Ng Lye Poh, the mother of Sheng Siong Group chief executive Lim Hock Chee and affectionately known by some as the “Sheng Siong Grandma”, has died aged 91.
Lianhe Zaobao reported her death on Sunday, 6 September. The report did not disclose her cause of death.
Mdm Ng was familiar to residents in her neighbourhood. According to Zaobao, even after Sheng Siong grew into a major supermarket business, she continued to spend time around the HDB neighbourhood and became known among residents for her friendly and approachable manner.
Her wake is being held at Woodlands Memorial, where her family has booked the entire fifth floor. The wake began on 6 September, while the funeral is scheduled for 2pm on Friday, 11 September.
Kidnapped After Being Told Her Son Had Been Hurt
Mdm Ng became known across Singapore following a kidnapping on 8 January 2014.
She was 79 at the time.
According to the High Court’s judgment in the case, Lee Sze Yong had spent months observing Mdm Ng’s movements before approaching her near an overhead bridge along Hougang Avenue 2.
Lee asked whether Lim Hock Chee was her son, then falsely told her that Mr Lim had fallen at his office and that he was supposed to take her to see him.
Worried about her son, she got into his car. Lee later blindfolded her before contacting Mr Lim and demanding S$20 million for her release.
Mr Lim and his family contacted the police. By that evening, Mr Lim told Lee that he had managed to obtain S$2 million. Lee eventually agreed to accept the lower amount.
S$2 Million Left Under a Tree at Sembawang Park
Mr Lim was eventually instructed to take the money to Sembawang Park.
At about 11.10pm, Lee told him to leave the bag of cash beneath a tree near a pavilion. Lee later collected the bag and hid it in vegetation nearby.
Mdm Ng was then taken towards Seletar Camp and released near a bus stop.
Zaobao reported that Mdm Ng later recounted in court how she had been driven around while blindfolded and had gone without water during the ordeal. She also described falling by the roadside after her release.
The case was Singapore’s first kidnap-for-ransom case in more than a decade.
Lee was convicted in 2016 of kidnapping Mdm Ng for ransom and sentenced to life imprisonment and three strokes of the cane. His accomplice, Heng Chen Boon, had earlier been jailed for three years after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of helping Lee abduct and wrongfully confine Mdm Ng.
