Ah Ching visited the house of Ah Lung in Morning Star Lane, Melbourne, on 4 September 1889 at about 6.30 pm. Shortly after, Ah Keong arrived. He began speaking angrily to Ah Ching, using foul language and ‘asking for a fight’. Ah Keong then went outside and waited. Ah Ching left the house, Ah Keong knocked him unconscious with a piece of iron. Two other men carried him off on their shoulders to hospital.

Ah Keong was sentenced to 12 months hard labour in October 1889 for wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Two years later, Ah Keong committed another offence. He took out loans from William Clark, a merchant in Barkly Street, Brighton. Ah Keong claimed that they were for purposes related to a company he partly owned.

In December 1891 he was found guilty of two counts of false pretences and given six months hard labour.