Ang, Sunny (1939– 1967) One of Singapore’s most famous criminals, convicted on 18 May 1965 for the murder of bar waitress Jenny Cheok Cheng Kid, whose body was never found. The prosecution alleged that on 27 August 1963, Sunny Ang had hired a sampan (small boat) to bring him and Cheok to Sisters Islands south of Singapore, ostensibly to collect corals; but the real motive was murder— she was heavily insured. Ang was bankrupt whereas Cheok had been insured for a total of $450,000 with several insurance companies. Some of Cheok’s policies were renewed on the morning of her death, although Ang’s were not. The beneficiaries were Ang’s mother and Cheok’s estate.

Ang had helped Cheok to don the diving gear and let the novice diver descend alone. When she failed to surface, he did not go down to search for her. Moreover, he filed the insurance claims less than 24 hours after her disappearance. One of Cheok’s flippers was later found with the heel strap cut in two places by a sharp instrument. The prosecution relied entirely on circumstantial evidence. The jury found Ang guilty of murder and he was sentenced to death. He was unsuccessful in applying for leave to appeal to the Privy Council and was hanged on 6 February 1967.

Photo credit: Singapore Press Holdings/ The Straits Times