Shane Todd's laptop showed access to suicide, depression-related websites
By Kimberly Spykerman
POSTED: 13 May 2013 9:58 PM
SINGAPORE: Internet history on American researcher Shane Todd's laptop showed that he had run searches on suicide and depression-related websites in the days before he died. This was revealed on the first day of a coroner's inquiry into his death.
Dr Todd's body was found hanging from a black strap in front of a closed toilet door in his bedroom. According to the police, the strap had a plastic buckle attached to it which acted as a stopper -- securing it against the top end of the toilet door.
Internet history on his laptop revealed that he had accessed suicide-related websites 19 times between March and June 2012. The last one was accessed only the day before his body was found hanged in his apartment.
According to patterns of Internet activity, Dr Todd had searched different methods of committing suicide. Depression-related webpages were also accessed -- mostly in May 2012.
Senior State Counsel Tai Wei Shyong gave these details in an opening statement to the court.
Dr Todd's parents, who have flown here for the inquiry, believe their son was murdered over research he had done while working for the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics.
However, there were notes, believed to be written by Dr Todd, found on his laptop. The notes were found after the investigation officer accessed his laptop using a password written on a post-it pad.
They were for his family, girlfriend, and friends. He said he loved them and asked their forgiveness for the pain he caused them.
Dr Todd's girlfriend and friends took the stand on Monday to describe his state of mind in the months before he died. Calling him a perfectionist, they said he was unhappy and stressed about his work. They also said he had lost weight and a twitching in his hands had become more pronounced in the months leading up to his death.
Dr Todd's girlfriend Shirley Sarmiento said he told her he had suffered from depression since October 2011. He also told her he was unhappy after transferring to another department, and working on a project that he felt could get him into trouble with the American government.
The court heard earlier that Dr Todd had seen a psychiatrist while in Singapore and been prescribed anti-depressant pills.
Officers and paramedics who were first at the scene said there were no signs of forced entry or foul play when they entered Dr Todd's apartment.
However, the counsel for the Todd family questioned if it was right for them to cut the rope holding up Dr Todd's body before the forensics team arrived, saying that that could have changed material evidence at the scene.
The court however heard that it was standard procedure to bring down a body found hanging as the priority was to "save lives". The first-responders also said they remembered seeing Dr Todd's feet on the floor when they entered the room, but could not be sure if his legs were bearing his weight.
The Todd family also said they appreciated the help they had received for the inquiry.
Rick Todd, the father of Dr Todd, said: "We really appreciate the process going on here. It's a slow process so we really appreciate the way Singapore conducts its court system."
Earlier, he and his wife thanked the Singapore government for allowing them to be part of the inquest.
The inquiry continues.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Showing posts with label apartments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apartments. Show all posts
Monday, May 13, 2013
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Ascott strengthening market presence in China
Ascott strengthening market presence in China
Posted: 26 December 2012 1635 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Ascott, CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, is strengthening its market presence in China.
In a filing to the Singapore Exchange, the firm said it has secured contracts to manage three properties with more than 500 apartment units in China.
The 90-unit Ascott Heng Shan Shanghai is scheduled to open in 2014.
Meanwhile, two serviced apartments in Suzhou - the 250-unit Ascott Emerald City Suzhou and the 194-unit Somerset Baitang Suzhou - will start operations in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
With the latest additions, Ascott will have more than 10 serviced residences in Shanghai and Suzhou.
Mr Lee Chee Koon, Ascott's Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director for North Asia, said, "Deepening our presence in these two cities enables us to better tap the fast-growing demand for serviced residences and build economies of scale in our operations."
These new contracts will also reinforce the firm's leadership position as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in China, with over 8,000 apartment units in 46 properties across 17 cities.
- CNA/de
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 26 December 2012 1635 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Ascott, CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, is strengthening its market presence in China.
In a filing to the Singapore Exchange, the firm said it has secured contracts to manage three properties with more than 500 apartment units in China.
The 90-unit Ascott Heng Shan Shanghai is scheduled to open in 2014.
Meanwhile, two serviced apartments in Suzhou - the 250-unit Ascott Emerald City Suzhou and the 194-unit Somerset Baitang Suzhou - will start operations in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
With the latest additions, Ascott will have more than 10 serviced residences in Shanghai and Suzhou.
Mr Lee Chee Koon, Ascott's Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director for North Asia, said, "Deepening our presence in these two cities enables us to better tap the fast-growing demand for serviced residences and build economies of scale in our operations."
These new contracts will also reinforce the firm's leadership position as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in China, with over 8,000 apartment units in 46 properties across 17 cities.
