Loanshark, 80, who fatally stabbed debtor in S'pore in 1990, pleads guilty after 33 years on the run

An 80-year-old man, who fled Singapore after fatally stabbing his debtor some 33 years ago. has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

According to CNA, Ng Kwang Keng, also known as "Tai Kong", pleaded guilty in court on Nov. 11 to one charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

Stabbed the victim in the thigh

At the time of the incident, Ng was working as an illegal moneylender, and the victim, 27-year-old Lim Kim Leng, owed him approximately S$22,000.

According to court documents seen by Mothership on Nov. 6, Ng drove to Block 14 Taman Ho Swee, where Lim lived, along with two men, whom he told he was collecting a debt.

At around 4:45pm, Lim received a call at home and went to the void deck to meet Ng and another man.

A dispute broke out between Ng and Lim, and Lim’s nephew, who lived with him, heard shouting from the ground floor.

The dispute later escalated into a physical altercation.

During the struggle, Ng punched Lim, who then chased him up the stairs to a landing between the first and second floors.

Ng, who was armed with a knife, then lunged forward and stabbed Lim in the upper thigh.

He fled with the knife shortly after, driving away with the two men he had picked up earlier.

The knife was never recovered.

Lim’s brother later found him at the lift lobby, bleeding profusely and trying to press the lift button.

Before losing consciousness, Lim told his brother that “Tai Kong” had assaulted him.

He was then rushed to Alexandra Hospital at about 5.21pm, in a comatose state and had multiple stab wounds to the backs of his legs and right hand.

He was resuscitated and admitted to the intensive care unit, where he identified Ng as his assailant.

A medical report later revealed that the stab wound had cut Lim’s right anterior tibial artery and deep peroneal nerve.

He subsequently developed renal failure and was transferred to Singapore General Hospital on Dec 3, 1990.

He eventually succumbed to his injuries and died five days later on Dec. 8, 1990.

An autopsy confirmed that he had died from multiple organ failure caused by shock and haemorrhage due to the stab wound.

A clarificatory report by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in September 2024 found that Lim had developed further complications including acute renal and hepatic failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation and fever from an infection, all of which stemmed from the initial injury.

Fled to Johor Bahru

After the stabbing, Ng admitted to a friend that he had stabbed Lim and said he was leaving for Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

He also called his son and instructed him to pack his clothes and pass them to the same friend.

Ng met his friend in Johor Bahru around 11pm that night and confessed to the stabbing once again.

He remained in Malaysia for 33 years, until he was eventually charged and detained under Malaysia’s Immigration Act.

After declaring himself a Singapore citizen, Malaysia authorities requested Singapore’s assistance for his deportation on Apr. 21, 2022.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) was later notified by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in May 2023 that Ng had been detained in Malaysia.

Ng was repatriated to Singapore on Dec. 21, 2023, arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint, and charged in court the following day.

While in custody, he was diagnosed with scabies and received treatment for it.

To be sentenced in December

In court, the prosecution sought a jail term of six-and-a-half to eight years, along with an additional six months’ imprisonment in lieu of 12 strokes of the cane.

Ng cannot be caned as he is above 50 years old.

The prosecutors argued that Ng had shown premeditation by bringing a knife to the confrontation and added that he had absconded for 33 years.

On the other hand, Ng's lawyers urged the court to impose a sentence of no more than five years’ jail, with an additional month in lieu of caning.

They said Ng had shown genuine remorse by pleading guilty and had lost contact with his family while living in Malaysia.

His family, now reunited with him, were concerned about his deteriorating health and advanced age.

Ng's lawyers also highlighted that Ng suffers from multiple medical conditions, including chronic back and leg pain, skin issues causing persistent itch, and low blood pressure leading to frequent dizzy spells and fainting.

They warned that another fainting episode could cause a fall and potentially trigger a stroke.

His most recent fainting spell occurred on Oct 22, 2025, they said: “A lengthy custodial term will be a significant hardship to the accused."

The court adjourned sentencing to Dec. 30, pending further information on Ng’s health and his remand period in Johor Bahru.

If convicted of voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a weapon likely to cause death, Ng can face life imprisonment or up to 10 years’ jail, and may also be fined.

Top photos via Shin Min Daily News