What Went Down at the Singapore Court in the Loh Siang Piow Case
In a drama that could make a courtroom soap opera jealous, the case against Loh Siang Piow, a veteran track coach now 77, wrapped up on Tuesday, Dec 21. Two witnesses stepped forward, the court lit up, and a few hot takes were tossed around.
Who’s Who
- Loh Siang Piow – 77‑year‑old former athletics coach, already served a 21‑month jail term back in 2018.
- Amelia Monteiro – 27‑year‑old ex‑athlete, the new witness. She claims she was sitting next to Loh during a phone call when the police officer flagged the names of alleged criminals.
- Nelson Tan – Operations head at Singapore Athletics, the body that ran the track meet in 2016.
Back to the Court
Some 18 months after Loh’s conviction, the district court reopened the case. Judge Marvin Bay heard fresh testimony from Monteiro, who says she was there “right beside” the coach when Officer Goh Teck Heng called on July 31, 2016.
But a twist of fate: Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Gail Wong reminded everyone that throughout the trial, Loh never mentioned Monteiro’s name. When the prosecutor stayed on it, Loh shrugged and replied, “There were many people by my side (then).”
That’s the crux: was Monteiro actually there or not? Dolly’s bluff lead to a brief battle of memories.
Memory Games
Monteiro says “Loh told the officer the names of the accusers while he was on the phone.” Meanwhile, Loh insists the conversation was the other way around: “I told Mr Goh I wouldn’t go to the police station unless I knew who the accusers were.” The two stories don’t vibe.
When DPP Wong questioned the inconsistency, legal eagles in the room steered the narrative back to the witness itself. “Shouldn’t we ask the witness about her recollection?” Tan Chee Meng, Loh’s lawyer, counters that the defendant’s recitation should be verified against the witness.
The Second Witness & The Wiggle of Humor
Mr. Nelson Tan, the meet’s manager, also testified. He helped set the scene: the track meet where “the phone call happened” in 2016.
After all the tension, Judge Bay had a quick moment of levity. He asked Loh why he’d gotten Monteiro to bet on the Toto draw after the phone call. “Apparently, a quick wager to keep the nerves at bay?” see.
Final Verdict
While the courtroom drama was thick, the proceedings ended with the evidence for the jury to weigh. The case shows how memory and testimony can clash spectacularly, emphasizing that even in sports arenas, what you hear will not always match what you see.
Published by The Straits Times – Replication requires permission.
