Newsworthy: January 2012

Singapore | Updated today at 06:00 AM

By Poon Chian Hui

A 19-year-old Chinese national was found dead in her dormitory room at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Saturday morning.

The police found Ms Lan Xing Ye lying motionless in the room after receiving a call at 12.05am. Her roommate is said to have alerted the police when she returned to the room at that time.

Ms Lan was pronounced dead by paramedics at about 12.20am. The incident took place at Hall 13, located along Nanyang Avenue on the university campus.

She had been attending the university's bridging programme for international students. This 18-month programme prepares international students for studies at the university. Students learn English and take some introductory courses in subjects they are keen to major in.

Rumours of an attempted suicide were flying around campus after the incident.

Shin Min Daily News reported that Ms Lan was said to have been found with a plastic bag wrapped over her head. She had no visible injuries.

Police said they have classified the case as unnatural death and are investigating.

The president of the hall's students' committee, Mr Yeo Jia Wei, used Facebook to urge hall residents not to speculate unnecessarily about the incident, adding that the police were investigating.

He wrote: 'Once the facts are confirmed, I will address everyone again.'

A university spokesman said there was no sign of forced entry into Ms Lan's room.

The school is extending support to her family members, with counsellors roped in to help them as well as fellow students, friends and hall residents cope with the death, he added.

NTU president Bertil Andersson also addressed staff and students in an internal e-mail sent yesterday afternoon.

In it, he said it was with 'an extremely heavy heart' that he shared news of the death of a young student.

He added: 'During this difficult time, let us show our strongest support and understanding for her family members, course-mates and friends.'

According to Shin Min, Ms Lan came to Singapore some time last year to attend the bridging programme, after which she would choose which course to enrol in.

She is believed to have given tuition in her spare time to earn some extra cash, it said.