SINGAPORE HAS NOT SEEN a kidnapping case for more than a decade, but in January 2014, the kidnapping of the mother of Sheng Siong’s chief executive riveted the nation. While it made some question the complacency with which Singaporeans have towards security, the swift response of the police force was heralded for the way in which it dealt with the case.
Madam Ng Lye Poh, 79, is the mother of Sheng Siong supermarket chief executive Lim Hock Chee. Mr Lim is the founder of Sheng Siong, the third largest supermarket chain in Singapore. From being a humble pork stall owner, Mr Lim grew his business and in 2013, he made it to the Forbes Singapore’s 50 Richest list. Listed at number 35, he is estimated to have a net worth of US$515 million (S$654.3 million). The supermarket chain is a listed company and the value of its shares have doubled since its IPO debuted on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 2011. Around the Hougang Avenue 2 neighbourhood, many shopkeepers and hawkers knew Madam Ng as “Sheng Siong Ma”. Her daily routines were known to many around that area and Mr Lee Tong Lai, who supervises the coffee shop at Block 631 said that everyone there knew who she was and that she lived in a landed property across the street. When interviewed by The Straits Times, Mr Lee said “She will come in the morning, about 9 am, and drink a cup of teh-o and have some food. Sometimes she will go to the salon at the end of the block to do her hair.”
The owner of the hair salon said that she last saw Madam Ng on the morning of her ordeal and Madam Ng had gone to her salon to chat with the people there. She added that Madam Ng was a regular customer at her salon. Madam Ng also joined some of the elderly residents in their chats and activities.
It would be a day after the kidnapping that the residents learnt of the incident.
On 8 January 2014, Madam Ng took her usual morning walk from home to a market near to Hougang Avenue 2. It was part of her daily routine. At around 10 am, her maid met her to take home the items that she had bought from the market. Madam Ng stayed behind at the market for breakfast.
As she was walking along Hougang Avenue 2, she was approached by a stranger who claimed that her son, Mr Lim Hock Chee, had a bad fall and was seriously injured. He told her that he would bring her to see Mr Lim and lured her into the car. She was then transferred to another car, blindfolded, and her hands and feet were bound as she was brought to an unknown location.
The kidnappers then called her son Mr Lim Hock Chee and demanded a $20 million ransom. Initially, Mr Lim had dismissed it as a hoax as he could not believe such a thing could happen in Singapore. He attempted several times to contact his mother on her phone but failed. It was only when the kidnappers put Madam Ng on the phone, did Mr Lim realize that the kidnapping was real. After discussing with his older brother, they decided to report the kidnapping and at 2:13 pm, Mr Lim lodged a report with the police.
Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) provided guidance and advice to Mr Lim and he exchanged many calls with the kidnappers and negotiated to reduce the ransom from $20 million to $2 million. The kidnappers instructed him to leave the money in Sembawang Park.
At 12 midnight on 9 January 2014, Mr Lim drove to Sembawang Park alone. He dropped off the ransom of $2 million, secured in bundles of $1,000 notes placed into a sling bag, under a tree in the park. He did not see the kidnappers.
About 20 minutes later, he was informed that his mother was at a bus stop near Seletar West Camp. As he was unfamiliar with the area, he could not find her and it was the police who found Madam Ng. According to the police, Madam Ng was dropped off along Seletar Aerospace Drive, a deserted stretch of road with only one public bus serving it. About 12 hours after her abduction, Madam Ng was found, unhurt and unharmed by police officers although the kidnappers had threatened to harm her if their demands were not met.
Police officers managed to track down two Singaporean suspects after securing the safety of Madam Ng. The two suspects were Lee Sze Yong, 41, an odd-job labourer and Heng Chee Boon, 50, a credit card promoter.
Lee was arrested at his home in Hougang and Heng was arrested in Ang Mo Kio. Police officers also recovered the ransom money after they arrested the two. It is believed that the two men were lovers and lived together for more than a decade with Lee’s mother in Hougang.
Although Lee’s mother claimed no knowledge of any financial issues, Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) records showed that Lee and Heng had started a cleaning company called Plus Concept in 1999, but that company ceased operations in 2001. Heng was declared a bankrupt in 2005.
The two men were charged in court under the Kidnapping Act. Both were remanded in police custody for further investigations and psychiatric evaluation.
Lee Sze Yong was deemed to be of sound mind after psychiatric evaluation by the Institute of Mental Health and will stand trial.
At the time of writing, the two had not been sentenced yet but if convicted, they could face the death penalty or life imprisonment with caning.
After the case, the police were commended by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean for their swift action. Thirty-nine police officers as well as police units were presented with the Minister for Home Affairs Operational Excellence awards. DPM Teo also praised Mr Lee’s family for their willingness to cooperate with the police.
The victim, Madam Ng, was spotted walking around her home in Jalan Arif and recovering well. Her son Mr Lee said that he and his siblings took turns visiting her but they tried to avoid the topic so that she would not be constantly reminded of her ordeal. He was relieved and thankful that Madam Ng was not hurt in the process. He also mentioned that he would not allow his mother to go to the market on her own anymore.