A Malaysian who allegedly harboured triad leader Tan Chor Jin, the infamous "One-eyed Dragon", shortly after he shot and killed a nightclub owner in 2006, was charged in court yesterday.
Ho Yueh Keong, 42, who had been on the run for the last nine years, was arrested in Malaysia by the Royal Malaysia Police and extradited back on Monday.
He is accused of transporting Tan, who was blind in the right eye, across the Woodlands immigration checkpoint at 8.22am on Feb 15, 2006, with the intention of helping him flee the law.
The charge says he knew Tan had committed murder between 6.55am and 7.11am that day.
Tan had forced his way into Mr Lim Hock Soon's home in Serangoon Avenue 4 armed with a knife and pistol. He tied up Mr Lim's wife, daughter and maid and shot the 41-year-old, who ran popular KTV lounge Las Vegas Nightclub in Havelock Road, six times.
Five of the bullets struck Mr Lim, including in the right cheek and temple. The victim, his one-time friend, died at the scene. The dispute was apparently over money.
News of the gangland-style murder shocked the nation, and Mr Lim's wake drew hundreds of curious onlookers.
Tan fled to Malaysia with Ho. But in less than two weeks, police stormed a room at the five-star Grand Plaza Parkroyal hotel in Kuala Lumpur, where Tan was staying.
The 42-year-old was sentenced to hang by the High Court in May 2007 for fatally shooting Mr Lim.
He defended himself during his trial but was represented by the late veteran criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan during his appeal.
Tan's appeal was dismissed in January 2008, and he was hanged the following year.
No plea was taken from Ho yesterday. The prosecution applied for the case to be adjourned for four weeks. No bail was offered.
Ho indicated in court that he wished to get a lawyer. He will appear in court on Aug 12.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations and Intelligence) Tan Chye Hee, who is also director of the Criminal Investigation Department, thanked the Malaysian police for their "strong and unequivocal support" over the case, resulting in the arrest of the suspect.
"Police will spare no effort to hunt down criminals who remain on the run, and will bring them to justice no matter how long it takes," he said.
If convicted, Ho can be jailed for up to five years and fined.
