Free Blood Lust by Alex Josey Page A

a
killing.’
    Mr Ghows said that of course there were
discrepancies in Augustine’s story. “This was only natural as the witness was
trying to recollect what happened a year ago. He had been cross-examined in the
witness box for 33 hours and I took nearly seven hours and 55 minutes in
examining him. If, after 33 hours of cross-examination there were no discrepancies
and contradictions, it would have been a miracle. In my submission, Augustine
has told the truth in Court and he told the truth as soon as he was arrested.
Even if some parts of his evidence lack corroboration it should be accepted.
Accordingly all nine accused should be found guilty as charged.”
    The Court adjourned on Friday, 1 December
1972. On Monday, 4 December, the two Judges returned their verdict. Seven of
the nine were sentenced to death. The two youths jointly convicted with them
escaped the capital penalty because they were under the age of 18 when the
murders were committed. Ringo Lee Chiew Chwee and Stephen Lee Hock Khoon,
living at different addresses in Bencoolen Street, were ordered to be detained
at the President’s pleasure. Sentenced to death were the Chou brothers, Andrew
and David. This was the first time two brothers were sentenced to death by a
Singapore Court. The other five sentenced to die with them were: Peter lim Swee
Guan (24 years old) of Toa Payoh, a despatch clerk; Alex Yau Hean Thye (20
years old) of Middle Road, a student in a vocational institution doing a
general welding course; Richard James (19 years old) of Toa Payoh; Stephen
Francis (21 years old) of Toa Payoh, and Konesekaram Nagalingam (19 years old)
of Bedok Road.
    The following day, they all gave notice of
appeal against conviction and sentence.

The Judges’ Decision
     
    The
Grounds of Judgement were handed down by Justice Chua
and Justice Choor Singh, on 5 July 1973. This document is a report of the Court
proceedings and the observations of the Judges on the evidence. First they
dealt with the discovery of the bodies.
    There was a long piece of green cord wound
twice round the neck of Leong Chin Woo and the ends of the cord went down to
the wrists. The mouth of Ngo Cheng Poh was gagged by a piece of towel tied
across the mouth, ended with a dead knot behind. There was a piece of torn
cloth across the neck not tied, and on top of it was a green cord wound round
the neck several times but not tied. Both his ankles were tied together with
black thin wire in many rounds. The body of Ang Boon Chai was found in a pond,
three pieces of green cord lying loosely on the body.
    Goh Cheng Hong, wife of Ngo, reported him
missing at the Joo Chiat Police Station at about 10:30 am on the morning of 30 December 1971. She reported that her
husband and his two employees had left her house in two cars at 11:30 pm the previous night after telling her
that they were going to Paya Lebar, and her husband had not returned.
    After finding the bodies, the police
interviewed her at 6:15 pm . Mdm
Goh said that her husband was one of two partners in Kwee Guan and Co. of Pekin
Street, importers and exporters. He had been dealing in gold bars in a small
way for about two years before his death. He would buy gold bars from the
United Overseas Bank and export them to Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and
Saigon. He used to export the gold bars through Andrew Chou. She had been with
her husband and Leong Chin Woo to Chou’s house to deliver gold bars. Sometimes
Leong and Ang would deliver the bars.
    On 29 December, at about 9:00 pm , Leong and Ang came to her house. At
about 11:25 pm , Andrew Chou rang
up and spoke to her husband. Shortly afterwards, Ngo left the house with Leong
and Ang, taking with him 120 gold bars in six canvas bags. Ngo put them into
his Mercedes (SY 6407) and drove off with Ang. Leong followed in his car, a
Volkswagen. She waited at home. At about 2:30 am ,
Andrew Chou telephoned and asked for her husband. She told him that he had left
with Leong at about 11:30 pm after