Robber who caused death of 88-year-old victim gets 9 years’ jail, 12 strokes of cane
Muhammad Fazrie Mohamad Ridzuan. Photo: Singapore Police Force
SINGAPORE — A jobless man who robbed an 88-year-old woman of S$22 — causing her to fall in the process and die from the head injuries — was sentenced to nine years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane.
Another count of theft and one count of unlawful possession of weapons committed on separate occasions were taken into consideration during sentencing on Monday (Feb 22).
While the prosecution had pressed for a 10-year jail term, High Court Judge Choo Han Teck said he gave Muhammad Fazrie Mohamad Ridzuan one “final chance” on the account that it was his first offence as an adult. The accused was 22 during the time of his offence on April 12, 2014.
Fazrie had wanted the money to buy food for his girlfriend’s child, but after the robbery, the girlfriend used the money to buy cigarettes and drinks instead.
The court heard that Fazrie was living with Nur Mardiah Mohamad Zaharin and her four-year-old daughter in a flat at Block 9, Teck Whye Lane at the time.
Thinking that the young child was hungry after she complained of stomach pain that morning, Fazrie wanted to buy some food, but the couple cobbled up just S$1.80.
He then made his way to a coffee shop nearby, and there, he observed Lee Ping Yeng buying rice and some dishes from a stall. She “looked weak and frail”, the court was told, and Fazrie saw that she was holding a purse.
Thinking she was an “easy target” to rob, he followed her as she left the coffee shop until they reached the lift lobby of Block 115 Teck Whye Lane, where Lee lived.
They entered the lift together around 10.30am, and Lee pressed the button for the 12th floor. Fazrie pressed the button for the ninth floor and greeted her.
When the lift reached the 9th floor, Fazrie said, “Sorry, auntie”, and snatched the purse from her hand with considerable force, causing her to fall out of the lift, where she hit the back of her head and body against the lift landing.
Fazrie dashed out and fled via another lift. He discarded the purse after removing cash amounting to S$22 from it, which his girlfriend used to buy a pack of cigarettes and drinks.
Lee was sent to the National University Hospital at around 11am, where she underwent an operation for her head injuries. She was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit thereafter and died three days later on April 15.
Fazrie was arrested on April 28.
Seeking a tough sentence, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chee Min Ping said Fazrie exploited the aged woman’s vulnerability and disregarded her safety. His past convictions for housebreaking and theft — dating back to when he was 15 — also calls for a deterrent sentence, she added.
In sentencing, Justice Choo told Fazrie: “Take this as a final chance. If you are ever back in court, it would be extremely difficult for your counsel to plead mitigation.”
More than a dozen of Lee’s family members showed up in the High Court on Monday but declined to comment.
For voluntarily causing hurt in committing a robbery, Fazrie could have been jailed up to 20 years with at least 12 strokes of the cane.
