Shooting of Datuk not due to debts, says friend

GEORGE TOWN: The fatal shooting of Datuk Ong Teik Kwong was not due to debts or anything untoward, said Lim Boon Leng, who was in the car with Ong when the incident took place.

“There have been numerous rumours on social media. Among them was that I was in cahoots with his bodyguard who fired the shots.

“I would like to set the record straight that this is not true, as I was as much a victim as the Datuk except I survived,” he told Kwong Wah Yit Poh yesterday.

Lim, 32, said he had been friends with Ong for 10 years and that he spent more time with him than his own family members.

“He was a good man and I hope netizens will stop spreading rumours once and for all.”

Ong’s bodyguard, said to be mentally unstable and on his first day on the job, opened fire and killed Ong, professional clown Choi Hon Ming, 32, and florist M. Senthil, 38, on Dec 1.

Meanwhile, two more men were arrested over the assault at Ong’s wake at a funeral parlour last week.

Penang police chief Comm Datuk Abdul Ghafar Rajab said the two, aged 31 and 35, were picked up at their homes on Wednesday.

“They were detained to help in investigations. The other suspect, who was detained at the wake on Dec 1, has since been released on police bail,” he added.

He was speaking to reporters after witnessing the handing over of duties between outgoing Penang special branch chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Yong Lei Choo and her successor SAC Abdul Wahid Abdul Ghafar at the Penang police headquarters yesterday.

SAC Yong, 55, will be transferred to Bukit Aman as the principal assistant director of the Management Department (Personnel Records) on Dec 16.

In the video clip lasting one minute and 40 seconds, the victim – stripped of his shirt and revealing his back filled with tattoos – is hit 45 times with a rubber hose as he kneels down. He is also kicked once in the chest.

The assault happened at the Khoo Kongsi Funeral Parlour in Bandar Baru Air Itam after the victim allegedly insulted Ong on social media.

In a related development, Comm Abdul Ghafar said the ballistic tests conducted by police on Wednesday had been sent to Bukit Aman’s Forensic Department for analysis.

“The results will be out soon and we will refer the case to the deputy public prosecutor for further action.

“We have recorded 23 statements and more people will be called up soon,” he added.