| Took Leng How |
Article Index for Took |
Shopping Took |
Website Links For Took |
Information AboutTook Leng How |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TOOK LENG HOW | |
| 1981 births | |
| 2006 deaths | |
| chinese malaysians | |
| crime in singapore | |
| people executed by hanging | |
| singaporean executions | |
|
EARLY LIFE Took is the second child of Took Long Lai and his wife (whose name was never disclosed). According to Lianhe Zaobao, Took dropped out of school while studying Form three at the age of fifteen, and worked various odd-jobs, from a repairman in Malaysia to a cook in one of Singapore's hotel. Took began working at the Pasir Panjang wholesale centre from 2003 onwards until Huang Na 's murder. In the same year, Took married his Chinese Indonesian wife, Yuli in March 2003, just as she was five months pregnant with their son, Shun Wang. The couple first met in 2002 when she arrived in Penang to work as an electronics factory operator. THE MURDER It was alleged that on 10 October, Took had coaxed Huang Na into a storeroom with s and stuffed into a Cardboard Box which was sealed with adhesive tape. Took left the box in the storeroom. Later that day, he went back to his HDB Flat in Telok Blangah Heights to watch Television . At 8 pm, he left his house with a Motorcycle he had borrowed from a friend. It was alleged that Took used the motorcycle to transport the body to Telok Blangah Hill Park {Link without Title} . THE ESCAPE Took escaped to Malaysia on October 21, 2004. The police had intended to send him to the investigation centre. On the way, the police allowed Took to drop by at a Muslim coffee shop for a plate of chicken rice. He later excused himself to the toilet and escaped through an open back door. Took hailed down a cab, and asked the driver to send him to the Woodlands Immigration checkpoint. Upon arriving at the scheduled destination, Took was asked to pay eighteen dollars of the fare. At that time, Took only had four dollars and compensated the remaining amount by a packet of cigarettes. Took went into the departure hall at the third level of the custom complex, but found that it was heavily guarded. He proceeded to the bus station. At the bus station, Took found the gate connecting the bus routes entering and leaving Singapore opened. The gate happened to be located just beside the charge office. Wearing only slippers, a grey T-shirt and black pants, he tucked in his shirt, and waited for the police patrol car to pass. He entered the opposite route at 3.38 a.m in the morning. Took followed an Indian man throughout the entire trip across the Causeway . At the Malaysian side, he made his way to find his older brother, who eventually brought him back to Penang . By then, a nationwide search in Malaysia was initiated to search for Took. TOOK'S POLICE STATEMENT After his arrest, Took told police that he and Huang Na were playing a game of hide and seek on October 10 and he tied Huang Na's hands and feet as part of the game. She was then left in a dark room where she accidentally injured herself by knocking her head against some boxes. Took said that when he returned to the room, he found the girl Bleeding from the mouth. He Panic ked and started to strangle her. He then undressed her to give the impression of a Rape . {Link without Title} TRIAL OF TOOK LENG HOW On 14 June 2005 , the case's Preliminary Inquiry was presented to the High Court, and the case proceedings are scheduled to take place from 11 July to 29 July . 75 witnesses are expected to take the stands during the trial. In their opening statement on 11 July , 2005 , the prosecutors said that on 10 October , 2004 , Took lured the 8 year old Huang Na at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre . He then Sexually Assaulted Huang Na and Smothered her to Death with his bare hands. Took also stomped and Kick ed the victim during the murder. The Prosecutor s would introduced evidence that Took had tied Huang Na's body with string, sealed her body in nine layers of plastic bags and disposed her body down a slope at the Telok Blangah Hill Park . During the Autopsy , the medical examiner found bruises on her right Temple , Scalp , Chin , Jaw and Lip s. The Medical Examiner also concluded that the nature of death was Asphyxia and the official cause of death was "acute Airway Occlusion ". The prosecution presented forensic evidence that linked Took and the victim to the Crime Scene , which was a storage room at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre . Investigators found the victim's Hair s and blood traces at the scene; the blood was proven to be belonging to Huang Na following Forensic DNA Analysis . Investigators also found a Cigarette butt that contained traces of the suspect's Saliva and a piece of Adhesive Tape with the suspect's Fingerprint on it. However, Forensic Experts were not able to conclude that the suspect's Semen was found in the crime scene. {Link without Title} A forensic analyst from the Centre Of Forensic Science told the court that the end of one of the adhesive-tape strips on the cardboard box in which the body was found matched the end of a roll of adhesive tape found at the storeroom. The analyst further observed that the box had been sealed in "a very systematic manner". This drew notice to the fact that Took was a packer at the wholesale centre {Link without Title} . DEATH PENALTY On 26 August 2005 , Took was found guilty for the murder and sentenced to death. However, Took has made an appeal to change the court's verdict from murder to Homicide , under the guidance of his lawyer Subhas Anandan . According to Anandan, Took was allowed to make his appeal free of charge. According to Singapore's law, the highest penalty of homicide is life imprisonment. Took appealed to the Court Of Appeal in the Supreme Court . On 25 January 2006, the 3-member Court of Appeal upheld the sentence in a two-to-one decision. Chief Justice Yong Pung How and Judge of Appeal Chao Hick Tin agreed with the decision of trial judge Lai Kew Chai. Justice Kan Ting Chiu delivered a Dissent as he felt that there was a reasonable doubt on Took's conviction. A clemency appeal to the President of Singapore is currently pending. 1 By Rita Zahara Took's father has been appealing for support from the public for his clemency. The news at 10pm of MediaCorp TV Channel 8 reported that he had asked for support at the Admiralty MRT Station , and the Kuan Yin temple in Singapore on February 14, 2006. REFERENCES SEE ALSO |
|
|