Fourth suspect in Aljunied car park robbery charged
Reuters file photo
SINGAPORE — A 31-year-old man, believed to be the fourth assailant in a brazen armed robbery in Aljunied Crescent in 2014, was yesterday charged in a district court with committing armed robbery with hurt.
Selvam Karupaya, a Malaysian, was allegedly part of a gang of eight that robbed money changer Ali Yousouf Saiboo of more than S$624,000 on Nov 5 that year.
The incident took place at a car park at Block 110, Aljunied Crescent, where Mr Saiboo had intended to park his vehicle before heading to his father-in-law’s house together with his toddler son.
The robbers, who were clad in balaclavas and face masks, and had plasters stuck on their fingertips, ambushed Mr Saiboo when he arrived at the car park. They smashed his car’s windows with a crowbar before dragging him out.
According to court documents, the items snatched from the trunk of the car included two black mobile phones, two black luggage bags, Singapore currency amounting to S$231,082 and American currency amounting to US$210,000 (about S$286,000).
All the suspects fled to Malaysia, except for Annadurai Raman who remained in Singapore.
In January this year, Malaysian Ravi Sandhira Sagaran was sentenced to seven years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane for his role in the robbery. A month later, Annadurai, a Singapore permanent resident, was given the same sentence.
Malaysian Tachana Moorthy Peromal was jailed nine years and given 12 strokes of the cane for being one of the crime’s masterminds.
Selvam was arrested in Malaysia and handed over to the Singapore authorities on Thursday. He will be remanded for a week.
If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of five to 20 years’ jail, and at least 12 strokes of the cane.
The remaining four accomplices, including the alleged main instigator, Baskaran Balakrishnan, are still on the run. VALERIE KOH
