Chan Lie San, 50, faces an amended charge of committing murder after the alleged victim died in hospital.
He was initially accused of causing grievous hurt to 35-year-old William Tiah Hung Wai with a dangerous weapon but the charge was amended in the district court on Thursday.
Police officers had found Mr Tiah at Lorong 18 Geylang with head injuries at 6.30pm on Jan 14. He was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
The police prosecutor said that the Criminal Investigation Department has taken over the case as the offence is now classified as murder. The court then ordered Chan to be remanded at the Central Police Division in Cantonment Road. He could also be taken out for investigation purposes.
Chan told the district court through a Mandarin interpreter that he wished to hire a lawyer.
If convicted of murder, he could be hanged.
