The Police have arrested four Singaporeans, one man and three women aged between 26 and 54, for their suspected involvement in a case of extortion.
On 22 February 2016 at about 10.54pm, Police received a call informing of a case where a 29-year-old woman was contacted via an unknown Malaysian mobile phone number, demanding for a ransom of USD 250,000 to be paid for the release of her fiancé, a 28-year-old Singaporean man, who had left for Malaysia.
Upon receipt of the report, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Police Intelligence Department (PID) responded immediately and commenced investigative probes and ground enquiries. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 28-year-old man, together with his 27-year-old brother, had travelled to Penang for a business trip on 21 February 2016.
Officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) coordinated their efforts with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) to pursue all available leads and intensify their investigative efforts to establish the whereabouts of the victims as well as locate the possible suspects. Working tirelessly round the clock, the officers efforts paid off when they subsequently established the suspects identities, as well as the location where the two Singaporean victims were believed to be held against their will.
In an operation conducted on 24 February 2016, officers from the RMP raided a hotel in Penang. Four Malaysian men were arrested during the operation by the RMP and the two victims were rescued unharmed. In a swift and coordinated strike on the same day, SPF CID officers moved in and arrested four Singaporean suspects in connection to the case. No ransom money was delivered.
Three of the four suspects will be charged in Court on 26 February 2016 at 9.00 am with the offence of Putting a Person in Fear of Harm in Order to Commit Extortion with Common Intention under Section 385 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 which carries a maximum jail term of five years and caning. Investigation against the remaining female suspect is still ongoing.
Murders at Teck Whye Lane and Hougang Avenue 3
The Police had received a call on 14 February 2016 at about 6.59 am requesting for assistance at a temple along Teck Whye Lane. Upon arrival, a 53-year-old man was found lying motionless at the said location and was pronounced dead by paramedics at scene at about 7.09 am.
Following protracted investigations by officers from CID, the identity of the suspect, a 47-year-old Singaporean Chinese man, was established and he was arrested on 24 February 2016.
On 25 February 2016 at about 2.14 am, in an unrelated case, Police also responded to a request for assistance at Blk 23, Hougang Avenue 3. Upon arrival, a 37-year-old man was found injured at the said location and he was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead on the same day at about 3.28 am.
Officers from CID responded swiftly and arrested the suspect, a 50-year-old Singaporean Chinese man, at the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 on the same morning.
Both suspects will be charged in Court on 26 February 2016 at 9 am with the offence of Murder under Section 302(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, which carries the death penalty.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) concurrent Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Tan Chye Hee said, I would like to commend all the officers who had worked tirelessly and selflessly round the clock to solve these three cases swiftly over a span of 12 days. Despite the challenges, our officers displayed perseverance and tenacity in their investigation and intelligence probes, which coupled with the extensive ground work, has resulted in the swift and successful arrest of the suspects for the three major crime cases. I am proud of the professionalism and devotion to duty shown by my officers. The Police are committed to keep Singapore safe and we will spare no effort to track down offenders to ensure that they are brought to justice and face the full brunt of the law.â€
DC Tan Chye Hee added, “I would also like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) for their unequivocal support in the joint cross border investigation of the kidnapping for ransom case. Undoubtedly, the close cooperation between SPF and RMP was instrumental in the swift arrest of the suspects, resulting in the safe release of the Singapore victims. The victim's family had alerted the Police without delay and had cooperated fully with the Police. This had enabled the Police to take swift investigative actions from the onset, resulting in the successful solving of the cases.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
25 February 2016 @ 8:45 PM