Mandatory treatment for senior with mental condition who caused maid’s death in fire

SINGAPORE – An elderly man suffering from bipolar disorder, who

started a fire that caused a neighbour’s domestic helper to die of smoke inhalation,

was ordered to undergo mandatory psychiatric treatment.

On Wednesday, Chia Gek Yong, 73, was sentenced to a mandatory treatment order (MTO) for two years in lieu of time behind bars.

Before handing down the sentence, District Judge Carol Ling said Chia’s mental condition had a contributory link to the offences.

Imposing a jail term on someone with a mental illness would not help to deter such offences, and rehabilitation may be the key sentencing consideration in such cases, she said. But the judge stressed that the tragedy of Ms Koimatun Achmad Ali’s death was not lost on the court.

Should Chia fail to attend the treatments, the court may revoke the MTO and sentence him again, said Judge Ling.

Chia pleaded guilty earlier in August to an offence of causing death by performing a rash act. He came to court in a wheelchair on Wednesday to receive his sentence.

The court heard previously that on Jan 29, 2022, Chia woke up around 4am in his flat on the 10th storey of Block 39 Telok Blangah Rise. He was on his bed in the living room. Thinking he saw bed bugs, he sprayed his bed with cans of insecticide.

He then used lighters to set the mattress on fire, believing the bed bugs were still alive. When the fire spread, he tried to put it out with several bottles of water but failed.

After that, he exited the flat, leaving behind its four other occupants who were asleep. They were later jolted awake by the smoke and also left the unit.

Police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers arrived at the scene soon after. As the firefighting efforts continued, smoke from the blaze got thicker and infiltrated a flat on the 11th storey.

The fire was brought under control shortly before 6am, after which SCDF officers went to the 11th floor unit, only to find its front door locked. They made a forced entry into the unit and found an unconscious Ms Koimatun in a room next to the kitchen. She had breathing difficulties but was still alive when she was rushed to hospital, where she died around 10.30pm.

As Chia was escorted by the authorities to an assembly area, he admitted he had started the fire to “kill bed bugs”.

He was arrested shortly after.

Defence lawyer Riko Isaac said in a written mitigation plea that Chia had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 19 and experienced many instances of relapse since.

At the time of the offence, he was experiencing a manic episode of moderate severity, said the lawyer.

A psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) noted that he had symptoms of grandiosity, reduced sleep and increased energy levels. After Chia was remanded and started taking his medications again, medical staff noted improvements in his mood and behaviour.

Since then, Chia has been attending regular follow-ups at IMH, and his prognosis for managing his condition is positive, said Mr Isaac.

In sentencing, Judge Ling also noted that Chia had the support of his family members, and said his rehabilitation is a community-based effort.