SINGAPORE: Lawyer and former director of the police’s Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) Glenn Knight has died at 80.
A close friend told The Straits Times that he was contacted by the police on the morning of Feb 19, informing him of the news.
Knight was widowed without children. His wife died some years ago.
The former public prosecutor died while returning from Australia on a Scoot flight.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it was alerted to a possible case of death on board Flight TR21 at about 12.40am on Wednesday (Feb 19).
A spokesperson added that police officers boarded the aircraft after it landed in Singapore at 3am and found an 80-year-old man motionless in a seat.
A medical doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.
Glenn Knight in 2023. - FRIEND OF GLENN KNIGHT
The spokesperson said that investigations are ongoing, but based on preliminary investigations, police do not suspect foul play.
Knight was involved in setting up the CAD in 1984 after years of prosecuting a number of high-profile criminal cases.
These included the Toa Payoh ritual murder case in 1981 involving Adrian Lim, a self-proclaimed medium behind the deaths of two children.
Lim and his accomplices – his two “holy wives” – were sentenced to death in 1983.
Knight was also involved in the prosecution of businessmen Peter Tham and Tan Koon Swan for their roles in the collapse of conglomerate Pan-Electric Industries.
Knight was in 1991 investigated over corruption allegations and lost his post at CAD. He was later convicted.
Following his first conviction, Knight was disbarred from legal practice in 1994. Four years later, he was convicted of misappropriating CAD funds during his stint as director.
His application to be reinstated as a lawyer was granted in 2007, making him the sixth lawyer to be reinstated as an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore.
Knight joined a law firm that year, after his reinstatement, before setting up his own practice in 2010, where he remained until his death.
Criminal lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam told ST that Knight was very kind and supportive of him when Thuraisingam set up his own law firm in 2012, referring clients to him and working on some cases together.
He described Knight as an excellent lawyer with a keen intellect and sense of justice.
“It was important for him to work with younger lawyers as he valued being a mentor and passing on what he knew.
“He was a giant in the legal world and he will be missed by many in the profession,” Thuraisingam added.
Knight’s wake will be held from 11am from Feb 20 to 23 at the Crystal Hall at Level 4 of Singapore Casket at 131 Lavender Street.
The cortege will leave at 10.40am on Feb 23 for Mandai Crematorium Hall 3 and the cremation will take place at 11.40am. - The Straits Times/ANN
