Charge reduced for one of the accused in Sheng Siong kidnap case
Heng Chen Boon (left) and Lee Sze Yong (in black) arriving at the State Courts in January last year. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong
SINGAPORE - One of the two accused in the Sheng Siong kidnapping case now faces a reduced charge, sparing him the possibility of life imprisonment or the gallows.
Heng Chen Boon, 51, was previously charged under the Kidnapping Act, which is punishable by life imprisonment or death. His charge was reduced today (April 9) to abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine Madam Ng Lye Poh, 79, who is the mother of Sheng Siong CEO Lim Hock Chee. This charge carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, with fine or caning.
Heng, a former credit card promoter, had allegedly driven a car used to confine Mdm Ng to the Sembawang Park area, where he kept watch over her between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on Jan 8 last year.
Heng is accused of being an accomplice to Lee Sze Yong, 41, who allegedly kidnapped Mdm Ng that morning with the intent to hold her for ransom. The two men let her go after Mr Lim dropped off the S$2 million ransom they had asked for, at the park. Heng and Lee were both arrested at about 1am the next day, while the ransom money has been recovered in full.
Lee still faces the charge under the Kidnapping Act.
The State Court will fix a date for Heng’s case to be heard again next Wednesday (April 15).
