made against me and some of my friends. To be honest, I didn’t know that such a gang even existed. It was all ludicrous as I simply didn’t have the time to be a gangster. I was too heavily involved in my law work and was also helping out at the temple in my free time. In 1976, I was arrested and detained under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act and taken to Queenstown Remand Prison off Margaret Drive. Enacted in 1958, this Act is the longest temporary provisions in the history of Singapore.
Soon after my arrest, some of my good friends at the temple, including Sam and Soman, were also arrested. They were not put into the Queenstown prison like I was. Instead they were held in a CID lock-up and interrogated for about two weeks. I suppose the police was hoping they would say something that could be used against me. They never did, but the longer they were in custody the more worried I became. In the end, as there was already such a public outcry over my arrest, Sam, Soman and the others were released. I heard the news in prison and was quite relieved even though I still didn’t have my freedom. If they had not been released, the case against me could have been very bad.
At the time of my arrest, my brother Sudheesh was working in the Ministry of Defence under Dr Goh Keng Swee. He wanted to speak to Dr Goh about my case but was told by his personal assistant that the minister was not free to see him. My brother was quite disappointed that his boss was not prepared to help him. Dr Goh was Singapore’s first Minister of Finance after independence in 1965. He was also the chief architect of Singapore’s early economic growth, including the creation of the Economic Development Board, the Port of Singapore Authority, the Jurong Town Corporation, the Housing and Development Board, the Ministry of Education and the Central Provident Fund. My brother held him in high regard as did many who worked under him.
After a few days, Dr Goh’s personal assistant called Sudheesh to say that he would see him. Dr Goh explained to Sudheesh why he could not see him earlier. Because of the high profile nature of my case, he had guessed why Sudheesh wanted to see him but he said that he was not able to help at the time. He told my brother: “I knew at the time that you wanted me to help. I know your brother better than you. I’ve got his university record. I don’t believe the charges against him are fair. Today, I have been appointed Acting Prime Minister as Mr Lee has gone overseas. I have asked the CPIB, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister, to start an investigation into your brother’s case. I can assure you that the investigation will be thorough and if your brother is innocent, he will be released.” Sudheesh went away very happy that Dr Goh was able to intervene. Meanwhile, my friends went around collecting signatures from people who were living in Sembawang for my release, stating that I could not possibly be guilty of the fabrications levelled against me. I had support on many fronts.
Why was I was arrested in the first place? The story is one that relates to love scorned. The man who fabricated my involvement with the Black Eagle Gang was an Inspector Gopal and his two detectives, Vanampadi and Maniam. To understand the whole situation behind my arrest, I have to mention an episode concerning three brothers who lived at the Base. The brothers stayed in the same block as a married woman named Saroja. The eldest brother was having an affair with her. All the neighbours knew about it but everyone chose to mind their own business. One day there was a proposal for one of Saroja’s sisters to marry one of the brothers. The eldest brother objected on the basis that if Saroja could be such an unfaithful wife, one could expect no better from her sister. The proposal was rejected and the two families became bitter enemies.
A few months after that, Saroja became involved with Inspector Gopal. She started
Soon after my arrest, some of my good friends at the temple, including Sam and Soman, were also arrested. They were not put into the Queenstown prison like I was. Instead they were held in a CID lock-up and interrogated for about two weeks. I suppose the police was hoping they would say something that could be used against me. They never did, but the longer they were in custody the more worried I became. In the end, as there was already such a public outcry over my arrest, Sam, Soman and the others were released. I heard the news in prison and was quite relieved even though I still didn’t have my freedom. If they had not been released, the case against me could have been very bad.
At the time of my arrest, my brother Sudheesh was working in the Ministry of Defence under Dr Goh Keng Swee. He wanted to speak to Dr Goh about my case but was told by his personal assistant that the minister was not free to see him. My brother was quite disappointed that his boss was not prepared to help him. Dr Goh was Singapore’s first Minister of Finance after independence in 1965. He was also the chief architect of Singapore’s early economic growth, including the creation of the Economic Development Board, the Port of Singapore Authority, the Jurong Town Corporation, the Housing and Development Board, the Ministry of Education and the Central Provident Fund. My brother held him in high regard as did many who worked under him.
After a few days, Dr Goh’s personal assistant called Sudheesh to say that he would see him. Dr Goh explained to Sudheesh why he could not see him earlier. Because of the high profile nature of my case, he had guessed why Sudheesh wanted to see him but he said that he was not able to help at the time. He told my brother: “I knew at the time that you wanted me to help. I know your brother better than you. I’ve got his university record. I don’t believe the charges against him are fair. Today, I have been appointed Acting Prime Minister as Mr Lee has gone overseas. I have asked the CPIB, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister, to start an investigation into your brother’s case. I can assure you that the investigation will be thorough and if your brother is innocent, he will be released.” Sudheesh went away very happy that Dr Goh was able to intervene. Meanwhile, my friends went around collecting signatures from people who were living in Sembawang for my release, stating that I could not possibly be guilty of the fabrications levelled against me. I had support on many fronts.
Why was I was arrested in the first place? The story is one that relates to love scorned. The man who fabricated my involvement with the Black Eagle Gang was an Inspector Gopal and his two detectives, Vanampadi and Maniam. To understand the whole situation behind my arrest, I have to mention an episode concerning three brothers who lived at the Base. The brothers stayed in the same block as a married woman named Saroja. The eldest brother was having an affair with her. All the neighbours knew about it but everyone chose to mind their own business. One day there was a proposal for one of Saroja’s sisters to marry one of the brothers. The eldest brother objected on the basis that if Saroja could be such an unfaithful wife, one could expect no better from her sister. The proposal was rejected and the two families became bitter enemies.
A few months after that, Saroja became involved with Inspector Gopal. She started
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