Gang leader in murder trial tries to rattle witnesses

A MOTLEY cast of characters – friends of Tan Chor Jin, from a taxi driver to a company director – testified in court yesterday as witnesses for the prosecution, which sought to show that the accused was in financial difficulties.  

In turn, Tan, conducting his own defence, tried to turn the tables on the prosecutors when he cross-examined his friends from the dock and succeeded in getting at least one of them to paint a picture of him as a generous businessman.  

Confident and animated, Tan laughed often and frequently nodded and smiled at his wife, who sat in the public gallery, occasionally smiling back at him.  

He was unfazed even when Lim Hock Soon’s widow glared at him as she entered the court. Tan is accused of killing Lim, a nightclub owner last February.  

But witnesses who did not give answers to his satisfaction received mutters of being “crazy” or “wasting my breath and time” and were warned to “think carefully before you answer.”  

The 41-year-old gang leader, who is accused of discharging a firearm – which carries the death penalty came across like an old hand in court as he tried to discredit those who gave evidence unfavourable to him.  

For instance, Toh Wee Khoon, a close friend of Lim, testified that he had followed the nightclub boss to Johor Baru in 2003 to claim a S$30,000 (RM6,900) debt owed by Tan.  

He said that Tan, also known as “Tony Kia,” asked for time to repay the debt.  

When Tan cross-examined him, the accused asked: “Are you a good acquaintance of mine?”  

Toh said, “No,” adding that the last time he saw Tan was in 2003.  

Tan eventually got Toh to admit he had been to the Institute of Mental Health some time that year.  

Speaking in a mixture of Mandarin and English, Tan, drawing on his friends’ testimonies, also tried to show that he had money and was a generous leader.  

Former secret society member James Tan Ting Shim told the court he heard that Tan had donated RM100,000 to a Taoist temple in late 2005.  

The ponytailed James, a temple medium, also said that the accused had given him between S$20,000 (RM46,000) and S$30,000 (RM69,000) in cash for a Buddhist pendant in January last year.  

He added that the accused used to drive flashy cars, and, at one time, had four shops selling Chinese medicine in Johor Baru.  

Childhood friend Lim Choon Chwee, who said Tan spoke about robbing someone of his Rolex watch, testified that he had “high respect” for Tan.  

Before leaving the courtroom, Choon Chwee looked over his shoulder and waved goodbye to Tan, whose face, for that moment, was expressionless. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network