SINGAPORE — A 63‑year‑old man who poured boiling oil on his sleeping roommate and stabbed him repeatedly after months of co‑living disputes was sentenced to life imprisonment today.

The case involved Ng Boon Hong and his 61‑year‑old roommate Ang Cheng Kek, who shared a one‑room rental flat in Redhill Close, according to a report by CNA.

Ng told investigators that he “did not want the victim to die easily” and intended to inflict pain, according to facts read out in court.

The judge noted that Ng ignored Ang’s pleas to call an ambulance, including the victim’s question in Hokkien, “Why did you do this?”

Both men were unemployed and had clashed over smoking, laundry, noise at night and Ang’s girlfriend visiting the flat, which had no partition for privacy.

Ang once made a police report claiming Ng threatened to kill him after he refused to lend him money.

Ng also smashed a cupboard with a hammer after Ang tried to give it away.On March 15, 2023, Ng woke up to Ang slamming the door and the pair exchanged vulgarities.

Ng decided he could no longer tolerate Ang and boiled cooking oil with chopped chillis, believing it would cause greater pain.

He closed the windows to reduce noise, took a knife and the pot of oil, and approached Ang while he slept.

At about 2.10am on March 16, Ng poured the boiling oil on Ang’s face, causing him to wake and stand on his bed.

Ng then stabbed Ang in the stomach, and the victim bled heavily before moving to the main door and squatting.

Ng blocked Ang from pressing the distress button meant for elderly residents and ignored his pleas for help.

He slashed Ang’s neck and left the floor covered in blood.

After confirming Ang was dead, Ng took about S$3,000 (RM9,476) from him, washed his hands, and disabled the victim’s phone by throwing it into a fish tank.

He left the flat, went to a temple along Bencoolen Street to pray and confess, and vowed to surrender after spending all the money.