SINGAPORE – After evading the law for more than three decades, a former loan shark was finally caught and brought to justice.
Ng Kwang Keng, 80, had been on the run for 33 years after he fatally stabbed a debtor in 1990.
On Dec 30, he was sentenced to six years’ jail after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means. He was previously charged with murder.
Ng was previously detained in Johor Bahru for an immigration offence before being deported to Singapore in December 2023.
In 1990, the then 47-year-old Ng was a loan shark who was owed $22,000 by a Mr Lim Kim Leng, 27.
On Nov 6 that year, Ng drove to Mr Lim’s residence at Block 14 Taman Ho Swee.
There, he and Mr Lim got into an argument that turned physical, leading to him stabbing Mr Lim in the upper thigh with a knife before fleeing.
The knife was never found.
Mr Lim died on Dec 8 that year after developing renal failure and other complications as a result of the stab wound.
The court heard that Ng was caught in Malaysia for an immigration offence in 2022. As he is a Singaporean, he was deported back here on Dec 21, 2023.
He was then arrested and charged with murder the next day, having been in remand since.
Those convicted of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means can be jailed for life, or for up to 10 years and fined and caned.
A netizen recently kicked off a heated Reddit debate after pointing out a small but sore point about dining in Singapore.
In a post titled “Why Singapore eateries do not give tissue and water for free”, the OP vented after returning from a holiday in Japan.
“It's standard issue no matter where I went, there is tissue and water served, no questions asked. Service charge was non-existent even in a restaurant. If there was any appetiser, it would be explained on the menu that there is a fee,” they wrote.
They then contrasted that experience with dining in Singapore: “Water is charged minimally at 50 cents and wet tissue also charged. Service charge is almost everywhere. Appetiser is sneaked in and charged at the bill, Chinese restaurants i'm looking at you. Is Singapore really a money grab due to the REITs? Or is there a cultural difference?”
Unsurprisingly, netizens had a lot to say.
Many agreed that in Singapore, “profit comes before customer service,” with some recalling a time when free water was the norm.
Others blamed rising costs. With rentals skyrocketing — especially in prime locations — eateries are “forced to charge for everything.”
One commenter summed it up neatly: “It’s a mix of culture and business model. Japan treats water and tissue as basic hospitality, while Singapore eateries rely more on add-on charges to survive high rents.”
Another was far less diplomatic: “It's because of greedy landlords.”
“There is an obsession with cost cutting and profit maximising in Singapore. Owners want to maximise profits so that they can afford their cars and condo mortgages. They will continue to do so if the consumers are okay with it,” another wrote.
Some argued that charging for water and tissues is simply the reality of running an F&B business here. While overseas eateries may operate at lower costs, family-owned restaurants in Singapore are often priced out — leaving only hawker stalls, while larger chains dominate the scene.
One netizen urged diners to push back: “Stop going to restaurants that has service charge but do not even give you tap water.”
They argued that proper service — greeting guests, offering water, checking on condiments — should be the bare minimum, and that diners shouldn’t accept service charges when these basics aren’t met.
Others suggested alternatives, pointing to Japan-owned chain Saizeriya, where water and tissues are still free.
That said, not everyone sided with the OP.
One commenter offered a counterpoint:
“On the flip side, Singaporean customers are likely to abuse the system whenever there are free things. I see people taking serviettes at Starbucks and drinking free water without ordering anything.”
In the end, the debate highlights the tug-of-war between rising business costs, customer expectations, and cultural norms in Singapore’s F&B scene — with no clear winner in sight.
Balancing fair service with business survival? Clearly, it’s not as simple as offering a free cup of water.
I saw her reel.
Want to go out drinking, still act shy...
Sure got pissed drunk and pumped full tanks by her 2 " best friends"..
I don't trust them. fought a few times over those "best friends"...