Triple Nine (TV series)

For the high IQ society, see Triple Nine Society. For the 2016 film, see Triple 9.

Triple Nine (Chinese: 九九九行动) is an English language dystopian fiction television police procedural telecast on what was then the Television Corporation of Singapore's Channel 5 (today's MediaCorp TV Channel 5) from 1995 to 1999. As the station's earliest attempt in an action-based drama series, the series revolved around the lives of a group of police officers, namely Inspector Mike Chin (James Lye), Inspector Elaine Tay (Wong Li Lin), and Sergeant Alan Leong (Lim Yu Beng) from the Special Investigation Section of the CID.

The cast changed in subsequent seasons, notably with the inclusion of Inspector Sean Han (Robin Leong), Inspector Herbert de Souza (Mark Richmond), and Sergeant Yeo Lay Kim (Chong Chia Suan) from the third season, and Sergeant Sarah Chan (Annabelle Francis) from the 4th season. All 4 seasons are available on Netflix from November 2020, as well as meWatch. The series is rated "NC16" on Netflix Singapore.

Trivia

• Beatrice Chia (Dr Ooi Su-Lyn) who acted as Mark Richmond (Inspector Herbert)'s girlfriend in the drama eventually became his real-life wife in 2006.
• Before Chong Chia Suan auditioned and won the role of Sgt Yeo Lay Kim, she was the weather girl on Channel 5 news. Other actresses who auditioned for the role of Sgt Yeo were Lisa Ang, Melody Chen and Tammy Wong.
• Mark Richmond's character, Herbert de Souza, originally had the nickname "Mouth" because he couldn't stop talking. His initial episodes were filled with diatribes and monologues which were eventually shortened.
• Lim Yu Beng, Loke Loo Pin and James Nord Lim, who played forensic expert Charles Soo, were the only three cast members who stayed throughout all 4 seasons.
• When Wong Li-lin's character Elaine Tay was killed off towards the end of season 3, a body double was used to portray her corpse, because Li-lin could not be reached to reprise her role.
• Season 4 was supposed to run for 26 episodes, but was shortened to 22 episodes instead due to conflicting schedules and a few other problems.
• Tan Kheng Hua (Chong Swee Chin) who appeared briefly as Lim Yu Beng (Sgt Alan)'s second wife in season 2 episode 21 is his real-life partner.
• Loke Loo Pin was a practising dentist who stumbled upon acting and debuted in "Masters Of The Sea" (1994) with a one-liner. The currently-retired dentist released her biography "AcciDENTAL Actress" in 2020.

Cast

Main Cast

Cast	Role	Season Appeared	Description/Fates
James Lye	Inspector Mike Chin	1, 2, 4	Resigned from the police force at the end of season 2 because of "Jack"'s case, and became a P.E. teacher. He was approached by ASP Pang towards the end of season 3 when Inspector Elaine was killed, and decided to rejoin the CID in the last episode of season 3.
Wong Li Lin	Inspector Elaine Tay	1, 2	Was working under ASP Pang in the Vice department of CID. Inspector Mike's love interest, killed by "Jack" in season 3 episode 24.
Lim Yu Beng	Sergeant Alan Leong Heng Man	1, 2, 3, 4	Hardworking and efficient CID officer. He was a single father with a young daughter, Cindy. Sgt Alan remarried Chong Swee Chin in season 2 episode 21 with Cindy, Insp Mike and Insp Elaine in attendance. At the beginning of season 4, Sgt Alan went overseas for a 3-month course, and was expecting to be promoted to Staff Sergeant upon his return. Unfortunately, his promotion was hindered by Insp Herbert's adverse report on his performance.
Annabelle Francis	Sergeant Sarah Chan	4	Jovial lady officer who transferred from ASP Kho's team (working on a Filipino maid's case) to CID in season 4 episode 1. Fell in love with Inspector Martin in season 4. Was able to run and swim very well. Sgt Kim's schoolmate.
Robin Leong	Inspector Sean Han	3, 4	Was from Seattle (hence the slang), where he was a "hot shot" in the Seattle police department before transferring over to CID. Egoistic and competitive. Was described by Sgt Sarah as "a player". Didn't like Inspector Mike very much. Started off in the wrong foot with Sergeant Kim.
Loke Loo Pin	ASP Pang Sook Ching	1, 2, 3, 4	OC of Special Crimes, CID. Reporting officer of Mike, Elaine, Alan, Sarah and Sean. Stays alone at a HDB flat and appears single. Promoted to DSP in season 4
Mark Richmond	Inspector Herbert de Souza	3, 4	Rude and rash officer transferred from CNB. A brusque, scornful, anti-establishment loner and loose cannon. Was abandoned by his mother when he was 7 years old (which explains his anger). Was dating psychiatrist Dr Ooi Su-Lyn. Unable to "lie" and wrote an adverse report for Sgt Alan even though he knew that the report would hinder his impending promotion.
Chong Chia Suan	Sergeant Yeo Lay Kim	3, 4	Was once a member of the girl gang 13 Roses. Transferred from Commercial Crimes to CID in season 3 episode 1. Was a strong competitor with Sergeant Sarah when they were both in school. Was attracted to Inspector Mike, although the love was not reciprocated. Was stabbed by assailant on her way home after she shot her 18 years old victim.
James Nord-Lim	Dr Charles Soo	1, 2, 3, 4	Pathologist with a warped sense of humour working for the police. His wife was murdered.

