Murder of Yuen Swee Hong
On 11 April 2009, 58-year-old SMRT taxi driver Yuen Swee Hong (Chinese: 袁水鸿; pinyin: Yuán Shuǐhóng) was robbed and murdered in his taxi. After killing Yuen, the culprit, 29-year-old Chinese national Wang Wenfeng (Chinese: 王文锋; pinyin: Wáng Wénfēng), called Yuen's family demanding for ransom. Wang was found guilty of murder and initially sentenced to death in September 2011, but was re-sentenced to life imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane in November 2013. Crime Robbery and murder In the early hours of 11 April 2009, Wang left his home with a haversack containing a knife, a pair of cotton gloves and a small bottle of water. He walked to Sun Plaza in Sembawang, planning to rob a taxi driver, where Yuen picked him up. Wang directed Yuen to the vicinity of Sembawang Park. As they approached the dead end of Jalan Selimang, Wang put on his gloves and took out his knife. He ordered Yuen to turn off the engine; Yuen initially resisted but eventually complied. He then demanded that Yuen hand over his money, which Yuen complied. Following this, Wang released his grip and lost his balance, and Yuen grabbed Wang's left hand which was holding the knife. A