Disappearance of Tina Lim (2002)

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Tina Lim as a teenager. Photo from source.

Tina Lim Xin Ying was 14 years old when she was last seen on 22 June 2002.[1] Her case resurfaced in the media in December 2020 in light of the breakthrough in Felicia Teo's 13-year-old cold case.[2][3] As of December 2020, Tina Lim's case remains unsolved.

Background

Missing person profile

Tina Lim was a student in the Normal Technical stream at Unity Secondary School.[4][5] The missing 14-year-old was reportedly about 1.65m tall. At the time of her disappearance, she resided at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 with her father, step-mother and younger step-siblings.[6] According to a news report, Tina Lim's biological parents are divorced and she was the only child born from her father's first marriage.[7]

Last seen

Tina Lim pictured with her grandfather. Photo from source.

Tina Lim was last seen by her father on 22 June 2002 when she left her Choa Chu Kang home at around 4.15 pm. She left to visit her grandfather at his home in Jurong West but never arrived at her destination.[8]

Search & investigations

Tina Lim's father filed a police report when she failed to return home on 23 June 2002.[5] He reportedly distributed thousands of flyers in Singapore before extending his search to places such as Johor, Genting, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur by September 2002.[9] He also denied the speculations that she had willingly run away from home. Speaking to The New Paper, he said:

"She would not have the courage to do that [run away]. Plus, I was the one who wanted her to go and see her grandfather. If she had wanted to leave home, she would not have asked me to drive her there."[6]

In a televised interview with Tina Lim's teachers, she had also been described as a "quiet", "helpful" and "obedient" student.[5]

Phone calls (November 2003)

On 1 November 2003, Tina Lim's father was at his late father's wake when he received several calls from a girl who claimed to be his missing daughter.[10] According to a transcript of the recorded call that was published by The New Paper, the female caller was reluctant to divulge her exact location although she confirmed that she was in Singapore.[11] After investigating the calls, the police concluded that they were hoaxes but Tina Lim's father thought otherwise. He said:

"Seven relatives in all heard her voice, and I'm her father. How could I make a mistake?"[12]

References/ Citations

  1. ↑ Mok Qiu Lin. "Man charged with murder of S'porean teen Felicia Teo: 4 other missing persons cases". The Straits Times. December 18, 2020. Accessed on 22 December 2020.
  2. ↑ Lee, Joshua. "Choa Chu Kang girl disappears in 2002, allegedly calls 1 year later: 'Someone won't let me come back'". Mothership. December 20, 2020. Accessed on 22 December 2020.
  3. ↑ Lee, Jeremy. "Tina Lin From Choa Chu Kang Still Missing Since 2002, Went To Visit Her Grandpa But Never Made It There". MustShareNews. December 21, 2020. Accessed on 22 December 2020.
  4. ↑ Crime Library Singapore. "#Missing (cold case)". Facebook. April 18, 2020. Accessed on 22 December 2020.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Missing S1 Ep 4 Where Is Tina?". Mewatch. Accessed on 22 December 2020.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Low Ching Ling. "She couldn't have run away with just $50 in her pocket'". The New Paper. June 28, 2002. Accessed on 22 December 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  7. ↑ Low Ching Ling. "Father's hopes dashed once more". The New Paper. November 30, 2004. Accessed on 22 December 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  8. ↑ Low Ching Ling. "Went to visit granddad". The New Paper. September 3, 2002. Accessed on 22 December 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  9. ↑ Low Ching Ling. "Dad's desperate search for daughter". The New Paper. September 3, 2002. Accessed on 22 December 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  10. ↑ Low Ching Ling. "'Someone won't let me come back'". The New Paper. December 26, 2003. Accessed on 22 December 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  11. ↑ "An exchange between a mysterious female caller and Mr Lim's sister-in-law". The New Paper. December 26, 2003. Accessed on 22 December 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  12. ↑ Teo, Faith. "It made him think of his daughter". The New Paper. October 22, 2004. Accessed on 22 December 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
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