S’pore Fugitive Who Committed Robbery in 1981 Finally Sentenced to 18 Years’ Jail

When someone commits a crime, they would usually be arrested shortly for their wrongdoings.

However, in this case, this man was arrested 30 years later for his crime as he was constantly on the run.

S’pore Fugitive Who Committed Robbery in 1981 Finally Sentenced to 18 Years Jail

Mr Chin Sheong Hon, 72, spent over 30 years on the run in Thailand after shooting a woman in Singapore back in 1981.

He was finally sentenced to 18 years of jail on 15 November 2022 after nine years of custody. He will have to spend another two-and-a-half years in jail for backdating his jail term and the usual one-third remission.

Mr Chin was sent back to Singapore back in 2013 after he was released from prison in Thailand for taking part in their political protests.

After that incident, he was charged with committing three robberies between July and November 1981, while armed with a revolver.

Robbery Crimes he Committed 

Mr Chin robbed Mr Ee Chong Leong in July 1981 of about S$16,000 at the former Singapore Shuttle Bus Terminal in Geylang Lorong 1. He warned him not to raise any alarm and pressed a revolver to his waist.

Three months later, he robbed Mr Chua Boon Leong of about S$1,800 in front of the Overseas Union Bank on Tanjong Katong Road.

He also shot Ms Goh Siew Foon while robbing her of S$92,000 in front of the United Overseas Bank in Lorong Mega. Ms Goh survived the gunshot and sustained injuries to her stomach and lungs.

After these incidents, he was found to be mentally unsound and unfit to stand trial. He was diagnosed with delusional disorder in 2015 and was certified to plead to his original charges in July 2021.

Prosecutor Wanted him to be Given Life Imprisonment Instead

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) wanted Mr Chin to have a life sentence. He said that Mr Chin has an unstable character and could be at risk of committing similar offences in future.

A life sentence meant 20 years’ imprisonment in this case, with the possibility of remission.

However, Mr Chin’s lawyer, Mr Mervyn Cheong, sought a jail term of 13 years and seven months and argued that the risk of Mr Chin committing another crime is low due to his age and poor health.

In light of public safety, Justice Pang Khang Chau felt that Mr Chin has to be detained in some institutional arrangement.

However, this need not necessarily be achieved by life imprisonment, hence his final sentence was 18 years.

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Featured Image: Singapore Police & Shutterstock.com / MIND AND I