A CHINESE national was charged with the murder of his flatmate in a Jurong West flat on Wednesday.

The man, He Junbo, 20, allegedly stabbed Wu Yun Zhong, 18, also a Chinese national, to death sometime between 3pm and 5.45pm on Monday. Both men held work permits.

Their landlady found Wu's body lying face up clad only in his underwear, with multiple stab wounds to his upper body.

He, who had fled the scene returned to the flat later that evening and was arrested. A knife was recovered from the scene.

The landlady and her husband occupy a room in the five-room flat on the 12th-floor of Block 276D Jurong West 25.

The other rooms were rented out to a group of China nationals about three months ago. Wu moved in just a day before.

Sitting in the dock on Wednesday, He was dressed in a red polo t-shirt and blue shorts. With his reddened eyes, he seemed lost in thought and did not respond when his name was initially called by a court clerk for mention.

He is being remanded by police and is due back in court on Nov 12.