commitments, including rent and school fees, as reasons for the delay. The situation reached a breaking point during a face-to-face meeting at the property on Sunday evening.
“The discussion deteriorated rapidly,” Chen told local media. “The sublessor became aggressive, physically attacking my wife before threatening us with a knife.”
Video footage reportedly shows the sublessor, dressed in white, wielding a fruit knife while making a phone call. However, the 45-year-old sublessor presents a markedly different account of events, claiming she acted in self-defence after the couple allegedly forced their way into the unit.
“I was protecting my child, who was terrified by the confrontation,” the sublessor stated, alleging that Chen’s wife had initiated the physical altercation and refused to leave the premises. She maintains that she never intended to withhold the deposit, citing personal attacks and accusations of fraud as factors in the delay.
Singapore Police Force confirmed their intervention at approximately 7pm, leading to the arrest of one woman for criminal intimidation. Another woman, aged 47, is assisting with investigations into allegations of voluntarily causing hurt. Officers seized a knife as evidence.
The incident highlights growing tensions in Singapore’s rental market, where deposit disputes and subletting arrangements increasingly lead to confrontations. Chen has indicated his intention to pursue the matter through small claims proceedings.
Police investigations are ongoing, with both parties maintaining contrasting versions of the evening’s events. The sublessor has since stated that arrangements are being made, with assistance from her father, to return the disputed deposit.
