Dead Men Do Tell Tales

The Forensic Medical Investigations of the Unforgettable Professor Chao Tzee Cheng

Honours 1969 — Fellow, Academy of Medicine, Singapore 1971 — Fellow, American College of Legal Medicine 1973 — Fellow, Royal Australasia College of Pathologists 1975 — Fellow, College of American Pathologists 1976 — Member, Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom 1983 — Fellow, Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom 1987–1992 — Governor, World Association of Medical Law From 1992 — Visiting Professor, Criminal Police College of China 1993 — Honorary Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians 1993 — Honorary Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh 1994 — Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science 1994 — Honorary Fellow, American College of Physicians 1996 — Honorary Fellow, Singapore National Institute of Chemistry 1997 — Fellow, American Board of Forensic Examiners

‘He was a beacon of light in helping the police solve some of the toughest murder cases.’
Police Commissioner Khoo Boon Hui

‘He was one with the knowledge of a medical doctor, the sharp eyes and instinct of Sherlock Holmes, and the oratorical skills and confidence of a lawyer in court.’
Clinical Professor Chee Yam Cheng
Master, Academy of Medicine, Singapore

‘One attribute of his which stood out above all others was that Professor Chao’s honours sat so lightly on his shoulders. He was always quietly dressed, seldom even sporting a tie. He never displayed the slightest hint of intellectual arrogance. He was ever-ready to share his knowledge. He was always on the go. He had an effervescent sense of humour. His supplies of energy seemed inexhaustible.’
Justice Dato’ Mahadev Shankar
Malaysian High Court Judge

‘Although his death came suddenly, we know he died peacefully, doing the things he loved most — his work and being with his family … Those who had come to share in our time of grief recounted such vivid and personal memories of him, and many related their own personal and unique encounters with him and how he had often gone out of his way to offer his help and assistance.’
Alexandre Chao (Professor Chao’s son)

Larger than life. A big-hearted man. Mentor to many. Approachable to all. He has been described as ‘the best living example of the adage that happiness does not come from doing what you like but from liking what you do’. A medical practitioner whose glittering rise and indelible impact in the field of forensic pathology has no parallel in Singapore. No amount of words in this tribute can do justice to a man who did justice throughout his career.

Chao Tzee Cheng was born on 22 September 1934 in Hong Kong, the son of a professor in cultural studies and a school principal. He later migrated to Singapore with his parents and received his education at Catholic High School and Victoria Continuation School. Although offered a scholarship to read engineering in the United States, he decided to take up medicine at Hong Kong University. Graduating with an MBBS in Hong Kong in 1961, he took a Diploma in Clinical Pathology in 1967, followed by a Diploma of Pathology in 1968 and a Diploma of Medical Jurisprudence in 1968. In the three decades that followed, Professor Chao took the following honours that bear testimony to his own quest for excellence:

Professor Chao also served with great distinction in various capacities, including the Master of the Academy of Medicine (1992–1995), President of the Singapore Society of Pathology (1987–1990) and founded the Medico-Legal Society which was and continues to remain a unique forum, unifying the medical and legal professions and serving as its president from 1985 until his unexpected death.

At the time of his death in February 2000, he was holding the following posts in Singapore:

1. Founding Director and Special Forensic Advisor, Institute of Science and Forensic Medicine;

2. Senior Forensic Pathologist, Ministry of Health;

3. Clinical Professor, National University of Singapore; and

4. Emeritus Consultant, Singapore General Hospital.

His phenomenal workload included all the Coroner’s cases in Singapore and conducting the Forensic Medicine Course in the National University of Singapore.

His forensic prowess was demonstrated in the investigation of mass disasters such as the Spyros blast, the Cable Car tragedy, the Hotel New World collapse and the Silkair tragedy. He also helped solve notorious crimes in the annals of Singapore criminal law, such as the Adrian Lim cult murders, the Scripps Body Parts murders, the Bulgarian murder and the Flor Contemplacion case. For his services to the nation, Professor Chao was awarded the Public Administration Silver Medal in 1975, Gold Medal in 1979 and the Meritorious Medal in 1995.

Yet despite his outstanding reputation, he was known to stand for justice, no matter which side of the fence it stood on. For example, in 1975, he testified as an expert witness for the defence at the Kuala Lumpur High Court trial of Hugh Ashley Johnston for the murder of his wife. In the end, a six-to-one jury verdict held that Johnston had no intention to kill his wife.

Some of Professor Chao’s earlier cases which deserve to be better known were featured in a book which he co-wrote with Audrey Perera entitled Murder Is My Business. For a fascinating glimpse into Professor Chao’s work, please refer to the brief summary of five cases selected from the late Professor’s book. The real names of the parties have not been stated so as to protect the identities and privacy of the victims and their families.

Professor Chao’s untimely death on 21 February 2000 while in his sleep has robbed the medico-legal fraternity of one of its brightest stars. To quote the words of Malaysian High Court Judge, Dato’ Mahadev Shankar on 25 March 2000 in a speech given ‘In Memoriam of Professor Chao Tzee Cheng’:

Once in a while on our journey through life we are fortunate enough to meet someone who reshapes the way we look at things, and think about them. Such persons ennoble us by bestowing upon us a burning desire to seek out the truth and make it an integral part of our moral fibre. The late Professor Chao Tzee Cheng was one such mentor.

The legal profession will never forget this luminary of truth.

Gregory Vijayendran
M/s Wong Partnership

The author would like to thank Mr Alexandre Chao, Mr Giam Chin Toon SC and Ms Audrey Perera for their support and input in the preparation of this article. Readers are encouraged to contribute towards the Chao Tzee Cheng Professorship.