Public Prosecutor v Ng Kwok Soon: Attempted Murder & Criminal Breach of Trust Sentencing

In Public Prosecutor v Ng Kwok Soon, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Ng Kwok Soon to life imprisonment for attempted murder and 6 months imprisonment for criminal breach of trust. Ng Kwok Soon was found guilty of pouring flammable liquid on Neo Aee Kee and setting her on fire, and of embezzling money from Interior Fabrics Pte Ltd. The court considered the planned nature of the attack and the severity of the victim's injuries in determining the sentence for the attempted murder charge, and the full restitution made by the accused in determining the sentence for the criminal breach of trust charge.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Accused sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted murder and 6 months imprisonment for criminal breach of trust, to run concurrently.

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Ng Kwok Soon was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted murder and 6 months for criminal breach of trust. The case involved a planned attack and embezzlement.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorProsecutionGovernment AgencyJudgment for ProsecutionWon
Thong Chee Kun of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Amarjit Singh of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Ng Kwok SoonDefendantIndividualConvictedLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Tay Yong KwangJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Thong Chee KunAttorney-General’s Chambers
Amarjit SinghAttorney-General’s Chambers
Christine SekhonPeter Low Tang & Belinda Ang

4. Facts

  1. The accused poured methanol spirit on the victim and set her on fire.
  2. The victim sustained burns over 35% of her total body surface.
  3. The accused and victim had disagreements over company debts.
  4. The accused took two empty bottles to work and filled them with methanol spirit.
  5. The accused admitted to setting the victim on fire.
  6. The accused embezzled S$3,297 from Interior Fabrics Pte Ltd.
  7. The accused made full restitution of the embezzled amount.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Public Prosecutor v Ng Kwok Soon, CC 58/2001, [2001] SGHC 339

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Madam Elvi Yantie Sie contacted the accused for furnishing her residence with curtains.
Madam Elvi Yantie Sie paid the remaining sum of S$3,297 in cash to the accused.
Accused poured inflammable liquid on Neo Aee Kee and set her on fire.
Accused arrested.
Victim underwent operation for excision and skin grafting.
Victim underwent further operations for excision and skin grafting.
Victim underwent further operations for excision and skin grafting.
Victim underwent further operations for excision and skin grafting.
Complainant lodged a police report at Tanglin Police Division.
Victim underwent further operations for excision and skin grafting.
Victim underwent further operations for excision and skin grafting.
Medical report stated that the victim sustained burns over 35% of her total body surface.
Accused made a cautioned statement under Section 122(6) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Dr Kok Lee Peng examined the Accused.
Dr Kok Lee Peng examined the Accused.
Victim was discharged.
Dr Chong Siow Ann issued a letter commenting on Dr Kok Lee Peng's report.
Victim was readmitted to release contractures of neck and axillaes.
Victim was discharged again.
Dr Tan Kok Chai highlighted that the victim had undergone further operations for excision and skin grafting.
Dr Tan elaborated that the victim had sustained serious life threatening burn injuries.
Dr Kok Lee Peng examined the Accused.
Decision Date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Attempted Murder
    • Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of attempted murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Criminal Breach of Trust
    • Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of criminal breach of trust and sentenced him to 6 months imprisonment, to run concurrently with the life sentence for attempted murder.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Applicability of Neo Man Lee Guidelines
    • Outcome: The court held that the Neo Man Lee guidelines, concerning accused persons of unstable character, did not apply as the accused's depression did not amount to a mental disorder.
    • Category: Procedural
    • Related Cases:
      • [1991] 2 MLJ 369

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Sentencing for Attempted Murder
  2. Sentencing for Criminal Breach of Trust

9. Cause of Actions

  • Attempted Murder
  • Criminal Breach of Trust

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Law

11. Industries

  • Retail
  • Interior Design

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Neo Man Lee v PPCourt of Criminal AppealYes[1991] 2 MLJ 369N/ADiscusses guidelines for sentencing accused persons of unstable character, but the court distinguished this case as the accused was not suffering from a mental disorder.
PP v Ong Wee TeckN/AYes[2001] 3 SLR 479SingaporeCited as a case concerning an accused person suffering from some form of mental illness who had committed culpable homicide.
PP v Dolah bin OmarN/AYes[2001] 4 SLR 302SingaporeCited as a case concerning an accused person suffering from some form of mental illness who had committed culpable homicide.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
s 307(1) Penal Code (Cap 224)Singapore
s 408 Penal Code (Cap 224)Singapore
s 231(c) Criminal Procedure Code (Cap 68)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Grievous Hurt
  • Methanol Spirit
  • Attempted Murder
  • Criminal Breach of Trust
  • Sentencing
  • Depression

15.2 Keywords

  • Attempted Murder
  • Criminal Breach of Trust
  • Sentencing
  • Singapore
  • High Court
  • Penal Code

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Criminal Law95
Attempted Murder95
Sentencing90
Criminal Procedure90
Criminal Breach of Trust90
Penal Code80
Murder70
Offences60
Breach of Trust50

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law
  • Sentencing