- CNA/de
- wong chee tat :)
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Sales of shoebox units fall after govt announcement
Sales of shoebox units fall after govt announcement
By Kristie Neo | Posted: 22 October 2012 2221 hrs
SINGAPORE: Sales of small private apartments, commonly known as shoebox units in Singapore, have taken a downward turn. Data compiled by analysts show that new sales fell about 57 per cent in September from the previous month to 99 units.
The fall in the sale of shoebox units occured after the government announced that it will moderate the number of shoebox apartments entering the market.
Analysts said buyers are now taking a "wait-and-see" approach in response to the measures. This caused new sales of shoebox units to drop across the board last month.
Vicinities under the "Outside Central Region" category were hit the hardest, with sales falling some 80 per cent to only 24 units sold in September. This is also the region where the new government regulations apply.
On September 4, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) issued new guidelines that capped the total number of units that can be built on a site for non-landed private residential developments outside the Central Area. The new rules are to curb developers' enthusiasm to build shoebox units in 'suburban neighbourhoods' which are largely designated for families.
But analysts said the impact on buyers' appetites are only temporary. They said shoebox unit buyers are largely investors, and they may bounce back more quickly after each round of cooling measures introduced by the authorities.
Alan Cheong, director of research and consultancy at Savills, said: "Although we have one or two stories where people have decided to put off their purchases, we believe the market will revert to some sense of normalcy in a shorter period of time than it had been for the past five rounds of cooling measures.
"People have now got used to measures being thrown into the market, every year probably two or so."
Analysts added that recent launches in the last three months like Sky Green, Parc Centros and Skies Miltonia, still reflect "brisk" demand.
Sky Green, located in McPherson, sold all 68 studio units within a single day during its pre-launch last week. Parc Centros in Punggol and Skies Miltonia in Yishun, have sold out 88 per cent and 75 per cent of their units respectively.
They added that this trend is unlikely to change as long as investors hold enough cash to splash around.
Mohamed Ismail, CEO of PropNex, said: "They sell mainly because of two reasons. One being the fact that the quantum of such properties are relatively low, coupled with today's liquidity and low interest rate."
Moving forward however, analysts said the appeal of holding a shoebox unit as an investment is likely to wane.
Eugene Lim, key executive officer of the ERA Realty Network, said: "I think buyers are becoming more aware that there is actually a huge supply that is going to be completed in 2014, 2015. And that would mean this would put pressure on rental. It is this type of investments that is actually losing flavour."
About 11,000 shoebox units are expected to hit the market by 2015.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Kristie Neo | Posted: 22 October 2012 2221 hrs
SINGAPORE: Sales of small private apartments, commonly known as shoebox units in Singapore, have taken a downward turn. Data compiled by analysts show that new sales fell about 57 per cent in September from the previous month to 99 units.
The fall in the sale of shoebox units occured after the government announced that it will moderate the number of shoebox apartments entering the market.
Analysts said buyers are now taking a "wait-and-see" approach in response to the measures. This caused new sales of shoebox units to drop across the board last month.
Vicinities under the "Outside Central Region" category were hit the hardest, with sales falling some 80 per cent to only 24 units sold in September. This is also the region where the new government regulations apply.
On September 4, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) issued new guidelines that capped the total number of units that can be built on a site for non-landed private residential developments outside the Central Area. The new rules are to curb developers' enthusiasm to build shoebox units in 'suburban neighbourhoods' which are largely designated for families.
But analysts said the impact on buyers' appetites are only temporary. They said shoebox unit buyers are largely investors, and they may bounce back more quickly after each round of cooling measures introduced by the authorities.
Alan Cheong, director of research and consultancy at Savills, said: "Although we have one or two stories where people have decided to put off their purchases, we believe the market will revert to some sense of normalcy in a shorter period of time than it had been for the past five rounds of cooling measures.
"People have now got used to measures being thrown into the market, every year probably two or so."
Analysts added that recent launches in the last three months like Sky Green, Parc Centros and Skies Miltonia, still reflect "brisk" demand.
Sky Green, located in McPherson, sold all 68 studio units within a single day during its pre-launch last week. Parc Centros in Punggol and Skies Miltonia in Yishun, have sold out 88 per cent and 75 per cent of their units respectively.
They added that this trend is unlikely to change as long as investors hold enough cash to splash around.
Mohamed Ismail, CEO of PropNex, said: "They sell mainly because of two reasons. One being the fact that the quantum of such properties are relatively low, coupled with today's liquidity and low interest rate."
Moving forward however, analysts said the appeal of holding a shoebox unit as an investment is likely to wane.
Eugene Lim, key executive officer of the ERA Realty Network, said: "I think buyers are becoming more aware that there is actually a huge supply that is going to be completed in 2014, 2015. And that would mean this would put pressure on rental. It is this type of investments that is actually losing flavour."
About 11,000 shoebox units are expected to hit the market by 2015.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
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