Ex-neighbours of convicted 'spiritual leader' did notice strange things happening

But no one asked questions or confronted her as they felt it would not be neighbourly

- Jessie Lim and David Sun

It was once a quiet estate in Kembangan, with residents there saying they rarely spoke to one another.

But in early 2016, a new neighbour moved in, bringing with her an entourage of followers who appeared to wait on her hand and foot.

The quiet of Jalan Waringin quickly became punctuated by weekly chanting, singing and the beating of a drum late into the night.

Ms Lily, 48, said the clamour would begin at 9.30pm and continue late into the night, sometimes until 6am the next morning.

The housewife, who declined to give her full name, lives next to a four-storey property that was once the residence of Woo May Hoe, a 54-year-old Singaporean woman who claimed to be a deity and headed a group of about 30 followers that believed in spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Narayani Amma.

On June 19, Woo was jailed for 10 years and six months after admitting to cheating her followers of more than $7 million and assaulting them.

She had also made them consume faeces and serve her full time. Many of her offences were committed inside the house in Jalan Waringin.

Residents of the estate who spoke to The Straits Times said that after Woo moved in, they began to notice strange things happening.

A resident of the estate who wanted to be known only as Mr Yeow said groups of people had begun to gather at the house late at night.

The 52-year-old said: “Their activities were a bit weird. They would all gather at the open area on the top floor of the house where there’s a pool, and sing and play a drum from the evening till past midnight.

“Initially, because of the symbols on their gate, I thought it was a religious thing, but then it didn’t make sense to me because their activities were conducted only late into the night and never in the daytime.”

Another neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Madam Ling, 75, said the group of about 30 people would all be dressed in white on the top floor of the house.