Public Prosecutor v Ng Kwok Soon: Attempted Murder and Criminal Breach of Trust
In Public Prosecutor v Ng Kwok Soon, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Ng Kwok Soon to life imprisonment for attempted murder under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code and six months imprisonment for criminal breach of trust under Section 408 of the Penal Code. The charges arose from Ng pouring flammable liquid on Neo Aee Kee and setting her on fire, and misappropriating company funds. The court found Ng's actions to be cold-blooded and premeditated, warranting the severe sentence.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Accused sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted murder and six 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 pleaded guilty to attempted murder and criminal breach of trust. The High Court sentenced him to life imprisonment for attempted murder.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for Prosecution | Won | Thong Chee Kun of Attorney-General’s Chambers Amarjit Singh of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Ng Kwok Soon | Defendant | Individual | Convicted | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Tay Yong Kwang | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Thong Chee Kun | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Amarjit Singh | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Christine Sekhon | Peter Low Tang & Belinda Ang |
4. Facts
- The accused poured methanol spirit on the victim and set her on fire.
- The victim sustained burns over 35% of her total body surface.
- The accused admitted to setting the victim on fire.
- The accused misappropriated S$3,297 from Interior Fabrics Pte Ltd.
- The accused brought two empty bottles to the office and filled them with methanol spirit.
- The victim and the accused had disagreements over debts owed to the company.
- The accused claimed to have heard an inner voice urging him to harm the victim.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Ng Kwok Soon, CC 58/2001, [2001] SGHC 340
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Madam Elvi Yantie Sie contacted the accused to furnish 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 made a 999 call and reported the incident. | |
| Accused was arrested. | |
| Victim underwent an 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. | |
| Victim was discharged. | |
| Victim was readmitted to release contractures of neck and axillaes. | |
| Victim was discharged again. | |
| Decision Date |
7. Legal Issues
- Attempted Murder
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of attempted murder under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code.
- Category: Substantive
- Criminal Breach of Trust
- Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of criminal breach of trust under Section 408 of the Penal Code.
- Category: Substantive
- Sentencing
- Outcome: The court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment for attempted murder and six months imprisonment for criminal breach of trust, to run concurrently.
- Category: Procedural
- Related Cases:
- [1991] 2 MLJ 369
8. Remedies Sought
- Imprisonment
9. Cause of Actions
- Attempted Murder
- Criminal Breach of Trust
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
- White Collar Crime
11. Industries
- Retail
- Interior Design
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neo Man Lee v PP | Court of Criminal Appeal | Yes | [1991] 2 MLJ 369 | Malaysia | Cited regarding sentencing guidelines for accused persons of unstable character, but distinguished as the accused in this case was not suffering from a mental disorder. |
| PP v Ong Wee Teck | Unknown | Yes | [2001] 3 SLR 479 | Singapore | Cited as a case concerning an accused person suffering from some form of mental illness who had committed culpable homicide under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code. |
| PP v Dolah bin Omar | Unknown | Yes | [2001] 4 SLR 302 | Singapore | Cited as a case concerning an accused person suffering from some form of mental illness who had committed culpable homicide under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| rule 119A of the Prisons Regulations |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Section 307(1) of the Penal Code | Singapore |
| Section 408 of the Penal Code | Singapore |
| Section 319 of the Penal Code | Singapore |
| Section 320(f) of the Penal Code | Singapore |
| Section 320(h) of the Penal Code | Singapore |
| Section 231(c) of the Criminal Procedure Code | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Methanol spirit
- Grievous hurt
- Life imprisonment
- Premeditation
- Major Depressive Episode
- Inner voice
15.2 Keywords
- Attempted murder
- Criminal breach of trust
- Penal Code
- Life imprisonment
- Singapore
- Methanol spirit
- Burns
- Mental health
- Depression
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Attempted Murder | 95 |
| Criminal Law | 90 |
| Murder | 85 |
| Criminal Breach of Trust | 75 |
| Sentencing | 70 |
| Criminal Procedure | 60 |
| Company Law | 30 |
| Restitution | 20 |
| Contract Law | 10 |
| Legal Profession Act | 10 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Attempted Murder
- Sentencing
- Criminal Breach of Trust