Suspects lived together for 10 years

SINGAPORE- The two men who allegedly kidnapped Madam Ng Lai Poh, 79, apparently had been living together for more than a decade.

Lee Sze Yong, 41, was charged with abducting Madam Ng between 10.30am and 1.02pm on Wednesday at Hougang Avenue 2, with intent to hold her for ransom.

His accomplice, Heng Chen Boon, 50, is accused of helping him confine the victim in a vehicle between 8.30pm and midnight.

The New Paper learnt that both men had been living together for more than 10 years with Lee's mother, Madam Seow, at Hougang Street 51.

Chinese evening daily Shin Min Daily News quoted her as saying the men were "lovers" and that she had come to accept Heng as her godson.

But when TNP spoke to her, she would only describe the men's relationship as that of "close friends".

In 1999, the two men started a cleaning company, Plus Concept, which folded in 2001.

Madam Seow told TNP in Mandarin that Lee, her only child, was a filial son who gave her several hundred dollars for pocket money every month.

She said she had been having headaches and her heart was in a mess since she found out about her son's alleged involvement in the kidnap after his arrest.

She last spoke to him before he left the flat on Monday. He came home on Wednesday, the day the kidnap took place.

Madam Seow said that when she asked him why he had not been coming home frequently, he said he was not free.

Neighbours said the family always kept their door closed and had visitors only during Chinese New Year.

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Their next-door neighbour, Ms Y L Chu, 44, said: "I last saw both men outside the flat on Sunday. They were throwing away their flower pots. I'm not sure why they did that."

Ms Chu said she met Heng last year and spoke to him about the men's dog. She thought Lee and Heng were cousins living together.

She said: "They would sometimes go out together and were close. They were quiet and kept a low profile."

Both men have been remanded for further investigations. Their case will be heard again on Friday.

Those convicted of kidnapping will face the death penalty or life imprisonment and caning.

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