168
2.
Although the side gate of the compound was opened for
them to enter, they immediately arrested those who opened it
and then seized and arrested Kr. Teo himself, notwithstanding
the fact that at their request he had presented them with his
visiting card. Mr. Teo and his three servants were bound as
if they had been criminals and were led through the streets to
the No. 4 Police Station, where, on the instructions of the
Superintendent, Mr. Teo's feet were chained. After being
put through an examination, during which the Superintendent
told him that he had no right to possess & pistol and
ammunition, he and his servants, the latter being bound, were
taken to the Central Police Station, where they were detained
in a corridor leading to the cells till about midday, when
Kr. Teo Yee Swee's account of the affair was taken down in
writing and he was intimidated into signing 11, though he
was not allowed to read or correct it.
He was finally informed that if the Hook Liu and Hook
Cheong firms guaranteed him and his servants, they would be
permitted to leave the Police Station, and the document
having been prepared, they were reloɛsed.
Although Mr. Teo Yee Swee came straight to this
Consulate, he did not arrive until nearly 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, so that he must have been in the hands of the
police for at least 12 or 14 hours.
As an instance of gross incompetence and lack of
intelligence on that part of police, this case is, in my
experience, unparalleled. Not only did they prove of no
assistance they made no attempt whatever to pursue the
robbera but they actually seized, bound and dragged off the
very man who had been the victim of the robbery and detained
him in police stations for 12 or 14 hours.
Inasmuch as two
minutes intelligent questioning when the police first entered the compound would have established beyond a shadow of