How the law caught up with fugitive 38 years later

PETALING JAYA: Seow Lam Seng, the alleged fugitive who was arrested on March 22, after 38 years of eluding the Singapore authorities kept a low profile and led a simple life as a tile-layer.
theSun learnt that since escaping Singapore in 1980, the 63-year-old infrequently appeared in public but shifted between states before settling down in Penang.
He did odd jobs and eventually made a living as a tile-layer.
He settled down and led life as a family man with two children.
Seow also kept his identity and went about his daily routine but steered clear of criminal activities.
However, he was still a wanted man sought by Singapore police over the illegal possession of a firearm almost four decades ago.
But little did Seow know that the hunt for him was renewed in 2012 when Singapore police sought the assistance of their Malaysian counterparts to trace him.
Police began looking for Seow soon after but he remained elusive despite a number of locations frequented by him being searched.
However, the continuous and relentless efforts of a federal police CID team over the next six years yielded fresh leads to Seow's whereabouts.
Seow was tracked down and nabbed at an undisclosed location in Penang on March 22.
theSun also learnt that he did not resist arrest when the police team nabbed him.
On March 24, Seow was extradited to Singapore and two days later he was charged with unlawful possession of firearms under Section 3(3) of the Arms Offences Act, Chapter 14 which carries life imprisonment if found guilty.
Singapore police lauded its Malaysian counterpart, praising its efforts in successfully tracking down the fugitive.
"I would like to express my utmost gratitude to the Royal Malaysia Police for their efforts to locate and arrest the suspect, for this serious case involving the use of firearms in Singapore. The arrest and extradition of the suspect after 38 years on the run would not be possible without the strong support from the Royal Malaysia Police, our closest crime-fighting partner," said Singapore CID director (Investigations & Intelligence) DCP Tan Chye Hee in a statement.
Federal police CID deputy director Commissioner Datuk Huzir Mohamed told theSun that despite many hurdles faced in tracing the fugitive, police never gave up.
"There was a lot of work that went into it and eventually we found him. Our CID has close ties and good cooperation with our Singapore counterpart," he said.
He said checks also show that Seow did not have a criminal record in Malaysia.
Seow ran foul of the law in Singapore on Oct 3, 1980, when two police officers on patrol conducted a check on him and his accomplice identified as Lee Ah Fatt on Tanjong Katong Road after spotting them behaving suspiciously.
Seow was allegedly in possession of a pistol. Lee is said to have whipped out the pistol from Seow's trouser pocket and pointed it at the officers.
A policeman then drew his service revolver and shot Lee in self-defense.
Despite being shot, Lee put up a struggle when the two police officers tried to apprehend him.
On seeing the commotion, Seow took to his heels and escaped the scene.
Lee who suffered a gunshot wound was later pronounced dead at a hospital.