Lee Kim Lai - The Plot

The Plot

The plot to commit robbery was first proposed by Ong Hwee Kuan on the night of 21 April 1978 when the three friends were gathered at a playground in Geylang Bahru, as a solution to the economic hardship that the three were experiencing. When there were no objections from the other two, Hwee Kuan went on to the suggest that a gun would be needed for such an act, although guns were outlawed in Singapore. Yeo Ching Boon recalled his days serving as a police sentry at the police PRU Base and suggested stealing the gun from the sentry posted there. They could not come up with a feasible idea to steal the gun without attracting attention, however. The following day when the three met again, Ching Boon proposed approaching the sentry while dressed in his police uniform, with Chin Hock in his military attire and to threaten the sentry with icepicks. Chin Hock, however, felt the uniforms will only attract the attention of the camp guard, but none could think of a way to commit the act without anyone noticing. Ching Boon felt that the risk was worth taking using his plan and proposed to carry it out at 0200 hours on 25 April when the sentries are likely to be less alert.

On 24 April, they proceeded to pawn Chin Hock's watch in exchange for cash to buy two kitchen knives at about 2100 hours which Hwee Kuan felt was necessary to threaten the policemen. Ching Boon, wary that they may be searched by patrolling policemen, brought the knives home, where he packed them together with four yellow nylon ropes, an icepick and a pair of gloves in a traveling bag belonging to his brother. At 23:45 hours, they met for a final meal at Kallang Bahru, where Ching Boon proposed an alternative plan to abduct a taxi. The taxi driver would be tied up with the nylon rope, and the taxi will be driven to the PRU base by Chin Hock. Hwee Kuan would pretend to be drunk in the backseat while Ching Boon would approach the sentry for help and lure him to the taxi, where they would abduct the policeman, drive the taxi to a secluded spot and rob him of his service revolver. Hwee Kuan expressed concern that he may be recognized after the act by the abducted policeman or the taxi driver as he had a police record. Ching Boon suggested killing both men, to which Hwee Kuan was relieved and Chin Hock expressed no comment. They abandoned the idea of wearing the uniforms.