A family dispute outside the Singapore General Hospital mortuary boiled over yesterday, when a man assaulted his own brother over the right to view a body.

The two men had turned up at the mortuary with their wives, family members and friends, to catch a glimpse of their mother's deceased boyfriend.

Mr Pheh Yong Cheng, 77, had reportedly fallen to his death from a Housing Board block on Thursday.

Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported that the fight broke out because the two brothers mistakenly thought that only three people from the family could go into the mortuary to view Mr Pheh's body. In fact, three people were allowed to enter at any one time.

At about noon, the pair stormed out of the mortuary's administrative office, shouting vulgarities at each other. The older brother who was topless and barefooted, then punched his younger brother in the face. He continued to kick him, even as the younger man fell to the ground.

Police confirmed yesterday that they were called to the scene and advised the parties involved to settle the dispute amicably. No further assistance was required, the police said.

JOYCE LIM