The man stabbed to death in Boon Tat Street on Monday at lunchtime — allegedly by his father-in-law — lived with him as part of a three-generation family who appeared to be on good terms, shocked neighbours said on Tuesday (July 11).

They also described the victim, up-and-coming businessman Spencer Sanjay Shamlal Tuppani, 38, as a friendly man who would greet residents of their neighbourhood in Sennett Lane.

“He (Spencer) is a friendly guy, he greeted me just a few days ago,” said a neighbour who declined to be named. “I was so shocked that this (the stabbing incident) happened”.

Spencer Sanjay Shamlal Tuppani, 38, (above), collapsed in a pool of blood outside a reataurant in the Shenton Way area. Photo: Facebook

Tuppani, who rose to prominence after turning around port services provider TNS Ocean Lines, collapsed in a pool of blood outside a restaurant in the Shenton Way area, shocking passers-by and office workers.

He was taken to hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after.

The alleged assailant, who told eyewitnesses he was the victim’s father-in-law, was arrested on the spot by the police, who have classified the case as murder.

The 69-year-old man is expected to be charged in court on Wednesday.

Mr Vinnie Ang, a waiter at the restaurant where the victim collapsed, said the elderly man, who was wielding a knife then, told him: “That’s my son-in-law, don’t help him. Let him die.”

Mr Ang also said the elderly man called someone on the phone later.

“He (was telling the other person on the line) he couldn’t sleep well at night, he has done it, he stabbed him ... killed him. He was saying: ‘Don’t cry, I’m old already. I’m not afraid to go (to) jail’.”

TODAY visited Sennett Lane on Tuesday afternoon and a neighbour said the affected family’s relationship seemed good to her and she had not observed any disputes in the household.

The family moved into the three-storey semi-detached house about four to five years ago.

The other occupants were Mrs Tuppani and their three children, her mother and a domestic helper.

According to a LinkedIn profile, Tuppani graduated from Long Island University in New York.

In an interview with August Man in July 2014, Tuppani related how he sold off everything he had to reinvest in TNS Ocean Lines, which was on the brink of bankruptcy after the economic crisis in 2007.

In 18 months, he turned the port services provider, which he joined in 2003, around to be in the black again, growing the turnover from S$2 million to more than S$100 million.

One of the directors listed for TNS is Mr Tan Nam Seng, believed to be Tuppani’s father-in-law.

Tuppani was also nominated for the Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2014 by the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and DBS.

Last November, logistics company GKE Corporation bought over TNS Ocean Lines for S$9 million.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by AMANDA LEE

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