Kazakh model jailed for snatch theft

Two days after his arrival here for a social visit, a Kazakhstan national snatched a woman's wallet and threatened to kill her by revealing a toy gun that was tucked into his trousers.

Yesterday, Kirill Varichenko, a 22-year-old model, was jailed for 15 months for the two offences along Claymore Hill on Oct 7 last year.

Originally accused of robbery, he admitted to an amended charge of snatching a $100 wallet containing a Japanese driving licence, a Visa credit card, an adult ez-link card and $10 cash from Ms Yuka Maeda. He had also threatened to kill the 27-year-old manicurist by lifting up his shirt to reveal part of a toy gun, with intent to cause her to give him her money.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Claire Poh said Ms Maeda had finished her work at Pacific Plaza and was on her way home at about 2.50am that day.

As she was walking along Claymore Hill, just outside Pacific Plaza, Varichenko came towards her and asked for a cigarette. She gave him a stick.

He then lifted up his shirt and told her he had a gun and would kill her or "you give me your money". The victim saw that there was a black and green gun handle tucked inside his trousers, visible from the waistline.

Shocked and frightened, she took out her wallet and Varichenko grabbed it. He opened the wallet and ran towards Pacific Plaza. He heard her screaming: "I need my wallet, my cards and all!" But he proceeded to take a taxi back to his hotel.

He was arrested along Paterson Road two days later. Police found a toy pistol on his person. None of the snatch items was recovered.

This article was first published on June 19, 2014.
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