A man at odds with his eldest brother over their share of a HDB flat inherited from their late sister, brandished two knives at his sibling and declared they would “die together”.

Cheong Sun Keong, 68, was sentenced to 10 weeks’ jail on Wednesday (Sept 16) after pleading guilty to a charge of criminal intimidation.

Charge sheets seen by AsiaOne state that he was at a flat in Telok Blangah on Aug 3, when he took the knives from the kitchen drawer and charged at his brother.

He said the Mandarin phrase “Tong Gui Yu Jin”, meaning to die together.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the victim is Cheong’s 71-year-old brother.

On Aug 3, the eldest brother and his son visited the flat where Cheong lived with their second brother, aged 70.

The eldest brother had hoped to resolve the inheritance dispute, but Cheong locked himself in a room.

Just as they were preparing to leave, Cheong suddenly exited the room and shouted at his eldest brother to “die together”, according to Shin Min.

Cheong took a cleaver and kitchen knife from the drawer, the report stated.

The eldest brother grabbed a stool to defend himself, as his son and second brother restrained Cheong.

In court on Wednesday, the prosecution reportedly asked for at least two months’ jail.

Sister’s will was not valid: Eldest brother

When Shin Min contacted the eldest brother, he explained that their younger sister died on July 10, 2025.

The three brothers had visited her in the hospital, where she reportedly expressed her intent to divide her three-room HDB flat in Potong Pasir among them.

Cheong, who had lived with her in the flat, would receive 60 per cent, while the eldest and second eldest brothers would each get 20 per cent.

He said their younger sister signed a will, with the eldest brother’s wife as a witness.

“But the lawyer later said there were problems with the documents and it was not valid,” he claimed.

“In the end, he said the HDB flat would be divided equally among us three brothers. This wasn’t my fault, and there is nothing I can do.”

The second brother told Shin Min that Cheong had misunderstood their eldest brother and acted in a moment of impulse.

The eldest brother said he was saddened by the incident, but added that the family has forgiven Cheong.

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lim.kewei@asiaone.com