Singapore, January 18: An Indian-origin man has been arrested on murder charges by the Singapore police. The accused, identified as 34-year-old M Krishnan, allegedly murdered a 40-year-old woman, Mallika Begum Rahamansa Abdul Rahman, around Wednesday midnight. He was arrested the the next morning, after the police traced his location.

Reports, citing police officials privy to the probe, said the couple were in a relationship and knew each other for the past couple of years. Their relations soured recently, and were found quarrelling with each other on public over various issues. Indian Gets 13 Years Jail for Sex with Minor in Singapore.

Police suspect a heated verbal duel between Krishnan and Mallika before the latter was allegedly murdered by him. The ongoing interrogation will bring more light on the motive behind the killing, another official was reported as saying.

According to a Singaporean daily, the police identified Krishnan as the key accused in the murder case after finding that he was the last person to visit the deceased's house on the unfateful night. A call was made to the police department at 1:34am. On reaching the spot, the police found Mallika lying motionless insider her room. The paramedics declared her dead on the spot.

Under the stringent laws dealing with murder in Singapore, Krishnan would be slapped with death penalty if convicted of murdering the woman. At the court proceeding on Friday, he was not represented by any lawyer. The bench sent him to police remand, while scheduling the next hearing as January 25.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 18, 2019 07:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).