The police are investigating the double murder of an elderly couple, who were found dead yesterday in a second-floor flat at Block 717, Bedok Reservoir Road.

The Straits Times understands that the couple were Singaporeans Chia Ngim Fong, 79, and his wife Chin Sek Fah, 78, and that they were found in two different places in the five-room executive flat.

The police said it received an alert at 3.39pm and found both of them lying motionless. They were pronounced dead at 3.57pm by paramedics, and at least one had injuries on the neck.

The police are treating the incident as a murder case. Investigators were seen yesterday taking pictures in the flat's bedroom and bathroom.

No arrests have been made.

Neighbours said a maid, believed to be Indonesian, was living with the couple for about a month. The maid's whereabouts were unclear.

ST understands that other family members also live in the unit but were not at home then. Around six people, believed to be family members, were seen at the flat last night, though it was not clear if all live there.

At about 9.45pm, police officers were seen combing through the contents of a rubbish chute at the foot of the block. They took three knives away.

A 28-year-old undergraduate, who lives on the sixth floor and wanted to be known only as Kenneth, said he heard a shout lasting a few seconds at about 3pm. "I didn't think too much of it. But I believe it came from the lower floors," he said.

Several neighbours described the couple as friendly and loving, and said the husband had mobility problems and required the use of a walking stick after a recent stroke.

A 68-year-old retiree, who also lives on the sixth floor and did not want to be named, said she often saw the couple going out together. She described the woman as fair with a slim build, and the man as skinny with white hair.

"They had been living here for more than 30 years. The woman was very happy-go-lucky and chatty, while the man was a bit more quiet," she said.

Mr Said Nasir, a 63-year-old retiree living on the fourth floor, said he was shocked to hear the news. He said: "Sometimes, I would meet them downstairs as they were going to deliver meals to their children. We would just wave and say hi."

Anyone with information is requested to call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or submit the information online at www.police. gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.