1996 Pacific Plaza stabbing

1996 murder of an Indonesian businessman in Singapore Benny Probocemdana Oen Benny Probocemdana Oen 1958 Medan, Indonesia 23 May 1996 (aged 38) Orchard Road, Singapore Murdered Huang Han Ming Murder victim Businessman (former) On 23 May 1996, a 38-year-old Indonesian businessman named Benny Probocemdana Oen (黄汉明 Huáng Hànmíng N̂g Hàn-bêng) was mortally wounded by an assailant during a stabbing incident at Pacific Plaza before he died in hospital. The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Sim Eng Teck (沈英德 Shěn Yīngdé Sím Eng-tek), was arrested more than a year later and charged with murder. Sim put up a defence of alcohol intoxication and put forward claims that he only intended to stab the victim's arm during the attack. However, Judicial Commissioner Amerjeet Singh found that Sim had intentionally inflicted the fatal injuries on Oen and described the killing as a "daringly cold-blooded" murder, and sentenced Sim to death in May 1998. Sim lost his appeal on 1 August 1998, and was hanged afterwards. Murder On 23 May 1996, at around 3 am, after a hangout, Tio Seng Khun (张成坤 Zhāng Chéngkūn Tiuⁿ Sêng-khun; alias Herman Susantio), a Chinese-Indonesian, discovered his 38-year-old friend Benny Probocemdana Oen (alias Huang Han Ming 黄汉明) on the ground, bleeding from his neck.23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19960523-1.2.2 刚步出酒廊 富商被斩死 zh 新明日报 (Xin Ming Ri Bao) According to him, Oen, who was a Chinese-Indonesian from Medan and a businessman with dealings in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, went to the location (3m away from Tio) to take a phone call while waiting for a car outside the discotheque (where Oen and Tio hung out with their other friends) at Pacific Plaza, where they both frequented. Tio also witnessed two men leaving the scene on a vehicle, and they were presumed to be the ones attacking Oen earlier on.23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19960523-1.2.4.1 商人酒廊狂欢后遭2神秘客刺死 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao)23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19960523-1.2.13.1.1 遭2大汉挥刀猛砍 商人酒廊狂欢身中多刀惨死 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao)23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19960523-1.2.13.1.3 凶徒杀人后乘汽车逃走 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao) Oen was pronounced dead at Singapore General Hospital at 3.50 am, shortly after he arrived for medical treatment.24 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19960524-1.2.6.7 Indonesian dies after being stabbed The Straits Times Oen's friends who settled in Singapore noted that Oen was single and he was good-tempered and soft-spoken, and never caused any trouble.24 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper19960524-1.2.12 Friend was just 3 m away The New Paper24 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb19960524-1.2.20.5 印尼商人凌晨遭砍死 zh 联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao)23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19960523-1.2.7.1.3 富商重伤倒地 不让友人追刀客 zh 新明日报 (Xin Ming Ri Bao) It was also speculated by witnesses that the phone call received by Oen before he was stabbed might be a ploy to lure him to a spot where he could be easily attacked,23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19960523-1.2.13.1.2 商人遇害前接神秘电话 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao)23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19960523-1.2.7.1.1 酒廊外接听神秘电话 富商遇袭刀下惨死 zh 新明日报 (Xin Ming Ri Bao)23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19960523-1.2.7.1.2 凶手调虎离山？ 1人打电话•1人下毒手 zh 新明日报 (Xin Ming Ri Bao) but it was verified that the phone call came from Oen's Malaysian girlfriend, who had a good relationship with him. Tio also told the authorities that prior to losing consciousness on the way to hospital, Oen stated that he recognised the attacker, and Oen said he would settle scores with the killer, whose name he reportedly did not remember.14 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb19980514-1.2.10.29.1 证人： 死者谈电话时遭人攻击倒地 zh 联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao)15 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19980513-1.2.16.5.2 ‘如果我出来不放过这个人’ zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao) Forensic pathologist Dr Gilbert Lau examined the corpse and found that there was a 15 cm long knife wound on the back of his neck, which cut through one of his ears and a blood artery, resulting in Oen's death from acute haemorrhage. Dr Lau also stated that there were at least two more knife wounds, one that nearly amputated Oen's left palm and another that cut through the shoulder of the victim, who was stabbed by a heavy but sharp object. A finger of Oen was also believed to be chopped off due to him warding off the blows of his attacker.23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19960523-1.2.13.1.4 背中一刀手指被砍断 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao)23 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19960523-1.2.7.1.4 后颈深到见骨 右手指也削断 zh 新明日报 (Xin Ming Ri Bao) Arrest of Sim Eng Teck The police classified the stabbing incident as murder, and they conducted investigations to trace the possible suspects behind the murder of Benny Probocemdana Oen, who was said to have a monetary dispute with another person before he was killed.24 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19960524-1.2.12.33 富商曾因钱财与人争执 警方掌握线索•追查2刀客下落 zh 新明日报 (Xin Ming Ri Bao) They suspected that the crime had to do with Thai and/or Malaysian crime syndicates, based on the manner of the attack and possible murder weapons used (like a machete).31 May 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19960531-1.2.41.7 Indonesian's murder: Thai and Malaysian crime links possible The Straits Times Subsequently, the police managed to identify one suspect, who was a 19-year-old Singaporean named Sim Eng Teck (alias Suay Teck), who was born on 2 February 1977, unemployed and lived at Bukit Batok. In October 1996, five months after the brutal stabbing, Singaporean crime show Crimewatch broadcast its episode and sent a public appeal to audiences, seeking information in relation to Sim's whereabouts and asked the public to come forward with details that could assist the authorities to arrest Sim.https://www.mewatch.sg/watch/Crimewatch-1996-E8-Murder-of-Moneychanger-Tips-on-how-to-avoid-house-breaks-Soon-Wing-Rd-Murder-Pacific-Plaza-Mur-43738 