Sheng Siong case: Accused claims he would have let victim go without ransom
Sheng Siong Founder and CEO Mr Lim Hock Chee (left) and his mother Madam Ng Lye Poh (in wheelchair), who was kidnapped by Lee Sze Yong, are seen leaving the Supreme Court (High Court). Photo: Koh Mui Fong.
SINGAPORE — Alleged kidnapper Lee Sze Yong wrapped up his defence on Thursday (Sept 1) by admitting that he had abducted 81-year-old Ng Lye Poh on Jan 8, 2014, but claimed that he would have released her by the end of the day even if no ransom was paid.
The 44-year-old’s claim that he was “just trying my luck” was rubbished by prosecutors who pointed to an SMS he had sent Mdm Ng’s son, Sheng Siong boss Lim Hock Chee.
The message, in Chinese, read: “One does not bring money along at birth and cannot carry it beyond death ... If (you) dare to report to the police or if someone follows us, we would not want the money anymore, and you can forget about seeing your mother again too (perish together).”
Lee allegedly tricked Mdm Ng to follow him that day by saying that her son had a bad fall in the office. He demanded S$20 million from Mr Lim, but the sum was negotiated down to S$2 million.
Mdm Ng was freed after the ransom was paid and Lee was arrested with his alleged accomplice Heng Chen Boon an hour later.
Taking the stand on Thursday, Lee argued that he would have released Mdm Ng “with or without ransom”.
Asked to explain why he would do so after taking the trouble to prepare for the kidnapping, Lee said: “At the time, when I first met her, I was just trying my luck ... it didn’t cross my mind that she would follow me.”
Lee also said that the SMS cited by prosecutors was drafted several years ago and did not encapsulate his intention when he sent it to Mr Lim.
“I was just trying my luck to see if I would get money from extortion,” he added.
In rebuttal, Deputy Public Prosecutor David Khoo charged that Lee was “very serious” about getting the money.
Lee’s claim that he had Mdm Ng’s welfare in mind — when he allegedly mentioned to Mr Lim that she needed an injection every day for her diabetic condition — was untrue, added Mr Khoo.
He merely wanted to hurry Mr Lim into handing over the ransom, the prosecutor said. Lee replied: “I disagree. I have a mother (who) is about the same age as (Mdm Ng).
“If I really don’t care about her or worry about her welfare, I could have just taken the money and fled. Why must I ... give her son the details on where to pick her up?”
Earlier during Thursday’s hearing, Mdm Ng took the stand for 25 minutes to give her account of what happened in the 12 hours she was held and driven around blindfolded.
She testified that her hands were not bound, but Lee had not told her that he would send her home that day.
When defence lawyer Selva K Naidu mentioned that Mdm Ng’s DNA was found on a drink can in the car Lee had rented, she said she did not drink it because of her diabetic condition.
Mdm Ng, who had to be helped onto the stand by her maid and officers, said one of her kidnappers tapped her hands lightly when she tried to remove her blindfold.
The case was adjourned on Thursday after three days of hearing. Both parties have four weeks to file written submissions.
If convicted, Lee could be sentenced to death or life imprisonment with caning.
His alleged accomplice, Heng, 51, was sentenced to three years’ jail last year after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of helping Lee abduct Mdm Ng. Heng was released in January.
