A UNEMPLOYED man who robbed two Chinese prostitutes with his accomplice was jailed for five years and ordered to be given 12 strokes of the cane on Thursday.

Tan Gee Kang, 36, admitted punching the head and kicking the back of Ms Zhou Gongjiao, 24, during the hold-up at a premises in Geylang on Nov 9 last year.

He robbed her of her handbag and valuables contaiing $1,624 with feelance technician Tay Hock Soon, 36, whose case is pending.

The other charge of robbing and hurting Ms Yang Junxia, 26, of $110 was considered, together with another of causing hurt to a man.

The court heard that the duo picked up the two women who offered them sex at $70 each.

They then booked a room for an hour at the Geylang premises.

There, when asked to pay first, Tan took out a POSBank ATM card and gave it to Ms Zhou, who said card payments were not accepted.

She suggested that they withdraw the money before engaging in sex.

Ms Zhou was about to open the door when Tan pulled her arm and hair. Ms Yang shouted for help.

The two men then assaulted Ms Zhou before tying up both women's hands and legs and gagging them.

The duo left with their women's handbags.

They were on their way to a coffeeshop when they heard the victims shout 'robbery'.

They confronted the two robbers and during a struggle, Ms Zhou's white handbag fell out from Tan's jacket.

The two men fled and boarded a taxi. By then a small crowd had gathered and stopped the cab from moving off. The two were arrested.