Guest Cast

Cast	Role	Season Appeared	Description
Gary Lee Wei	Inspector Martin Lim	4	CNB officer who was attached to CID for a drug-related case in season 4 episode 6. It was revealed in the middle of season 4 that he was actually part of a heroin syndicate. He grew disillusioned after receiving a warning letter for letting off a 13-year old opium peddler, and decided to turn his back on the police. Insp Martin and Sgt Sarah were dating. Eventually Martin was killed by Sarah near the end of season 4.
Beatrice Chia	Dr Ooi Su-Lyn	3, 4	Inspector Herbert's girl friend, and a psychiatrist who tried to mend the estranged relationship between Herbert and his mother.
Janet Chua	Julie Wee	2	Young woman with AIDS. Her father is a doctor who arrested at the end of episode.
Eileen Tan	Rose (Mei)	2	She wore scarf after Candy splashed acid potion at her.
Cindy Yeong	Cindy	1, 2	18-year old daughter of Sergeant Alan Leong studying at Nanyang Junior College. Gets into trouble with the principal and father for her dressing style. Her mother died when she was young and had a new step-mother after Sgt Alan remarried in season 2.
Ang Wee Boon	Bomber	2	He bomb hoaxed the studio and subsequently arrested by Inspector Mike.
Sivaganesh	DSP Chandran	2, 3	His brand-new Mercedes Benz was stolen in season 4 episode 3. Was extremely pissed off when questioned by Insp Herbert. Chandran is also ASP Pang's grumpy superior, and often storms into her office to complain about Herbert in season 4.
G. P. Revi	ASP Ganesh	1, 2	Was Insp Mike and Sgt Alan's reporting officer in season 1. Was fatally shot by a robber in the first episode of season 2 when he intervened in the robbery of a jewellery shop when off duty.
Nazeem Ansari	DSP Rajen	3	Briefed ASP Pang about the maid's case in season 4 episode 1.
Kavita Sidha	Dr Jacintha Matthews	3	The "new" pathologist who appeared in season 3. Insp Sean dated her for a short while.
Ghazali Safrain	Cpl Halim	1, 2	Insp Elaine's partner in season 1.
Tan Kheng Hua	Chong Swee Chin	2	Sgt Alan's second wife whom he married in season 2 episode 21.

Episodes

Season 1

Originally aired in 1995

1. Drink If You Dare
2. The Price of Blood
3. Silent Victims
4. Missing Children
5. Singthroat
6. Movie Madness
7. Ring Twice for Vice
8. Misfortune Teller
9. A Long Wait, A Slow Kill
10. Babies for Sale - Dead or Alive
11. Spellbound
12. Skin Deep
13. Hell for Elaine

Season 2

Originally aired from 15 October 1996.

1. Rest in Peace ASP Ganesh
2. Right Time to Die
3. Tough Choices
4. None so Blind
5. Terminal Death
6. A Time to Kill
7. Acid Justice
8. If Looks could Kill
9. Backfire
10. Till death do us part
11. All I want for Christmas
12. Resort to Murder
13. Silent Witness
14. Sins of the Father
15. Crazy for You
16. Recipe for Murder
17. Surf for a Kill
18. Death of a Lion
19. Death before Dishonour
20. It happened one hot day
21. Guns N' Roses
22. Dead Man's Hand

Season 3

Originally aired from 21 July 1998.

