Scandal in Singapore: The Shocking Abduction and Murder of Ong Beang Leck
In 1968, Ong Beang Leck, the son of a wealthy Singapore businessman was kidnapped and murdered in a shocking act of greed and betrayal
Background
In 1968, a distressing crime jolted the city of Singapore. Ong Beang Leck, a 19-year-old from an affluent family, was abducted and killed. The event garnered significant public attention, and the tragic result of the kidnapping exposed the dark side of greed and the lengths criminals would go to for money.
Ong Beang Leck
The Ong family was devoted to each other and valued education and hard work as a lifestyle and means to success. Like his siblings, Ong Beang Leck was encouraged to pursue his ambitions and contribute positively to society. He was the fourth child in a family of five, including four sons and one daughter.
His father, Ong Yew Kee, was a successful businessman, which allowed the family to live a life of opportunity and comfort. Despite his upscale background, Ong Beang Leck was known for being modest and focused on his education. His family described him as gracious and deeply connected to his siblings and parents.
Abduction and Ransom
On the evening of May 24, 1968, Ong Beang Leck left his home, telling his family he was going out but not specifying where he was going.
This was a typical evening for the Ong family, who had no reason to suspect anything unusual. However, as the evening turned into night and Ong did not return, his family began to worry. They attempted to contact him through mutual friends but received no response.
His absence was unusual and unexpected, and soon, the family grew concerned. When Ong did not return the following day, his family reported him missing.
The search for Ong Beang Leck began immediately. The family was desperate for information about their son.
Two days after Ong's disappearance, the family received a disturbing phone call. The caller, speaking in Hokkien (a Chinese dialect), claimed that Ong had been kidnapped. The man then demanded a ransom of S$100,000 (approximately $74,000 U.S. dollars) for his safe return.
This phone call confirmed the family's worst fears. The caller provided specific instructions for the ransom payment and warned the family not to contact law enforcement despite having already done so.
Terrified for Ong's safety, his family negotiated with the kidnappers. On June 5, after continued negotiations with the kidnappers, the ransom was reduced to S$20,000 ($18,500 U.S. dollars).
The family arranged payment according to the kidnapper's instructions, hoping it would ensure Ong's safe return. However, despite paying the ransom as instructed, Ong did not return home.
Break in the Case
Four days later, on June 9, a significant breakthrough in the case occurred when a rental car owner noticed blood stains in one of his rental cars and reported his findings to law enforcement.
The police confirmed that it was indeed blood and traced the rental car back to Richard Lai, the last person to rent it. To the detective's surprise, Lai was a known associate of Leck.
Police immediately detained Lai, and during questioning, Lai confessed to his involvement along with Lee Chor Pet, Lim Kim Kwee, Ho Kee Fatt, and Chow Sien Cheong.
Upon continued questioning, Lai admitted Ong Beang Leck had been murdered. After his confession, Lai led police to a manhole in Jurong, where they found Ong's decomposed body.
Soon after Leck's body was located, law enforcement arrested Lee Chor Pet, who was a former employee of Ong's father. Under interrogation, Pet's detailed account further helped detectives identify and locate Lim Kim Kwee and Ho Kee Fatt, who had fled to Malaysia.
With assistance from the Royal Malaysia Police, Lim Kim Kwee and Ho Kee Fatt were arrested on murder charges and extradited back to Singapore. Additionally, Chow Sien Cheong was detained in Singapore for handling ransom money.
Legal Proceedings
During legal proceedings, it emerged that the kidnapper's primary motive was financial gain driven by the significant wealth of Ong's family.
It also came out that the kidnappers meticulously planned the abduction by luring Ong with promises of meeting girls. The group used a rental car to attempt to cover their tracks.
Their plan from the very beginning was to kill Ong and then dispose of his body in a manhole to prevent him from identifying them.
Sentencing and Execution
On June 12, 1970, Lee Chor Pet, Lim Kim Kwee, and Ho Kee Fatt were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. Their appeals for clemency were denied, and the trio was executed on January 27, 1973.
Richard Lai Chow and Sien Cheong, who were involved in negotiating the ransom and possessing ransom money, received short prison sentences.
Closing Thoughts
The 1968 kidnapping and murder of Ong Beang Leck remains a significant chapter in Singapore's criminal history. The case highlighted the potential vulnerabilities that wealthy families face and the extreme measures criminals would take for financial gain.
The successful resolution to the case, culminating with the execution of the main perpetrators, demonstrated the effectiveness and determination of Singapore's law enforcement agencies.
Sources:
Channel NewsAsia. (n.d.). Eyewitness accounts of Ong Beang Leck's kidnapping. Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com
Malay Mail. (n.d.). Key developments in Ong Beang Leck kidnapping case. Retrieved from https://www.malaymail.com
New Straits Times. (n.d.). Resolution of Ong Beang Leck kidnapping case. Retrieved from https://www.nst.com
South China Morning Post. (n.d.). Motives behind Ong Beang Leck's kidnapping. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com
The Edge Singapore. (n.d.). Effectiveness of the investigation. Retrieved from https://www.theedgesingapore.com