Indonesian man charged over stabbing in Singapore bank district

SINGAPORE - An Indonesian man has been charged for stabbing a compatriot in Singapore's banking district in a brazen attempt to rob him of more than US$600,000 in public, court documents showed Sunday.

The incident on Friday stunned a lunchtime crowd at Raffles Place, where major bank offices as well as large-scale moneychangers are located.

Singapore is regarded as one of the world's safest cities and public acts of violence are rare.

Court documents seen by AFP identified the suspect as 38-year-old Arun, an Indonesian citizen who goes by one name.

He was charged in court on Saturday with causing "grievous hurt" while committing the robbery, an offence punishable by a jail term of between two and 10 years, and at least 12 strokes of the cane.

The court documents identified the victim as Kang Tie Tie. The Straits Times newspaper said Kang is also an Indonesian. Court documents said the victim was stabbed on his right hip and waist.

He was carrying Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia currencies as well as three cash cheques worth more than US$600,000 in a sling bag, which the suspect ran off with.

the victim gave chase and the suspect was subdued with the help of bystanders before police arrived.

Singapore, Southeast Asia's financial hub, is known for its tough stance on crime. It retains the death penalty as punishment for serious offences while judicial caning can be imposed for some crimes including robbery.

Its overall crime rate fell to a 30-year-low in 2013, with 549 criminal cases per 100,000 people, according to official data.