Key Points

• Murder Charge in Singapore:
  Indonesian national Salehuddin, 41, has been charged with the murder of his wife, 38-year-old Nurdia Rahmah Rery, inside a room at the Capri by Fraser China Square hotel in Singapore on October 24, 2025, between 3am and 5am. The case is being treated as a domestic-related homicide, with no indication of wider threats.
  (Sources: Channel News Asia, Yahoo News Malaysia)
• Self-Reported Crime:
  Around 7:40am, Salehuddin walked into Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre and confessed to killing his wife. Responding officers discovered Nurdia lifeless in Room 703, and paramedics from the SCDF pronounced her dead at the scene.
  (Sources: Channel News Asia, NST, Yahoo News Malaysia)
• Court Appearance and Extradition Request:
  Appearing via video link on October 25, dressed in a red polo tee, Salehuddin asked the District Court to be prosecuted in Indonesia instead of Singapore, citing fear of the death penalty. Judge Tan Jen Tse ruled that it was too early for such an application and ordered a three-week psychiatric remand.
  (Sources: Channel News Asia, NST)
• Possible Death Penalty:
  Under Singapore law, murder carries a mandatory death sentence by hanging. The case could involve cross-border legal considerations, but Singapore retains jurisdiction as the alleged crime occurred within its territory.
• Fifth Murder in Singapore in 2025:
  The case marks Singapore’s fifth reported murder in 2025, highlighting the rarity of such crimes in one of the world’s safest nations. Previous cases this year involved family and neighbor disputes, including the Yishun noise dispute murder in September.
  (Sources: Straits Times, NST, Latest Malaysia)

Incident Details

On October 24, 2025, Singapore authorities responded to a report of a homicide at Capri by Fraser China Square hotel, located in Chinatown. Salehuddin had earlier surrendered to police, admitting he had killed his wife.
Upon arrival, officers and SCDF paramedics found Ms. Nurdia Rahmah Rery unresponsive in Room 703, and she was declared dead on the spot. The preliminary investigation suggests the incident occurred between 3am and 5am, though details of the cause of death and possible weapon remain under investigation.

Court Proceedings

During his first court appearance on October 25, Salehuddin appeared calm but visibly tense as the charge was read to him in Bahasa Indonesia through an interpreter. When informed of the murder charge, he asked:

“Can I be tried in Indonesia? The punishment here is death.”

Judge Tan Jen Tse clarified that it was too early to make such applications and approved the prosecution’s request for psychiatric evaluation. Legal experts note that extradition is unlikely, as Singapore maintains sovereign jurisdiction over crimes committed on its soil, particularly capital offenses.

Legal and Social Context

Singapore enforces strict laws on murder, with no parole and a mandatory death penalty upon conviction. Despite its low homicide rate, domestic violence and personal disputes remain recurring triggers for such cases.

Recent police data show a 5.4% rise in physical crimes in early 2025 compared to 2024, including an increase in knife-related offenses (75 vs. 59 cases). However, murder remains extremely rare in the city-state.

Singapore’s 2025 Murder Cases Overview

Community Impact and Broader Implications

The Salehuddin case has reignited discussions about domestic violence prevention, mental health support, and conflict management among expatriate and migrant families in Singapore.
Community leaders emphasize the importance of early intervention and public awareness campaigns, especially as interpersonal disputes continue to surface despite the country’s robust legal framework.

As investigations continue, Salehuddin remains under psychiatric evaluation, and the trial is pending. If convicted, he faces the death penalty — a sobering reminder of Singapore’s zero-tolerance approach to violent crime.