Sheng Siong kidnapping case: Accused had list of potential targets

SINGAPORE — From a list of items he would need, to extensive details of potential targets, and even his wishlist should he pull off his plan. Alleged kidnapper Lee Sze Yong jotted down all these details meticulously in a notebook planner over four years, the court heard on the second day of his trial.

The 44-year-old, who is accused of kidnapping Madam Ng Lye Poh, the mother of Sheng Siong founder Lim Hock Chee on Jan 8, 2014, had allegedly eyed at least 10 other potential targets beforehand.

Top of his list was billionaire Peter Lim’s son. Others include chairman of BreadTalk Group George Quek, “Popiah King” Sam Goi, the owners of Fragrance and Hotel 81 hotel chains, and even the bosses of Genting Casino and Marina Bay Sands.

His shopping list to carry out the kidnapping contained at least nine items, ranging from fake blood and pepper spray, to duct tape and even a traditional Malay dress with headgear, ostensibly to hide his identity.

In the same notebook, he wrote that he would instruct his accomplice Heng Chen Boon, 51, to sell his four-room flat in Hougang and downgrade to a smaller place. If he succeeded, however, Lee thought of buying property and expensive cars, such as a Ferrari California. The planner, which Lee started taking notes in since 2010, was seized by investigators when he was arrested.

The extent to which he had sussed out the potential kidnap targets was revealed in court by prosecutors on Wednesday (Aug 31). For instance, after failing to spot Mr Peter Lim at his condominium, Lee searched online for information on his ex-wife. He managed to find out where she stayed and went to her residence twice. “The reason why I did this was because I suppose Peter Lim’s children must be staying with his ex-wife and I need to have her address in order to do some surveillance at her residence,” said Lee in a police statement that was read in court.

Lee also went to Mr Quek’s house and subsequently followed him for his morning exercise at Botanic Gardens.

The court was also told that stacks of documents seized from Lee’s house and the car he used in the alleged kidnap included a map of Mr Peter Lim’s residence, the school Mr Quek’s children attended, and information on his potential targets that Lee had bought from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra).

After reading that the Sheng Siong boss was worth more than S$500 million, based on the Forbes List of the richest in Singapore, Lee bought business information about the supermarket chain from Acra’s website and visited Mr Lim’s house several times over six months.

Details of why Lee thought of kidnapping for ransom also emerged in court on Wednesday. After his father suffered a stroke, Lee sent him to a private nursing home, which took a toll on him financially as these expenses totalled S$1,500 a month when he was earning about S$2,000 then.

But he also continued spending on food and drinks, as well as two trips — to Bangkok and Hong Kong — and bought a Volkswagen car.

Lee then started using credit facilities such as credit cards and bank overdraft, and could only afford the minimum monthly repayments. He also took loans from a friend, three moneylenders and a loanshark.

Over time, he chalked up S$200,000 in debt and became stressed over how to get out of hock. Initially, he thought of selling his flat and relocating to Johor Baru but did not do so.

When Lee read the Forbes List — about two to three years before the alleged kidnapping — the idea of kidnapping for ransom struck him, although this, too, was suspended temporarily because he won some money from the lottery.

The trial continues on Thursday with Mdm Ng, 81, expected to take the stand.