The Rise of a Notorious Criminal
Lim Ban Lim was once Singapore and Malaysia’s most feared gunman, evading capture for nearly a decade. A skilled marksman, a master of disguise, and a ruthless criminal, he built a reputation that terrorized both sides of the Causeway. His nine-year crime spree saw him commit daring armed robberies, high-profile murders, and dramatic gunfights with the police.
Born into a life of crime, Lim started as a small-time robber in 1958 but quickly escalated to larger heists. In 1963, he and his accomplices targeted The Straits Times printing department, escaping with $30,000. Three years later, he pulled off one of Singapore’s biggest robberies, seizing $156,000 from the First National City Bank in Collyer Quay. His most audacious crime, however, was the 1968 Treasury heist in Johor, where he and his gang stole $450,000 and killed a police constable.
Lim was a cunning fugitive, often slipping across borders using forged documents. He underwent plastic surgery and even disguised himself as a woman to evade capture. He was also highly respected in the underworld but remained distrustful of everyone except his right-hand man, Chua Ah Kow.
A Deadly Trail of Violence
Lim’s criminal activities were not limited to robbery—he was responsible for multiple police shootings.
- May 1965: Lim shot and wounded Detective Peter Lim at Paya Lebar Road after seizing the officer’s revolver.
- September 1966: He shot Detective Allan Lee in the leg at the Odeon Cinema while rescuing a friend.
- June 23, 1968: Lim murdered Corporal Koh Chong Thye in a brutal shootout at Owen Road. When the officer refused to surrender his revolver, Lim shot him in the chest, then executed him with a point-blank shot to the forehead. A fierce gun battle followed, but Lim managed to escape.
Following Corporal Koh’s murder, police launched an extensive manhunt, offering a $5,000 reward for Lim’s capture—an amount later doubled to $10,000 in 1969.
The Final Showdown
After years on the run, Lim’s luck ran out on November 24, 1972. Acting on a tip-off, police officers ambushed him at a pasar malam in Margaret Drive. By then, the bounty on his head had reached $17,000.
At around 7:30 PM, six officers took their positions near Golden City Theatre. When Lim and Chua Ah Kow arrived, they sensed trouble and made a run for it, opening fire at police. A chaotic gunfight broke out in the crowded night market. Detective Tan Lee Keng was hit, but officers continued their pursuit.
Lim was finally shot three times and staggered 10 meters before collapsing. He died clutching his revolver, with 13 bullets still in his pocket and just $1.40 in change. Chua escaped but later shot himself dead in another police confrontation.
Impact on Singapore’s Gun Laws
The 1970s saw a surge in gun-related crimes, prompting the Singapore government to impose stricter firearm laws. Notorious criminals like Tan Chian Lai, the Hassan brothers, and Ng Ah Bai had engaged in bloody shootouts with the police, leading to increased public concern.
The turning point came in November 1973, when Singapore passed the Arms Offences Act, making the use or attempted use of a gun punishable by death. The first person executed under this law was Sha Bakar Dawood in 1975.
Who Was Lim Ban Lim?
Despite his violent life, Lim was a family man. He married his childhood sweetheart at 16 years old and left behind three daughters and two sons. He once boasted to the Criminal Investigation Department chief over the phone:
“You will never catch me. When you are about to arrest me, I will surely engage you in a gunfight. I will use the last bullet to end my life, so you can only collect my body.”
Ultimately, his prophecy was only half true—he went down in a final blaze of bullets but never got the chance to take his own life.
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