The killer Ong Yeow Tian (Chinese: 王耀添; pinyin: Wáng Yàotiān; c. 1960 – 25 November 1994), who was an ex-convict and one of the two suspects involved in a prior housebreaking case, was subsequently engaged in a shoot-out with several other policemen but was finally arrested.

The last case took place on 30 November 1994 (five days after Ong's execution), when Senior Staff Sergeant Boo Tiang Huat (posthumously promoted to Station Inspector) was struck to death with an axe by 29-year-old Zainal Abidin Abdul Malik, who was convicted and later hanged for murder on 30 August 1996.

Prior to his death in February 1989, Abdul Halim planned to get married with his childhood sweetheart sometime in 1990 after Hari Raya Puasa.

[10][7] On the early morning of 15 February 1989, five weeks after his release from prison, 29-year-old Singaporean hairstylist Ong Yeow Tian, who was previously convicted for housebreaking and drug-related offences, partnered with his 26-year-old unemployed friend and secret society member Chua Gin Boon (Chinese: 蔡锦文; pinyin: Cài Jǐnwén) to commit housebreaking at Tampines.

However, both men failed to do so, and they were caught red-handed by two police constables (PC) Chua Yew Hua (Chinese: 蔡耀华; pinyin: Cài Yàohuá) and Mirza Abdul Halim bin Mirza Abdul Majid, who responded to a police report lodged at 1.47am about the sighting of the robbers behaving suspiciously.

[19][20] Meanwhile, PC Abdul Halim was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he was operated on but was still in critical condition and entered a comatose state.

For his actions of trying to arrest Ong, PC Abdul Halim was given the rare field promotion to the rank of Corporal by Police Commissioner Goh Yong Hong while he was still in a coma.

These above factors were crucial to eventually lead to Corporal Abdul Halim's death despite the doctors' utmost efforts to treat him.

[24] Many Singaporeans offered condolences and donations to Abdul Halim's family and remembered him as a hero for his dedication to maintain public safety as a police officer.

Under the Arms Offences Act, the final two charges which Ong faced for firing the revolver at both Corporal Goh and PC Ang would also warrant the death penalty if convicted.

[35] On 20 October 1992, for the two charges of firing a revolver at the police, Ong stood trial at the High Court before veteran judge T. S. Sinnathuray, who formerly heard the case of notorious child murderer Adrian Lim.

[36][37] On 22 October 1992, the same day when both sides made their final submissions, Justice Sinnathuray accepted the prosecution's case based on the evidence presented and therefore found Ong guilty of the two counts of unlawfully discharging the stolen revolver at Sergeant Goh and Corporal Ang under the intent of causing injury.

Justice S. Rajendran sentenced Ong to ten years' imprisonment for the charge of using a knife to cause serious hurt to Corporal Abdul Halim.

[40] On 25 April 1994, Ong Yeow Tian, who was held on death row, lost his appeal against his sentence for firing shots at Sergeant Goh Soon Wan and Corporal Ang Chai Hai.