Sheng Siong bosses' mum dies at 91; son recalls race to raise $2m ransom after bank released only $800k

Ng Lye Poh, mother to the founders of supermarket chain Sheng Siong, has died at the age of 91.

She died at home on Saturday (Sept 5) surrounded by family.

Thrust into the public eye after being abducted in 2014, Ng was fondly nicknamed "Sheng Siong ah ma", and remembered as someone approachable and kind, reported Lianhe Zaobao.

Speaking to Zaobao at Woodlands Memorial, CEO Lim Hock Chee , the 5th of nine children, said his mother liked to patronise markets and had a "voice which arrived before her".

Recalling the abduction case in January 2014, Lim said he had experienced a moment of disbelief when kidnapper Lee Sze Yong contacted him and demanded $20 million in ransom for Ng's release.

Lee had tricked the elderly woman by telling her that Lim had suffered a fall, and that he was tasked to drive her to the Sheng Siong office. Ng was later blindfolded by Lee and held in the car.

Lim told Zaobao that he was unable to contact his mother. The man and his two brothers took the threat seriously and lodged a police report.

"I foolishly called the bank to tell them to prepare $20 million in cash," he said. "How could the bank have that much cash? I could only get $800,000."

Lim said he then scrambled to withdraw all the $1,000 banknotes he could , and ultimately amassed $2 million in ransom money.

He dropped the cash off at a tree in Sembawang Park that night and left without searching for Lee's presence. Ng was subsequently let free at a bus stop along Jalan Kayu.

Lim added: "When she was rescued, I said, 'You have nine children. If I really fell and was bleeding badly...you still have eight others who will fetch you.'"

Ng continued her outings as usual after the incident, with family reminding her to bring their helper along, reported Zaobao.

According to Lim, Ng had suffered from diabetes for over a decade and had heart surgery about three years ago. The senior was admitted to hospital in 2025 for asthma, with her heath deteriorating since then.

Lim told Zaobao that the $2 million ransom recovered by the police was donated to the National Crime Prevention Council.

The family will donate condolence money given by wake attendees to charity under Ng's name.

Lee was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016.

lim.kewei@asiaone.com

超市连锁店昇菘创始人的母亲吴丽宝逝世，享年91岁。

她于周六（9月5日）在家中去世，家人陪伴在侧。

据《联合早报》报道，吴胜祥在2014年被绑架后进入公众视野，被亲切地称为“胜祥阿妈”，人们都记得他平易近人、和蔼可亲。

在兀兰纪念医院接受《联合早报》采访时，首席执行官林福志（家中九个孩子中的第五个）表示，他的母亲喜欢逛市场，而且“说话比她先到”。

林先生回忆起 2014 年 1 月的绑架案时说，当绑匪李思勇联系他并索要 2000 万美元赎金以释放吴女士时，他感到难以置信。

李某欺骗了那位老妇人，告诉她林某摔倒了，而他受命开车送她去昇菘超市办公室。之后，李某蒙住吴某的眼睛，把她关在车里。

林某告诉《联合早报》，他联系不上母亲。林某和他的两个兄弟都非常重视这一威胁，并向警方报案。

“我当时傻乎乎地打电话给银行，让他们准备2000万美元现金，”他说。“银行怎么可能有那么多现金？我最后只拿到了80万美元。”

林先生说，他随后赶紧取出所有能找到的1000美元面额的钞票，最终筹集了200万美元的赎金。

当晚，他把现金放在三巴旺公园的一棵树下，没有寻找李的踪迹便离开了。随后，吴在加冷路的一个公交车站被释放。

林补充道：“她获救时，我说，‘你有九个孩子。如果我真的摔倒了，流了很多血……你还有其他八个孩子会来接你。’”

据《联合早报》报道，事件发生后，吴女士照常外出，家人提醒她要带上保姆。

据林医生介绍，吴女士患有糖尿病十余年，约三年前接受过心脏手术。这位老人在2025年因哮喘入院，此后健康状况持续恶化。

林告诉《联合早报》，警方追回的200万美元赎金已捐赠给国家预防犯罪委员会。

家属将把参加守灵仪式的人所捐的慰问金以吴先生的名义捐赠给慈善机构。

李某于2016年被判处终身监禁。

lim.kewei@asiaone.com