Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has commended the police for the swift arrest of two suspects involved in the kidnapping of Madam Ng Lye Poh, who is the mother of Sheng Siong supermarket chain chief executive Lim Hock Chee.

"Great job by the Singapore Police Force, who arrested the two suspects who kidnapped Madam Ng Lai Poh on Wednesday so quickly," Mr Lee wrote on his Facebook on Friday. "Glad Madam Ng is safe and sound. Also glad that her son, Mr Lim Hock Chee, alerted the police as soon as it happened, so that the police could rescue Madam Ng and solve the case."

Two Singaporean men, aged 41 and 50, were arrested on Thursday, within 12 hours after Mr Lim contacted the police about the case. Madam Ng, 79, was abducted on Wednesday along Hougang Avenue 2 (not Hougang Avenue 8 as previously reported based on what the police said) after a trip to a nearby market. They have arrived in court on Friday morning to face charges.

"Kidnapping is a very serious crime. The punishment is life imprisonment or death. We will deal with the perpetrators to the full extent of the law," said Mr Lee.

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