Twin boys' deaths: Father taken by police to canal where bodies were found
Xavier Yap Joun Houn, 48, the father of two 11-year-old boys who were found dead in a canal near the Greenridge Crescent playground, was on Thursday (Jan 27) taken by the police to where their bodies were discovered.
Yap was charged on Monday with the murder of one of his sons, Ethan Yap E Chern. The other son was identified as Aston Yap Kai Shern.
At about 3.10pm on Thursday, Yap was seen arriving at the scene in a black van. He wore a red shirt and dark pants and walked with his head lowered. He was handcuffed and surrounded by police officers.
He was then taken to the canal, the area around which had earlier been cordoned off by the police.
Police officers were seen surrounding the area, preventing outsiders from entering.
Before Yap entered the canal, which was wet and grimy, he put on into knee-high black boots.
Two officers were seen placing at least four arrow markers in the area.
One marker was placed at the playground, near an exercise machine, one was placed in the canal, while another was placed on the steps leading down to the canal.
Many offerings of snacks, flowers and notes had been placed on a path by the canal.
As Yap walked past the offerings, he looked at them for a moment.
He and the officers then climbed into the canal and walked on until they were out of sight.
Yap was in the area with the police officers for about 35 minutes, and was then taken away in the black van he had arrived in.
Some investigating officers remained at the scene.
At about 5pm, these officers also left and the police cordon tapes were taken down.
The two boys were found in the canal between 4.23pm and 6.25pm last Friday.
Yap had called the police for help on Friday. He was arrested the next day.
The boys are believed to have had special needs and attended a school in the Eng Kong estate area.
During the court proceedings on Monday, the police prosecutor asked for Yap to be remanded for one week with permission to be taken out for investigations, including scene visits.
The case has been adjourned to Jan 31 for further mention.
Police said the boys were found on Friday evening lying motionless in the canal and were pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.
If convicted of murder, Yap faces the death penalty.
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