Her locksmith husband had gone bankrupt. He had accumulated a lot of debt from gambling. So his wife hatched a plan to boost their business. She poured glue into the keyholes of nine HDB households at Block 443 Sin Ming Avenue.
She thought the flat owners would contact the locksmith for help. Instead, they called the police.
Worse was to follow.
Singapore Dad Commits Suicide
According to Shin Min Daily News, mum-of-two Huang Baofen was found guilty of committing the acts on April 26 and April 27, 2017.
The couple had started the locksmith business, hoping that it would help them tide over bad times. Mdm Huang even went door-to-door, distributing flyers and advertising the business. But things didn't work out as planned, and they continued to accumulate debt.
In a desperate attempt to make money, Huang poured glue into the keyholes of nine HDB flats along Sin Ming Avenue, using a toothpick.
One of the victims later found out from the Resident's Committee (RC) that other flat owners were affected too. That's when he grew suspicious and informed the police.
Huang got arrested. More tragedy followed, when months later, on 3 November 2017, her husband left home and committed suicide.
Mum-of-Two in Great Financial Difficulty
According to Shin Min Daily News, on 10 July 2018, Huang was sentenced to three weeks of jail. She was also ordered to pay $1,070 to the victims as compensation.
In her defence, Huang's lawyer revealed that she is now in great financial strain to support the family, and to raise her two young children alone. She currently stays in a one-room rental flat. Apart from the children, she also has to look after her bedridden parents, whose medical bills come up to $500 a month.
Huang is also believed to suffer from adaptation disorder.
Sources: Shin Min Daily News, Stomp
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