A 17-year-old boy was arrested on Sunday night after allegedly killing his mother during a heated argument over money he earned from a mobile application. The tragic incident took place in their family apartment in the Hougang district.
According to preliminary reports from the Singapore Police Force, the argument began when the teenager demanded access to a portion of his app-generated income, which was being managed by his mother. Neighbors reported hearing loud shouting followed by a “disturbing silence” before officers arrived at the scene.
Investigators stated that the teenager had been developing and promoting a small earnings app over the past few months, claiming he had made “more than his parents ever earned.” The dispute reportedly escalated when his mother refused to hand over the full amount, urging him to focus on school instead.
When police entered the flat, they found the 42-year-old woman unconscious with severe head injuries. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. The boy was found sitting nearby in a state of shock, muttering about “betrayal” and “money that was rightfully mine.”
Digital forensics officers are currently examining the teenager’s phone and app accounts to verify his claims about the revenue. Police sources told The Straits Journal that early evidence suggests the app involved affiliate marketing and small-scale cryptocurrency transactions.
The boy has been charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code and will appear in court on Tuesday. Authorities have requested the public to refrain from spreading unverified information on social media.
The case has sparked a wider discussion in Singapore about youth exposure to online earnings platforms and the rising obsession with digital wealth.