Crimewatch 1996 S1 Ep 8 Murder of Moneychanger / Tips on how to avoid house-breaks / Soon Wing Rd Murder / Pacific Plaza Mur meWATCH 7 August 202327 October 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb19961027-1.2.18.3 警方欲联络男子调查一起谋杀案 zh 联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao)24 October 1996 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19961024-1.2.19.4.1 酒后出口伤人钱币商遭好友勒死 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao) Ten months later, the Royal Malaysia Police arrested Sim Eng Teck at Johor Bahru, Malaysia on 11 March 1997. He was soon extradited back to Singapore for trial. The Singapore Police Force cited the case in July 1997 as an example of the close ties and cooperation between the police officers of both countries and thanked the Malaysian counterparts during a liaison meeting between the two countries' police forces.4 July 1997 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19970704-1.2.54.15 Wanted man nabbed, thanks to close S'pore-Malaysia CID ties The Straits Times Trial proceedings On 12 May 1998, Sim Eng Teck stood trial at the High Court for the murder of Benny Probocemdana Oen. Judicial Commissioner Amarjeet Singh presided the hearing, and Sim was represented by Tan Teow Yeow, while R. D. Gangatharan was the trial prosecutor of the case. According to Sim's version of events, he stated that he used to meet up with Oen at the disco, where the businessman sold him Ecstasy pills. However, Sim fell out with Oen after he discovered that the pills he bought from Oen were fake. Another reason of Sim falling out with Oen was due to Oen refusing to return him a sum of SGD$500, which Sim lent him two or three weeks prior to the murder.12 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19980512-1.2.8.14 买到假爱它死 青年涉嫌杀人 面对死刑审讯 zh 新明日报 (Xin Ming Ri Bao)12 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19980512-1.2.17.3.2 屡卖假‘爱它死’印尼商人遭砍死 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao)13 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb19980513-1.2.15.5 无业青年被控挥刀谋杀欠钱印尼商人 zh 联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao) Also, Sim testified that on the day of the killing, he decided to teach Oen a lesson out of anger over their personal disputes, and thus bought a knife to attack Oen. However, Sim claimed he never wanted to cause Oen's death, and he only wanted to stab Oen on the left arm. He also put up a second defence of alcohol intoxication, since his prior intake of four to five tequilas before the killing had substantially caused him to lose control of his mental faculties at the time of the murder, as what his defence counsel argued in court.16 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19980516-1.2.41.8 Jobless youth on trial for murder The Straits Times16 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb19980516-1.2.22.11 涉嫌杀害印尼商人案 被告答辩只想砍对方手臂 zh 联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao)15 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19980515-1.2.18.3.1 被告答辩： 我无意杀班尼只想砍他手臂 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao) A week later, on 19 May 1998, Judicial Commissioner Singh delivered his verdict. The judge rejected Sim's contention that he was intoxicated with alcohol at the time he killed Oen, since Sim was able to act normally in spite of his intake of four to five tequilas. He also rejected Sim's defence that he only intend to stab Oen on the arm but nothing else, because he never mentioned this part in his first version of events regarding the stabbing, and found it to be an afterthought concocted to downplay his culpability.Public Prosecutor v Sim Eng Teck [1998] SGHC 172, High Court (Singapore).19 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhwb19980519-1.2.17.3 买到假爱它死 用刀砍死仇家青年被判死刑 zh 联合晚报 (Lianhe Wanbao) Judicial Commissioner Singh also found that Sim intentionally stabbed the victim, such that one of the injuries were sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature, and this was done out of Sim's hatred against Oen for their personal issues. The judge pointed out that even if it was true that Sim only intend to cause hurt to Oen, it would be enough to just inflict one blow rather than several blows, and in conclusion, he described the killing of Oen as a "daringly cold-blooded murder". Hence, 21-year-old Sim Eng Teck was found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death.20 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19980520-1.2.41.11 'Daringly cold-blooded' The Straits Times19 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/shinmin19980519-1.2.9.10 杀死贩假毒商人 无业青年判处死刑 zh 新明日报 (Xin Ming Ri Bao)20 May 1998 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb19980520-1.2.9.24 谋杀印尼商人无业青年死刑 zh 联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao) Aftermath In the aftermath of his murder trial, Sim Eng Teck appealed his conviction and sentence, in a bid to escape the gallows and hoping that his trial defence could be accepted by the appellate court. However, on 1 August 1998, the Court of Appeal dismissed Sim's appeal and therefore upheld his conviction and sentence. The three judges - Lai Kew Chai, L P Thean and M Karthigesu - were of the opinion that the trial judge's findings were correct in coming to the conclusion that Sim had committed murder by intentionally inflicting the fatal injury on Benny Probocemdana Oen, and also affirmed the trial judge's finding of Sim's motive behind the attack. Justice Karthigesu, who delivered the verdict of the three-judge panel, pointed out that in view of the forensic evidence, they accepted that a considerable amount of force had been exerted by Sim when he used the knife to cause hurt to Oen, which were indicative of Sim's intention to cause lethal harm to Oen and in turn, resulting in his death.Sim Eng Teck v Public Prosecutor [1998] SGCA 45, Court of Appeal (Singapore). Since the loss of his appeal, Sim Eng Teck was eventually hanged at Changi Prison. See also Capital punishment in Singapore References Category:Deaths by stabbing in Singapore Category:Capital punishment in Singapore Category:Indonesian people murdered abroad Category:Singaporean people convicted of murder Category:1996 murders in Singapore Category:Indonesian murder victims Category:People murdered in Singapore Category:Violence against men in Singapore