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SINGAPORE: At 67, she is now on trial - accused of poisoning her husband of 32 years with arsenic.
Fong Quay Sim is alleged to have fed Mr Chan Tin Sun, 70, arsenic between 2004 and 2005 while they were still living together at Jalan Ulu Siglap.
On Wednesday, the Community Court heard how a doctor treating Mr Chan for various ailments in 2006 had gone to the police after detecting high amounts of the poison, commonly found in insecticides and pesticides, in his urine sample.
The victim identified his wife as the culprit, although he had never witnessed her committing the act. Asked why he did so, the retiree and former contractor said, "Because my food is bought by her."
Mr Chan told the court his suspicions were aroused as early as 12 years ago when his skin turned black because of poisoning.
Between 2003 and 2005, he was admitted to hospital on several occasions for poisoning, he said. Over the years, he had confronted his wife a couple of times, but she always denied it.
The court heard that Mr Chan got very ill on several occasions in 2006 and was bedridden in hospital for a few months. At one point, he was so sick he could not move his limbs. After tests were done, doctors told him it was arsenic poisoning.
Mr Chan also claims that his bad health - he suffers from lung and liver problems, as well as skin and pancreatic cancer - is a consequence of the prolonged poisoning.
After he was discharged at the end of 2006, he kicked Fong out of their home out of fear that she would poison him again.
But under cross-examination by defence lawyer Looi Wan Hui, Mr Chan admitted that he also suspects his 30-year-old son, who now works in Hong Kong, could have done it.
Mr Chan's Indonesian maid Emy Rahayu told the court that since she started working for them in September 2006, the elderly couple had seldom spoken to each other.
Ms Emy said Mr Chan had a bad temper and frequently threw tantrums. He was also a "fussy" person and refused to eat food that he had not specifically requested for, she said.
She said Mr Chan "likes to suspect people". Once, when he threw up after a meal, he accused her of poisoning him. When she asked why he said that, his reply was: "Because my health is bad, that's why I throw tantrums at you."
She agreed that Mr Chan's condition has improved since he was discharged and Fong moved out.
Mr Looi told the court his client had been paying for all her husband's household and living expenses with money the son sends to her, even though she has not been living in the same house.
When asked by Mr Looi why Fong would do so if she intended to harm him, Mr Chan said: "If she did not, I would have asked her to move her belongings out of the house."
If convicted, Fong faces up to 10 years behind bars and a fine.
The trial continues. - TODAY
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