A 19-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly killing his mother during a violent dispute over profits from an online gaming platform. The incident occurred late Monday evening at a Housing Board flat in Tampines Street 83.
Police responded to a distress call around 10:45 p.m. and found the 45-year-old woman lying motionless in the living room with multiple stab wounds. Paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force pronounced her dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, identified only as Tan, had been earning money through competitive gaming and livestream donations. Sources familiar with the case said he had recently withdrawn several thousand dollars, sparking tension at home when his mother asked him to contribute part of his earnings to family expenses.
A heated argument reportedly escalated when the woman confronted him over excessive gaming hours and unpaid bills. According to police statements, the teenager retrieved a kitchen knife during the quarrel and attacked his mother in a fit of rage.
Neighbours described hearing loud shouting followed by a crash. “It sounded like furniture being thrown. Then everything went silent,” said one resident from the same block.
The suspect was arrested without resistance and is currently under psychiatric evaluation at the Institute of Mental Health. Authorities have classified the case as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Police are urging the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue. The case has reignited public debate about youth gaming addiction and the psychological pressures associated with monetized digital platforms.