Sengkang ‘Yakult Aunt’, 70, who died after alleged abuse, juggled three jobs to raise her children – Mothership.SG

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She believed she had a hard life, but chose to face it, her son said.

The 70-year-old woman, who died after an alleged assault in Sengkang, juggled three jobs to raise her three children.

Widowed at age 33

Her eldest son told her Shin Min daily news that his late mother, Jasmine, was widowed when she was only 33.

At the time, she was working in an electronics factory in Ang Mo Kio.

To raise her children, who were then aged just one, four and six, she sewed and made custom clothes and even worked as a cleaner.

In 1991, she got a third job selling Yakult.

She sewed clothes in the morning, cleaned in the afternoon and delivered Yakult in the evening.

Her son told Chinese media that his mother believed that she had had a hard life since she was a child, and that if something happened to her, her family would have to let her go.

It was this conviction that informed her family’s decision to remove her life support when her condition deteriorated in hospital following her alleged assault.

Customers were her priority

Jasmine’s eldest son also told Chinese media that his mother was very focused on her work as a Yakult aunt, and that her regular customers were her priority.

Every time she went on holiday abroad, she made it a point to return within a week.

Before she left, she told her customers to place their orders in advance.

Even if a customer bought just one pack of Yakult drinks, she would deliver it to their home.

Even at the age of 70, Jasmine spent four days a week delivering Yakult to her customers.

Her routine consisted of leaving the house at 7pm and returning home just before 9:30pm.

“My mother never argued with others. She would consider it a blessing even if she suffered losses. The way she faced her hardships inspired me. Whatever difficulties I faced, I know I can get through them ” she said. son.

Her family said they wish more witnesses could come forward and shed light on the incident that killed Jasmine.

Man charged in court

According to the complaint, a 30-year-old Singaporean man, Lim Chuan Xun, was charged over the incident.

He is accused of voluntarily inflicting severe pain on the victim by punching Jasmine on the right side of her face.

Another charge under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) alleged that Lim hurled vulgarities at Jasmine while they were on the ninth floor of Block 272B Sengkang Central.

Jasmine’s relatives said Lim claimed “he didn’t touch her” and insisted it was “just a slap”.

In addition, Lim faces another four charges that do not appear to be related to the incident.

The charges relate to other crimes he allegedly committed near the same block since May 2023.

Lim’s case will be heard again on November 22.

If convicted of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, Lim faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years and could also be fined or caned.

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