We hear of people and companies doing bizarre things in order to claim insurance money. But one dad's scheming plan to do this took a heartbreaking twist, resulting in the deaths of his wife and children.
Mother who killed her son and daughter genuinely believed husband was dead
The Chinese man, identified only by his family name He and aged 34, vanished on 7th September, driving a car that he borrowed. On September 19, police discovered the car in Zijiang River – but not the man's body.
Unable to cope with her husband's assumed death, He's wife did the unthinkable. She committed suicide -- taking her kids with her -- after uploading a suicide note on social media. The 31-year-old woman, known only by her surname Dai, drowned herself, her son, aged 4, and daughter, aged 3.
According to the suicide note, the mother who killed her son and daughter said that she did it due to constant harassment from her husband’s family. Not only did He’s relatives blame her for her husband's disappearance, they also complained that she was unemployed and could not keep expenditure in check.
In the suicide note, the mother who killed her son and daughter responded that she remained as a stay-at-home mum to tend to her kids, and that she spent reasonable amounts of money.
Heartbreakingly, she writes in her note that "I want to use my life to prove myself."
The mother who killed her son and daughter also expressed how much she missed her husband, and how happy she had been in her marriage. The group suicide, she reasoned, would reunite her family.
On 11 October, the lifeless body of the mother who killed her son and daughter, and those of her children, were discovered. An autopsy established that the trio died from drowning.
Why He faked his death
On 12 October, the husband turned himself in to the police after learning about what had happened. Police discovered that the man was over 100,000 yuan (S$20,000) in debt towards an online lender.
The 34-year-old husband then bought an insurance policy worth one million yuan, stating his wife as the payee.
According to police reports, he staged his death to claim the insurance payout. However, his wife, Dai, didn’t know he had bought the policy at all, neither was she aware of his plan. She genuinely thought her husband had died.
Police arrested the man on the grounds of purposely destroying property and insurance fraud.
Helplines in Singapore
Parents, this incident happened due to the lack of communication between both spouses and a sense of financial desperation.
Each family has their own issues, and while it may be beneficial to be clear and transparent, sometimes it is very difficult to do so. If you find yourself in a similar position to the above, do know that there is support available in Singapore:
Services to help counter debt
Credit Counselling Singapore
Address: #05-04, 210 Middle Road, Singapore 188994
Office Number: 6225 5227
Fax: 6338 6586
Available from Monday - Friday
Website: https://www.ccs.org.sg/
SG Debt Buster
Adddress: 400 Orchard Road, #13-07, Orchard towers, Singapore, 238875
Office Hours: 10am-6pm, Mondays to Fridays
Telephone:6846 9077
Fax:6733 7714
Email: info@sgdebtbuster.com
Website: https://www.sgdebtbuster.com/contact_sgdebtbuster.html
The Silver Lining
Addresses:
- 11 Playfair Road, Singapore 367986 (East)
- Jurong Spring CC, Activity Room 3, 8 Jurong West St 52, Singapore 649296 (West)
Website: https://www.silverlining.com.sg/legal-moneylenders.html
Email address: admin@silverlining.com.sg
Helplines for family issues:
Association of Women for Action and Research
Address: Block 5 Dover Crescent #01-22, Singapore 130005
Office Number: (+65) 6779 7137
Fax Number: (+65) 6777 0318
Helpline: 1800 777 5555
Sexual Assault Care Centre: 6779 0282
Website: https://www.aware.org.sg/
Email: aware@aware.org.sg
References: BBC, NCSS.gov.sg, AWARE, CCS, Debt Buster, Silver Lining
Also Read:
The tragic reason WHY this Singapore mum jumped to death with her baby
Pregnant Chinese mum commits suicide at 41 weeks
Yes, Parental Suicide Is Actually Pretty Selfish