Shot in chest, Singaporean remains in coma
Gunman fires at birthday boy and relative in
Denmark restaurant By Amanda Yong, Lediati Tan and
Vivian Chan January 09, 2009
HE had closed his popular Asian restaurant in the heart of
Copenhagen's shopping district for a private birthday party - his
own.
But the birthday boy, Mr Roland Tan, 61, never got to celebrate
on Monday night.
The Singaporean, who's a Permanent Resident (PR) in Denmark, was
shot in the shoulder as he stood at the bar of Restaurant Bali at
Kongens Nytorv Square at around 7pm.
He was described as the most powerful Chinese businessman in
Denmark by Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet.
Mr Tan was not the only victim of the shooting.
His relative, a 53-year-old Singaporean man who had flown to the
Danish capital from Singapore last Saturday, was shot in the
chest.
He remains in a critical condition at the Rigshospitalet, where
Mr Tan is also warded.
The relative is believed to have gone to Copenhagen specially to
attend Mr Tan's birthday party.
Inspector Ove Dahl of the Copenhagen police told The New Paper
yesterday that the shooting was over a 'personal matter' between
the gunman and Mr Tan.
He said the two Singaporeans were alone in the restaurant's
dining area when the gunman shot them at point blank with a
handgun.
'They were standing at the bar when he fired four shots at
them,' said Inspector Dahl.
'By the time we arrived, they were already on their way to
hospital.'
He also said that the police found about six restaurant staff,
including cooks and waiters, huddled in the kitchen.
The Danish police have released the name and picture of the
suspect, Mr Nguyen Phi Hung, 47.
He has lived in Denmark 'almost all his life', Inspector Dahl
said.
He has a previous heroin-related conviction, for which he spent
more than three years in jail.
The gunman entered from the front of the restaurant - a small
door that also functions as the exit.
He was dressed in a yellow-hooded jumper and later fled along
Little Kongensgade street, reported Politiken.
Rise in street shootings
Politiken reported that the shooting looked to have been an
assassination attempt, and that there had been a brief exchange
between the two men before the gunman fired the shots at Mr Tan and
his relative.
Mr Tan had previously been questioned by police in connection
with several serious crimes, including drug dealing, blackmail and
murder, according to Danish news reports.
'We are looking for him (Mr Nguyen) and we will find him,' said
Inspector Dahl.
There has been an increase in street shootings in Copenhagen in
recent months, Danish media reports said.
Politiken reported in September that the street shootings
appeared to be the result of a turf war between immigrant gangs and
the Danish branch of the Hells Angels biker gang for control of the
drug trade.
The Hells Angels originated from the US and its operations in
Denmark are based in Copenhagen. The Denmark group's activities
revolve around drugs and prostitution.
The New Paper understands that Hells Angels parties have been
hosted at Mr Tan's restaurant, but it is not known if he has any
connection with the gang.
Inspector Dahl said that Mr Tan was likely to be
discharged in a few days.
But his relative was in 'a very bad condition and is in a
coma'.
Danish media reported that both men remain under police
protection but Inspector Dahl refuted the reports.
'No, the police are not guarding them anymore,' he said.
Danish media also reported that about 40 young people turned up
at the hospital on Monday night after the two men were
admitted.
It is not known who the visitors are, though it is understood
they were there to support Mr Tan.
Mr Tan, who has lived in Denmark for about 30 to 40 years, is
believed to be married with children, said Inspector Dahl.
Apart from Restaurant Bali, a mid-priced restaurant serving
Indonesian and Malaysian food, he also owns a few other restaurants
in Copenhagen.
According to a travel website , the restaurant specialises in
spicy food such as curries and its signature dish is Peking
duck.
The website also advised restaurant patrons to be dressed in
business attire.
The 50-seater restaurant is located at the end of one of
Copenhagen's main shopping streets.
The New Paper understands that the restaurant has been there for
at least 20 years.
It has hosted events by the Malaysian-Danish Association
there.
Mr Tan is also a frequent sponsor of the association.
Shocked
Mrs Rozita Buang Andersen, president of the Denmark Singapore
Club there, told The New Paper that she and her Singaporean friends
were shocked when they heard news of the shooting.
'I was just there recently as I was scouting for a venue to hold
our club's Chinese New Year celebration,' she said.
'On Sunday, I was discussing the restaurant with one of my
friends, who told me that the owner is a Singaporean,' she
added.
The club decided not to hold its celebration there because the
restaurant does not serve Chinese dim sum, which the club's
executive committee prefers.
She said the restaurant is in a busy downtown area that is
equivalent to Orchard Road in Singapore.