SINGAPORE — A brothel operator who bludgeoned a pimp with a dumbbell rod three years ago, believing that the man had stolen S$6,500 from him, was sentenced to death by the High Court on Wednesday (May 31).

Chan Lie Sian, 53, was found guilty of murder with the intention to kill William Tiah Hung Wai, 35. The fatal attack on Tiah occurred between 11am and 2.30pm on Jan 14, 2014, at Chan’s brothel located at Lorong 18, Geylang.

During their confrontation, Chan struck Tiah on the head many times with a 40cm-long metal rod which weighed 1.46kg. Tiah, who suffered multiple cuts on his head and numerous skull fractures, died from his injuries in hospital a week later, just before he turned 36.

During the eight-day trial, Deputy Public Prosecutor April Phang argued that Chan had the intention to kill Tiah, given the brutal nature of the his actions. The DPP noted that the pimp had repeatedly denied stealing Chan’s money “up to his last breath”.

Defence lawyer Kelvin Lim, however, argued that Chan was intoxicated during the time of the attack and had struck only two blows to Tiah’s head.

Sentencing Chan on Wednesday, Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng said that she did not accept his account that he had hit Tiah twice on the head.

She noted that based on Tiah’s head injuries and the blood stains found at the scene, Chan would have had hit him at least nine times.

Dismissing the argument that Chan’s actions were accidental, Judicial Commissioner Hoo noted that the accused had the “intention to kill” as the nature of the attack was “vicious” and “one-sided” since Tiah was unarmed and of smaller build.

She also pointed out that even after Tiah fell unconscious, Chan continued to strike him and had remarked in Hokkien that if Tiah did not die, Chan would break his limbs. Chan had also failed to prove his argument that he was intoxicated at the time of attack.

“The accused’s story of consumption of sleeping pills and cough syrup prior to the offence changed over time and could not be believed,” added Judicial Commissioner Hoo.

The court previously heard that on the day of the attack, Chan, convinced that Tiah had stolen money from him while he was asleep the previous night, called the pimp for a meeting at the brothel. Both men were also in the same secret society.

At the scene of the incident, blood was found on the floor, wall, ceiling, and a dish rack on a dining table in the living room. More stains were also found on the floor, walls and bed in one of the brothel’s rooms.

When the police arrived at the scene, Chan reportedly lied to them that he had found Tiah lying along the road pavement, and that he had moved the pimp’s body to the front porch to prevent vehicles from running over him.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by FARIS MOKHTAR

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