K
Kiyomori Taira
Guest
Mar 28, 2011
Two get probation for staged theft
By Elena Chong
TWO young men who stole two gold rope chains from a goldsmith's in Chinatown were given probation on Monday.
Full-time national serviceman Teo Yi Yuan, 20, was placed on 21 months' probation while his cousin, David Lee Yong Soon, 18, unemployed, was given 18 moths' probation and ordered to do 100 hours of community service.
A Community Court heard that Lee owed money to a loanshark who threatened to harass him if he did not pay $1,280 by Chinese New Year.
Desperate, Lee suggested to Teo that they stage a snatch theft at a goldsmiths' shop.
The plan was that Teo would pretend to be a customer and Lee would dash in and snatch the gold chains and push his cousin to the ground to make him look like a victim.
The duo were at People's Park Complex on Feb 1 when Teo walked into Best Jewellery & Goldsmith.
He was shown the two gold rope chains which he held up to compare. Just then, Lee came and snatched the items totalling $4,840 and pushed Teo.
Teo was interviewed by the police and subsequently came clean. Lee was arrested the same day.
