Single mother of 2 who runs funeral services charged over death of ex-boyfriend

Alverna Cher Sheue Pin is said to have caused the death of Mr Wee Jun Xiang on May 16, 2020. PHOTOS: ALVERNA CHER/FACEBOOK, LIANHE ZAOBAO
Mr Wee Jun Xiang's body was found in the multi-storey carpark at Block 145A Bedok Reservoir Road on May 16, 2020. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Mr Wee’s body was found in the multi-storey carpark at Block 145A Bedok Reservoir Road at about 5.30pm on May 16.
Alverna Cher Sheue Pin (left) is said to have caused the death of Mr Wee Jun Xiang at the multi-storey carpark at Block 145A Bedok Reservoir Road. PHOTOS: ALVERNA CHER/FACEBOOK, LIANHE ZAOBAO

SINGAPORE - A 38-year-old woman was charged on Thursday (Dec 3) over her alleged involvement in the death of her former boyfriend.

Alverna Cher Sheue Pin, who appeared in court via video-link, faces a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Cher is said to have caused the death of Wee Jun Xiang at the multi-storey carpark at Block 145A Bedok Reservoir Road between 1.44pm and 5.15pm on May 16.

The 32-year-old's body was found at the carpark on the same day at about 5.30pm.

In a statement on Wednesday, police said Cher became a suspect during investigations and was later arrested.

An online search showed that she is a funeral director at City Funeral Singapore and the founder of the CARE planner certification programme, which trains individuals in matters such as the drafting of wills and funeral planning.

Cher told the court that she is a single mother with two daughters, aged 13 and six, and the sole breadwinner of her family. She also provides for her parents.

On a blogging site, Cher said that she was divorced from the father of her first child and that the father of the other daughter was sentenced to jail shortly after she was born.

In the blog post, which was published four days before Mr Wee's body was found, she said she had inherited a funeral business and debts from her younger daughter's father.

She said she managed to convince the man's creditor to accept payments in instalments, closed the business, and set up another similar one under her own name.

Cher also described her experience juggling her family duties and her business.

"Looking back, I am proud of what we've accomplished as a family. I managed to make a name for myself in the funeral industry, serving many families and doing pro-bono work for babies and the needy," she said.

Alverna Cher faces a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. PHOTO: ALVERNA CHER/FACEBOOK

In court on Thursday, Cher requested to make three phone calls - one to her family, one to have a friend pass them money and another to help her engage a lawyer.

The district judge said the investigation officer would help to notify the family and make arrangements regarding their welfare.

Cher's case will be heard again on Dec 10. She is currently in remand.

When The Straits Times went to her flat in Punggol, no one answered the door.

A neighbour, who declined to be named, said she had not seen Cher or her two daughters since the start of the school holidays last month.

At Mr Wee's flat in Bedok Reservoir Road, a woman, who looked to be in her 60s, answered the door and said she is his mother. The woman declined to be interviewed.

If found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Cher could face life in prison, or be jailed up to 20 years and fined.

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