In the Chinatown hotel murder case, the victim’s brother shared that his sister was a devoted daughter, caring sister, and loving mother who was deeply bonded with her family.
According to reports from Shin Min Daily News, the murder took place at Capri by Fraser China Square, located along South Bridge Road in Chinatown.
Court documents state that 41-year-old Indonesian national Salehuddin is accused of killing his 38-year-old wife, Nurdia Rahmah Rery, between 3 am and 5 am on October 24 in Room 703 of the hotel, resulting in her death.
Speaking to reporters, the victim’s brother said his sister and brother-in-law had been married for nine years and that he had never heard of any disputes between them. However, he added that his sister tended to keep her worries to herself and always appeared cheerful around her family.
He said:
“My sister was the eldest in the family. She was caring, family-oriented, and had a very close relationship with all of us”
The victim’s relatives posted a tribute on Facebook on Saturday (Oct 25), sharing that she was a pharmacist and a civil servant with the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM). She was also a graduate of Andalas University, one of Indonesia’s oldest universities.
Her relatives described her as a loving daughter, sister, and mother. They also recalled her student days fondly, saying they were deeply shocked and saddened by her death, and hoped she would rest in peace.
Indonesia’s Batam Drug and Food Control Agency and the clinic where her brother works also expressed their condolences on social media.
Husband quit job in Brunei before coming to Singapore
The victim’s brother revealed that her husband had previously been working in Brunei but had resigned before travelling to Singapore. The victim later joined him in Singapore, while their two children remained in Indonesia.
According to the accused’s Facebook page, he lived in Batam, Indonesia, and worked in Brunei as a scaffolder for the Serikandi Group of Companies.
Online information shows that the company’s businesses include engineering, shipping, catering, fast-moving consumer goods trading, agriculture, and renewable energy.
In December 2023, the accused had uploaded a photo of himself wearing what appeared to be work attire and a safety helmet, with the sea in the background, believed to have been taken on a ship.
Family will care for the victim’s two children
The victim’s brother said that she had two children, aged eight and five, who were studying in Batam. They have since been brought to Pekanbaru in Indonesia’s Riau province.
“Both children are now living with me and my parents. Our family will take care of them and arrange for them to transfer to a school in Pekanbaru,” he said.
