Youth robbed man of $219k on day he turned 19
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The Straits Times
Monday, Jun 09, 2014
A 19-year-old Malaysian who robbed a man of $218,726 with four others on his birthday was jailed for 30 months and ordered to be given six strokes of the cane yesterday.
Vickyneswaran Garichandran, who is unemployed, admitted to robbing Malaysian Tay You Hock, 52. He wrongfully restrained Mr Tay in the hold-up in broad daylight on an overhead bridge in Woodlands Avenue 5 on Aug 2 last year.
The other four - Suthagar Annamalai, 33, also a Malaysian, and three known only by their nicknames - are on the run.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mansoor Amir said the victim commuted daily on his motorbike from Johor to his sister's textile shop in Woodlands Centre Road, where he also helped at his family's money-changing business.
The group had been observing the textile shop from a nearby coffee shop in July last year and one of them even followed the victim and reported on his movements to the rest.
Mr Mansoor said Suthagar invited Vickyneswaran to join him in the robbery as he knew that the youth was facing financial difficulties. Vickyneswaran, though afraid, agreed to do so.
On Aug 2 - the day he turned 19 - he followed Suthagar to the coffee shop in Woodlands and met the other three.
Both Vickyneswaran and a co-accused named Guna confronted Mr Tay as he was on the overhead bridge, heading towards two banks to deposit a total of $218,726.
Guna grabbed the victim's neck from behind and lifted him up. Mr Tay tried to hold on to his bag and was punched during the ensuing struggle. The sling broke and Vickyneswaran grabbed the money and ran towards his accomplices, who were waiting on two motorcycles at the other end of the bridge.
Vickyneswaran, who was given RM5,000 (S$1,946) for his role in the crime, was arrested on April 3 this year when he tried to enter Singapore.
He could have been jailed for up to 10 years and given at least six strokes of the cane.
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