‘He’s my son’: Guardian of teen who died in basketball court accident has always seen herself as his mum

Madam Rahimah and her husband had to prove their relationship with their son. Their lawyer, Mr Thirumurthy Ayernaar Pambayan of Murthy & Co, made an application to the State Courts.

The lawyer said: “I convinced the judge that they were in the position of parents because of what they have done all the way, and (Ridwan was) the only child.”

Lawyers K. Anparasan and Grace Tan from WhiteFern acted for ECTC, while Civic Legal represented EM Services.

When Madam Rahimah was told in 2004 that a baby boy born in Bintan might be put up for adoption, she had a sense that he would be their son.

The infant’s biological parents had handed him over to the care of friends of Madam Rahimah’s husband. “I told my husband, ‘We can’t have our own baby… Why don’t we adopt him?’” said Madam Rahimah.

The couple travelled to Tanjung Pinang, a town in Bintan, and saw the baby for the first time. He was just a month old.

She said: “I felt he was so cute. Bright baby skin, bright eyes. I loved him. I said to him, ‘You’re now my son.’”

His given name means “to be blessed”, which was how they felt.

He was unable to travel right away due to jaundice, so Madam Rahimah patiently waited in Singapore, and paid for his clothes and milk.

Madam Rahimah and her husband brought him to Singapore a few months later, and the boy became a Singapore citizen that same year.

They wanted to formally adopt him, but were unable to do so as Ridwan’s biological mother could not be located.

His biological parents are listed in official documents as “Abdul Rahim Bin Othman” and “Hati”.

Mr Thirumurthy, whom they had known for some years, helped Madam Rahimah and her husband apply for guardianship instead. It allowed them to care for the child.

Ridwan grew up to be a bright and independent boy, said Madam Rahimah.

School holidays were always special, as even though they do not have much, they would visit Legoland in Malaysia, where Ridwan loved taking the roller-coaster rides.

He won medals in primary school for basketball and captain’s ball, and was second in his cohort in Bedok View Secondary School’s Secondary 1 Normal (Technical) stream.

From Secondary 2 to Secondary 3, he received various academic achievement awards for mathematics, computer applications, English and music. In 2020, he won the Bedok View Model Student Award.

He wanted to do well for his parents.

When he enrolled in ITE College Central to study aerospace avionics, he maintained a grade-point average of 3.7 and attained As in three modules in the last semester he attended.

Ridwan dreamt of flying.

“I asked him if he wanted to be like his daddy working in a food stall. He said, ‘No. I want to be a pilot,’” said Madam Rahimah.

Every day after school, Ridwan would hit the basketball court near Block 18 Bedok South Road with his friends and return home at about 8pm.

On July 26, 2021, he was late. There had been an accident at the court at about 8.45pm, when a basketball structure fell on the teen.

Madam Rahimah learnt of the accident only when the police turned up at her flat.

Ridwan was rushed to Changi General Hospital, with paramedics performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him even in the ambulance. But he did not survive the injuries.

Madam Rahimah said: “For one week… I couldn’t eat. I was very sad when I saw photos of him and his girlfriend.

“I felt very sad and worried about what would happen to us (Madam Rahimah and her husband) when we’re old – no one will take care of us.”

A coroner’s inquiry into Ridwan’s death was opened on Nov 10, 2025.

The court heard that several safety lapses contributed to the tragedy, including the absence of a professional engineer during the installation.

The basketball hoop was also compromised, as investigators found that the breakage happened at a point where there was welding. There was also a lack of reinforcement to keep the structure stable.

The case will be back in court on Nov 27.

Madam Rahimah has not informed Ridwan’s biological parents about his death, as the parents’ original house in Tanjung Pinang has been sold and no one knows their whereabouts.

Madam Rahimah said she often dreams of Ridwan. The dreams usually involve the trips to Legoland.

The couple have removed the bedding from their son’s mattress, and his school medals have been stored in boxes.

Though his belongings have been stored away, she still keeps his room light on.

“So my son’s soul will be there and remain with us,” she said.