Cop who shot man wielding knife not errant in use of firearm: Judge

While under the influence of drugs, a 64-year-old man brandished a kitchen knife at the doorway of his home despite being confronted by four police officers.

- Andrew Wong

After three attempts to incapacitate Ng Eng Kui with Taser shots failed, he stepped out to face the four officers in a narrow corridor at Block 33 Bendemeer Road in March 2022.

Assessing himself and his three colleagues to be in imminent danger, an officer fired a single round from his pistol, hitting Ng in the chest.

The officers involved in the case cannot be named due to a court-imposed gag order.

In a coroner's inquiry into Ng's death on Nov 4, District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam ruled that the officer had not errantly discharged his firearm, adding that Ng's death was an unfortunate misadventure.

She said there is no basis to suspect any foul play in the discharge of the single round.

Footage pieced together through police and body-worn cameras was played in court on Nov 4, showing Ng to be agitated, aggressive and non-compliant at the time of the incident.