1. Pilot
2. Parental Guidance
3. Stab in the Dark
4. Face of Horror - Part 1
5. Face of Horror - Part 2
6. --
7. Killer Instincts - Part 1
8. Killer Instincts - Part 2
9. Mind Games - Part 1
10. Mind Games - Part 2
11. Token Angel - Part 1
12. Token Angel - Part 2
13. --
14. --
15. Unreasonable Sacrifices - Part 1
16. Unreasonable Sacrifices - Part 2
17. With Friends Like These... - Part 1
18. With Friends Like These... - Part 2
19. Red Debts - Part 1
20. Red Debts - Part 2
21. --
22. --
23. Who Needs Enemies - Part 1
24. Who Needs Enemies - Part 2
25. --
26. --

Season 4

Originally aired in 1999.

1. Mike is back on the team and Annabelle Francis joins the cast. Mike is still dealing with Elaine's murder from the last season. Sarah is like a breath of fresh air.
2. Sean partners Sarah in a ‘dog-man’ case, Mike and Kim go in search of an underwear thief, and Su Lyn tries to get Herbert to see his mother.
3. Sparks fly between Mike and Kim when they team up on a case together. Meanwhile, Sarah gets Herbert to loosen up as he, softening to Su Lyn's attempts to reconcile him with his family, finally makes contact with his brother.
4. --
5. --
6. Mike and Kim investigate the murder of a rag and bone man. While working on a drug-related case, Sarah finds herself attracted to Inspector Seah, a narcotics officer
7. Mike and Kim try to nail a man who's been going around, threatening people with an HIV-tainted needle. Also, Mike finds out that Kim likes him but turns her down
8. Alan and Herbert investigate a case involving a teenage girl gang. Meanwhile, Sean sets into motion the undercover plan to infiltrate a drug syndicate and find out who the top dogs are
9. Mike and Sarah investigate a businessman's murder and discover that some foreign workers had been paid to kill him. Meanwhile, Sean helps Martin with some drug deals to win the latter's trust.
10. Herbert and Alan investigate the murder of a man who organises the Children Karaoke Competition. A dismayed Alan learns that he's not being promoted.
11. Sean is told to kill an informer, which he does so as to gain respect from the gang. But it's also the start of his emotional downfall.
12. Sean has nightmares after killing an informer and, in his desperation, turns to drugs. Mike suspects something is wrong with Sean. Meanwhile, Kim and Alan draw closer to each other.
13. Mike investigates a murder where the abused wife is suspected of killing her husband. Sean manages to crack the syndicate and discovers that the corrupt officer turns out to be Inspector Lee. Meanwhile, Kim invites Alan out for a date.
14. Alan confides his disappointment at being passed over for a promotion to Kim, who thus feels closer to him. Mike takes Sarah out so as to help her get over Sean's betrayal. Meanwhile, Sean gets addicted to drugs.
15. While investigating a case with Alan, Sean loses control of himself and his drug problem is exposed. Meanwhile, Helen tries to court Mike who turns her down.
16. Sean goes on cold turkey and Kim helps him get over his addiction. Meanwhile, a spurned Helen threatens Mike.
17. Alan and Mike investigate a case where a series of women are being killed. Meanwhile, a spurned Helen freaks out and Mike tries to contain her, but to no anvil. Later, she goes missing.
18. Mike and Sarah investigate the case of a dead abandoned baby. Meanwhile, Sean suffers a relapse and starts drinking again.
19. Mike and Sarah investigate the murder of a man who was found strangled in the restroom of a rundown hotel. Sean seeks help from Alcoholics Anonymous.
20. Mike and Sarah investigate a series of brutal murders of young women. Eventually they uncover a con operation that lures women with fengshui and black magic.
21. --
22. A teenager holds a woman hostage in a supermarket. When Kim fails to talk him into releasing his victim, she shoots him dead. A police inquiry into the matter eventually lets Kim off the hook, but she's stabbed by an assailant on her way home.

External links

• Official Site (Archive)
• Andy Logam-Tan (Writer)
• Triple Nine Bio