Court concludes shooting of drug-affected man by police officer was justified, with no foul play suspected.
In a coroner’s inquiry into the death of 64-year-old Ng Eng Kui, who was shot by a police officer on March 23, 2022, the court concluded that there was no foul play in the discharge of the firearm. Ng, who was under the influence of drugs, had brandished a kitchen knife at police officers and ignored multiple warnings to drop the weapon. Despite three failed attempts to incapacitate him with Taser shots, Ng continued to advance toward the officers in a narrow corridor at Block 33 Bendemeer Road, prompting one officer to fire a single shot, hitting Ng in the chest.
District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam ruled that Ng’s death was an unfortunate misadventure and that the officer’s action was justified. Body-worn camera footage presented in court showed Ng being agitated and aggressive, refusing to comply with officers’ instructions. A toxicology report revealed that Ng had methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system at the time of the incident.
The judge acknowledged that Ng had been diagnosed with substance abuse psychotic disorder and had a history of poly-substance and alcohol use disorder. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Ng was declared dead at Tan Tock Seng Hospital from the gunshot wound.
