The officer went to the flat for a check last year, when the tenant defaulted on the rent for a long time.
When no one came to the door, the officer pasted a notice on it, requesting that the occupants settle the rental arrears, the Straits Times said.
A month later, when the officer had still not received any response, he took steps to repossess the unit. Upon entering the flat, he found a mattress sat in the dusty living room, and the skeleton was in the toilet.
Based on the evidence, however, the coroner said the remains could be that of Teow Lye Hock, the rent defaulter, but this could not be conclusive.
Police investigations showed that Teow had failed to pay the rent on his flat for a long time.
Investigations showed Teow, then 58, had a roommate named Low Jim Kow. But Low (74) was unable to help with the whereabouts of Teow as he has dementia and is a resident in a care center for the elderly.
The cause of death also could not be ascertained.
A pathologist who examined the remains said death had occurred about 45 days to two months before, but it could be earlier than that.
(C003)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
