- Hoi Kim Heng
Infobox Person
name = Hoi Kim Heng
image_size =
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birth_name = Hoi Kim Heng
birth_date = 1970
birth_place =Singapore
death_date =21 May 1994
death_place =Singapore
death_cause =Murder ed
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nationality = flagicon|SingaporeSingapore an
other_names =
known_for = Murder victim, awardedPingat Keberanian Polis posthumously
education =
employer =Singapore Police Force
occupation =Police officer
title =
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footnotes =Corporal Hoi Kim Heng (
1970 -21 May 1994 ) was apolice officer of theSingapore Police Force who was stabbed to death at the age of 24 bySoh Loo Ban after a chase near Fook Hai Building inSingapore on21 May 1994 . He was the second last police officer to be murdered in the line of duty, the last being that of SIBoo Tiang Huat which occurred on30 November 1994 . The year 1994 was then considered a dark year for the police force [cite news | publisher =The Straits Times | date =31 December 1994 | title = Crimes and tragedies that shocked the nation - Two police officers killed ] .The murder
Hoi, a regular police officer with the
Central Police Division , was on regular patrol with his partner, CorporalTan Huang Yee in theirFast Response Car in the Chinatown area when they spotted Soh along Nankin Street. They stopped and stepped out to check on Soh, who was known for his history of crimes as a drug addict and mobster. When corporal Tan asked Soh for hisidentity card , he pretended to reach for his card, and produced a 10 centremetre-long knife instead, which he used to stab Corporal Tan on his left arm before turning to run.Both officers chased after Soh down Nankin Street. When reaching the Fook Hai Building, Soh stopped, turned and dashed into the pursuing officers, colliding into Corporal Hoi and sending both men to the ground. As they collided, Soh stabbed Hoi in the neck with his knife, before continuing on his escape with Corporal Tan still in pursuit.
Soh was chased to the
Hong Lim Food Centre . Corporal Tan sustained more stab wounds from Soh, but he fired shots at Soh with hisrevolver . Soh was shot in the chest and a stray bullet also struck a passerby.Other officers arriving at the scene found Corporal Hoi barely alive and was rushed to the hospital, but he and Soh did not survive. Both Corporal Tan and the passerby recovered from their injuries.
Aftermath
Corporal Hoi was given a rare
field promotion posthumously on23 May 1994 to the rank of Sergeant, and was given a police ceremonial cremation with full police honours, and awarded thePingat Keberanian Polis . Corporal Tan was also promoted to the rank of Sergeant.The case made front page news in the local media, and led to the public writing letters to the press expressing concerns over the possibility of police procedures preventing the officer from defending himself adequately. Existing police procedures forbade officers from drawing their weapons except when there was imminent signs of danger to himself or others. Hoi's death contributed to a review of these procedures, which now permit officers to draw their weapons based on personal judgement and assessment of the situation presented before him.
References
*"Herbal Tonic", Khoo Kheng-Hor, Singapore Police Force, 2001
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