Man sentenced for violent robbery of elderly
By Alvina Soh | Posted: 24 November 2011 1809 hrs
Lim Choon Gui was sentenced to seven years preventive detention by a district court. -- PHOTO: SPF
SINGAPORE: A 52-year-old man who violently robbed 11 elderly citizens of nearly S$12,000 was sentenced Thursday to seven years' preventive detention.
Lim Choon Gui was charged with 11 counts of snatch theft and robbery after targeting victims aged between 52 and 83 years.
The unemployed man committed the offences within a two-month period this year in various housing estate lifts.
Investigations revealed that he followed his victims into the lifts where he would then restrain or assault his victims while robbing them.
On various occasions, he forced them to squat down and face the floor, or pushed them towards the wall of the lift while pulling necklaces off their necks.
The court heard that on one instance when a victim put up resistance, he kicked her in the stomach and punched her in the chest.
In addition to stealing a gold necklace from each victim, he also made off with other valuables including jade pendants, handbags, bracelets and even an EZ-link card.
He later sold off the items and spent the proceeds on his daily expenses.
Lim, who has previous drug convictions and was under supervision during the period of the offences, also failed to turn up for a urine test, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.
He claimed that he was afraid of being arrested for his robbery offences.
- CNA/cc
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